Auction patterns of every IPL franchise - What they never change

The mini-auction for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is scheduled to take place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. With less than two weeks to go, all 10 franchises are analysing their squad requirements and auction strategies to shape a formidable lineup.

Over the years, each franchise has adopted a distinct pattern in auctions, a philosophy that rarely changes, regardless of the players available in a given year. Here let us take a look at the auction tendencies of every IPL team.

Here are the auction patterns of every IPL franchise

Lucknow Super Giants - Role based buyers

One of the two new entrants introduced in 2022, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have made playoffs in both their first two seasons, largely due to their structured auction approach. LSG prioritise role-specific players, especially experienced all-rounders, power-hitters, and reliable bowlers. Their setup has prominently featured big hitters such as KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, Nicholas Pooran, and Marcus Stoinis in 2023.

Their recent additions of Rishabh Pant, Aiden Markram, and Mitchell Marsh further solidify the pattern of selecting clearly defined role players. In bowling too, they focus on specialists like Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, and Digvesh Rathi to maintain balance.

Gujarat Titans - All rounders heavy strategy

Introduced alongside LSG, Gujarat Titans (GT) became champions in their debut season (2022) and runners-up the following year. Their auction blueprint revolves around multi-skilled players. GT have consistently invested in all-rounders such as Hardik Pandya, Rashid Khan, Washington Sundar, and Rahul Tewatia. This gives them flexibility in team combinations, allowing them to maintain a stable top order led by Shubman Gill while depending heavily on all-rounder contributions to balance both departments.

Punjab Kings - Inconsistent & aggressive spenders

Punjab Kings remain one of the most unpredictable teams at auction. Their lack of a stable core has often led them to make bold, high-value purchases that do not always translate to on-field success. Despite assembling a strong squad in 2014, which helped them finish runners-up, the franchise failed to build on that momentum.

Frequent chopping and changing saw once-reliable names like KL Rahul, Chris Gayle, Shaun Marsh, and David Miller out of their setup. Punjab continue to spend aggressively but inconsistently, relying on big buys rather than sustained team-building.

Sunrisers Hyderabad - Bowling-centric strategy

Since their debut in 2013, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have built an identity around their bowling strength. For years, SRH auctions have revolved around stacking world-class bowlers. Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Dale Steyn, Pat Cummins, and T Natarajan form a long list of bowlers who have led their charge. While their batting has often been a weak link, SRH remain one of the most consistent franchises in prioritising bowlers above all else.

Delhi Capitals - Investment in potential

Delhi Capitals (formerly Delhi Daredevils) have traditionally focused on grooming young Indian talent. Their auction approach involves identifying high-potential domestic players and backing them early. This strategy has produced stars like Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and more recently Abishek Porel, Ashutosh Sharma, and Vipraj Nigam. Though they have been underachievers historically, DC’s long-term investment philosophy remains unchanged.

Rajasthan Royals - Youth focused

Champions of the inaugural IPL season, Rajasthan Royals (RR) have built their brand on scouting and developing young, often unknown talents. Their Moneyball-style auction approach focuses on undervalued players with high growth potential. Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, and earlier Ravindra Jadeja emerged through RR’s system. The franchise remains committed to this philosophy even today.

Kolkata Knight Riders - High reward picks

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), three-time champions, have historically placed their bets on explosive, high-impact players. From Andre Russell and Sunil Narine to Gautam Gambhir, Yusuf Pathan, Robin Uthappa, Varun Chakravarthy, and Rinku Singh, KKR prefer players who can single-handedly win games. Their auction strategy is centred on acquiring such match-winners, even if the risk is high.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru - Top heavy buyers

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are known for investing heavily in marquee top-order batters. Over the years, RCB have built star-studded but top-heavy line-ups around Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, and later big buys such as Yuvraj Singh and Chris Morris. Although they spent big at auctions, they often moved on quickly from those who did not deliver immediately. Their core identity remains centred on batting firepower.

Mumbai Indians - Unheralded talents

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) have mastered the art of identifying raw, uncapped players and grooming them into superstars. Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Tilak Varma, and Suryakumar Yadav emerged from MI’s talent pipeline. They balance big names with lesser-known talents, one of the most successful auction strategies in IPL history.

Chennai Super Kings - Experienced core

Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the most consistent franchise in IPL history, rely heavily on experience when making auction decisions. Under MS Dhoni, CSK have persisted with seasoned players like Suresh Raina, Faf du Plessis, Dwayne Bravo, Brendon McCullum, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ajinkya Rahane. Their focus on continuity and experienced cricketers has helped them win five titles.