- Home>
- Gallery»
- From Auqib Nabi And Jacob Duffy To Pathum Nissanka And Prashant Veer: Debutants To Watch Out For In IPL 2026
From Auqib Nabi And Jacob Duffy To Pathum Nissanka And Prashant Veer: Debutants To Watch Out For In IPL 2026
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has undeniably proved to be a breeding ground for future cricketers as many have gone on to have successful careers after performing in the lucrative tournament. The 2026 edition should be no different as fresh faces like Aquib Nabi, Jacob Duffy, Prashant Veer among others will bring in their passion to thrill the fans. Equally, these players may also feel the pressure, given the need to justify the price shelled out on them in the auction.
Auqib Nabi
Auqib Nabi has established himself as the immediate future of India's pace-bowling unit, leading the charts for wicket-takers in Ranji Trophy 2025-26 with 60 scalps in 17 innings. The right-arm pacer was snapped by the Delhi Capitals for ₹8.4 crore and will be keen to carry his form. (Image Credits: X)
Jacob Duffy
Jacob Duffy went to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for his base price of ₹2 crore. The New Zealand quick's height should enable him to generate extra bounce off the pitch and could start the tournament if Josh Hazlewood is not fit. (Image Credits: Black Caps X)
Mangesh Yadav
Left-arm pacer Mangesh Yadav bagged a hefty contract with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as they shelled out ₹5.2 crore. The Madhya Pradesh Premier League saw him take 14 wickets in six matches at 12 and kept a strike rate of 206.89 with the bat. (Credits: Mangesh Yadav Instagram)
Prashant Veer.
20-year-old Prashant Veer secured a contract of a whopping ₹14.2 crore from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Veer smashed 320 runs and picked up 8 scalps in 10 matches and kept a strike rate of 155.34. He has a strike rate of 167.16 in 9 T20s and can also bowl left-arm spin. (Credits: X)
Kartik Sharma
Similar to Prashant Veer, Kartik Sharma also fetched ₹14.2 crore from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The keeper-batter finished with 445 runs for Rajasthan in the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy and struck 334 runs in 11 innings in two SMAT seasons while keeping a strike rate of 162.92. (Image Credits: Kartik Sharma Instagram)
Pathum Nissanka
Sri Lanka's elegant opener Pathum Nissanka went to the Delhi Capitals for ₹4 crore. A sweet timer of the ball, Nissanka was in decent touch in T20 World Cup 2026 and will be keen to turn it on during the cash-rich tournament. (Image Credits: Pathum Nissanka Instagram)
Tejasvi Dahiya.
Kolkata Knight Riders snapped keeper-batter Ravi Dahiya for ₹3 crore in the auction. An aggressive keeper-batter, he finished the Delhi Premier League (DPL) with 339 runs while keeping a strike rate of 190.45. He also hit 29 sixes during that stint. (Credits: DPL X)
Cooper Connolly
Australia's Cooper Connolly attracted a bid of ₹3 crore from the Punjab Kings. Although Connolly has delivered promising performances in the BBL, he has struggled in T20Is, especially in the sub-continent. Adapting to sub-continent will be his biggest challenge and may look up to Ricky Ponting to groom him for future challenges. (Credits: Perth Scorchers X)
