Top 3 Overseas players who have opted out of IPL 2026 auction

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is never short of showstoppers. It is a facet that adds plenty of razzmatazz, pulling crowds in thousands to every single game.

Numerous players have risen in stature, growing adjacent to the lucrative tournament over the years, and have earned unprecedented fandom. However, the IPL 2026 season will be devoid of many such superstars as they have not registered for the upcoming auction.

Let's look at the three top overseas players who have opted out of the IPL 2026 mini auction:

1. Faf du Plessis

An IPL legend in every right, du Plessis has played for four franchises since his debut season in 2012. The right-handed batter has amassed 4773 runs in 154 games at an average of 35.09 and a strike rate of 135.78, including 39 half-centuries.

The former South Africa captain represented Delhi Capitals in the previous IPL season, scoring 202 runs across nine games at a strike rate of 123.92 with the help of two fifties.

The 41-year-old shared a heartfelt post on Instagram on November 29 to announce his decision not to register for the IPL 2026 auction.

2. Glenn Maxwell

Just like du Plessis, Australia's premier allrounder Glenn Maxwell has also not registered for the IPL 2026 auction. Maxwell announced his decision to his fans on December 2.

“After many unforgettable seasons in the IPL, I’ve decided not to put my name into the auction this year. It’s a big call, and one I make with a lot of gratitude for everything this league has given me,” Maxwell mentioned in his post. 

Maxwell has racked up 2819 runs in 141 IPL games at a scintillating strike rate of 155.14 with the help of 18 fifties. He has played for Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians, and Punjab Kings in his 13-year-long IPL season.

3. Moeen Ali

A two-time IPL winner (2021, 2023), Moeen Ali has tasted plenty of success in the cash-rich league. The batting allrounder played for Kolkata Knight Riders in the previous season, but was released after underwhelming returns with the ball.

He has churned out 1167 runs at a strike rate of 139.76, including six fifties, and claimed 41 wickets in 73 games while playing for three different franchises (RCB, CSK, and KKR).

The former England star has opted to play in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) instead of IPL 2026, to embrace a different challenge in his T20 career. He has previously played for Multan Sultans in the PSL.