The mini-auction for the IPL 2026 was full of surprises, but there are very few situations as intriguing as those of Sarfaraz Khan and Prithvi Shaw. Both of these cricketers have been regarded as the coming men in Indian cricket, but they had to undergo an anxious wait before going unsold in the initial rounds of the auction.
With the start of marquee and early auctions, franchises demonstrated little or no interest in either of these two prominent Indians. Social media responded swiftly to this development, and fans expressed shock at both Sarfaraz and Prithvi being unsold in the first stage.
However, the story turned into a completely different direction in the latter rounds.
In the second round of sales, Chennai Super Kings swooped in and acquired Sarfaraz Khan for 75 lakh rupees. This was in line with the longstanding policy of CSK to support talented players and give them a clear role to play and play it to their full potential. Sarfaraz Khan was waiting nervously to get selected.
This was not the end of the story. In the final round, Delhi Capitals came forward to select Prithvi Shaw for a payment of ₹75 lakhs. Prithvi Shaw, who was once touted to be one of the brightest prospects in Indian cricket, got a second chance in this.MATCH.
In fact, the IPL 2026 mini-auction experience for both players has been a rollercoaster ride – from being ignored in the early stages of selection to being retained when it truly counted. Their selection at the end also showcases teams’ tactics of holding back plans for the last minute.
Now that they have new teams to support them, both Sarfaraz Khan and Prithvi Shaw are looking to turn the page and let their play speak in the IPL 2026.
