PSL 2026 vs IPL 2026: Top 3 most expensive players and their auction price comparison
Naseem Shah and Cameron Green (Source: IG/__camgreen__ and Inaseemshah)
Published - 18 Mar 2026, 12:46 AM• Read time - 3 mins
The inaugural auction of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for the upcoming edition was held in February as eight teams bid for the top talent from Pakistan and around the world. As expected, team owners broke the bank for signing the top players from Pakistan, while a few overseas stars also attracted huge bids.
As the PSL auction concluded, it marked another milestone in the tournament’s history as the league began its new chapter with eight teams, and the players got paid as per their market value. As PSL embarks on its new journey, here’s a comparison of its top three most expensive players with the most expensive buys at the Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026) auction.
1. Naseem Shah vs Cameron Green
Pakistan’s fast bowling star Naseem Shah entered the auction at a base price of PKR 4.2 crore and was eventually sold for PKR 8.65 crore, becoming the most expensive player at the inaugural bidding event. The 23-year-old is touted as one of the rising stars from his country.
With experience of playing 50 PSL matches and good international exposure at his disposal, he became a valuable addition to the Rawalpindi squad.
On the other hand, Australia all-rounder Cameron Green became the most expensive player at the IPL 2026 auction, after he was sold for a whopping INR 25.20 crore to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Green didn’t feature in IPL 2025 due to injury and was in high demand during the auction due to his all-round skills, which saw him attract the highest bid.
There’s a stark difference between Naseem and Green’s paychecks. In USD, Naseem’s PSL value would be 309 thousand, while Green’s value would be 2.7 million. However, as per the new IPL rule, he would only get INR 18 crore (1.9 million USD), while the remaining goes to BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) for the player’s welfare fund.
2. Faheem Ashraf vs Matheesha Pathirana
Pakistan all-rounder Faheem Ashraf was also in high demand during the PSL 2026 auction as he became the second-most expensive player at the event.
The 32-year-old started at a base price of PKR 4.2 crores and was sold to Islamabad United for PKR 8.5 crore. Ashraf returns to Islamabad with a wealth of experience, having played 85 T20Is in his career. He’s also a vastly experienced player in PSL history, having scalped 95 wickets from 84 matches.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana was the second most expensive player at the IPL 2026 auction after entering the bidding event at a base price of INR 2 crore. Pathirana was eventually sold for INR 18 crore to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Pathirana is also touted as the rising star of Sri Lankan cricket, with a slingy action resembling the legendary Lasith Malinga. The 23-year-old has taken 40 wickets from 28 T20Is and 47 wickets from 32 innings in the IPL. When compared to Faheem Ashraf’s PSL salary, Pathirana will earn USD 1.9 million while Ashraf will take home USD 304 thousand.
3. Daryl Mitchell vs Kartik Sharma
Star New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell was another highly in-demand player at the PSL 2026 auction as several teams were ready to break the bank to have him on their roster. Mitchell’s bidding started at a base price of PKR 4.2 crore, and Rawalpindi were successful in acquiring his services for PKR 8.05 crore.
Mitchell is the backbone of New Zealand's batting line-up across formats and has a wealth of experience in the shortest format, having played 104 T20Is. Apart from that, he has played 268 matches in his T20 career and also made his PSL debut in 2025, playing nine matches for Lahore Qalandars.
Meanwhile, the 19-year-old Kartik Sharma etched his name in record books, becoming the most expensive uncapped player in IPL history. Sharma entered the IPL 2026 auction with a base price of INR 30 lakh and was eventually sold for a whopping INR 14.20 crore to Chennai Super Kings. The wicket-keeper batter from Rajasthan has been plundering runs in domestic cricket and will bring his brute-hitting power to the CSK squad.
When compared with Daryl Mitchell’s PSL salary for the 2026 season, Sharma will earn over USD 1.5 million, while the New Zealand batter will take home USD 288 thousand.
