IPL 2026: Top 3 youngest players in the auction

The IPL 2026 mini-auction, scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, is expected to attract significant attention as franchises look to fine-tune their squads ahead of the upcoming season.

A total of 359 cricketers will be available, with a blend of established internationals and emerging talent. The auction pool includes 244 Indian and 115 overseas players.

Ahead of the event, a handful of teenagers have caught the eye for entering the auction at a young age.

Let’s take a look at three youngest players in IPL 2026 auction:

R. S. Ambrish (18 years and 202 days)

Tamil Nadu’s R. S. Ambrish is a promising talent making noises for the right reasons. A multi-utility cricketer who bowls left-arm pace and bats in the top-order, Ambrish belongs to an elusive breed of cricketers in India: seam-bowling all-rounders. He has already made his India debut at the Under-19 level and taken a leap in domestic red-ball cricket with his Ranji Trophy debut.

While the sample size is small – he has played only two first-class matches so far – Ambrish’s technique and temperament have earned him immense praise. Ambrish has scored 43 runs at an average of 21.50 in first-class cricket. In Under-19 cricket, he has played eight Youth ODIs, scoring 125 runs at an average of 31.25 and taking 10 wickets. Given his early potential, franchises looking for long-term squad building could show interest in the youngster.

Sahil Parakh (18 years and 192 days)

Sahil Parakh, an aggressive southpaw, is another prodigy garnering interest ahead of the auction. The Maharashtra batter left a mark in the Youth ODI series against Australia, smacking a 109 off just 75 balls while opening the batting. He rose to further fame in the Maharashtra Premier League earlier this year, scoring 202 runs at a staggering strike rate of nearly 180 in eight encounters for title winners Eagle Nashik Titans.

Parakh, who recently debuted in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Maharashtra, also possesses leadership attributes, having led the state’s Under-19 side in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy earlier this year. Franchises looking for top-order backups will eye him as a viable and promising option.

Wahidullah Zadran (18 years and 31 days)

Afghanistan’s Wahidullah Zadran is the youngest talent in the 2026 auction. Born on November 15, 2007, the off-spinner has already built a reputation through his performances in youth cricket. With 19 T20 matches under his belt thus far, Zadran has claimed 28 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 6.72.

He grabbed eyeballs with his exploits in the Youth ODIs in the series against Bangladesh earlier this year, picking 11 wickets in just four matches to finish as Afghanistan Under-19 team’s highest wicket-taker. He is currently a part of the national team at the Under-19 Asia Cup in Dubai. His ability to control the middle overs could put him on the radar of franchises looking to plug spin holes.