After tracking every franchise at the IPL 2026 mega auction across two intense days in Mumbai, we had the privilege of watching how each team filled their remaining slots after the retention window closed. The patterns were fascinating — some teams doubled down on their core identity, while others took bold swings to address long-standing gaps. Here is how the pieces fell and what each squad looks like heading into the new season.
Major Signings
The auction floor saw some of the biggest names in world cricket change jerseys as franchises reshuffled their rosters in search of the perfect balance. Several marquee players were traded or released, creating a ripple effect across all ten squads. The bidding wars for overseas all-rounders and death-over specialists drove prices well above expectations in several cases — a clear sign that teams have learned from previous seasons where death bowling depth made the difference between playoff qualification and an early exit.
Team-by-Team Analysis
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai's approach at the auction was vintage MI: protect the core, add youth at the margins, and never overspend on sentiment. They held onto their established Indian core while dipping into the uncapped pool for two promising pacers who impressed in domestic circuits last season. The focus on fresh legs in the bowling department tells us MI are preparing for the long tournament haul, rotating their attack across the grueling two-month league stage.
Chennai Super Kings
The Yellow Army stuck to their trusted formula of mixing battle-tested campaigners with promising young talent from the domestic circuit. What caught our eye was how CSK targeted multi-dimensional players who can adapt to different match situations — a philosophy that has served them well across five titles. Their auction picks suggest they are building for experience to shine through in high-pressure knockout games.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
RCB made the most eyebrow-raising moves of the auction, addressing their perpetual bowling weakness with deliberate intent. For years, their batting lineup — arguably the most star-studded in the league — has papered over cracks in the attack. This year, they invested in bowlers who can control the middle overs and not just the powerplay, a shift that could finally make them genuine title contenders rather than flat-track bullies.
Squad Strengths and Weaknesses
| Team | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| MI | Death bowling | Middle order depth |
| CSK | Experience | Power hitting |
| RCB | Top order | Pace attack |
| KKR | All-rounders | Consistency |
Fantasy Value Picks
From a Dream11 perspective, the auction reshuffle creates both opportunity and risk. Some players whose prices dropped are now exceptional value; others who were retained at high cost may not justify their credit outlay. Based on auction pricing and our assessment of squad roles, here are the picks worth prioritising in your initial squads:
- Premium: Kohli, Rohit, Bumrah, Jadeja
- Mid-range: Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Ruturaj
- Value: Young uncapped players from weaker teams