The buzz is fast growing around the auction of the Indian Premier League for the year 2026, which will be hosted for the first time by Abu Dhabi. Very recently, the IPL Governing Council has published a final list of players, whittled down from 1,390 registrations to 350 shortlisted names.

 

Of these 350, 240 are Indians while there are 110 overseas cricketers. The ten IPL franchises will look to fill the 77 vacant slots, including 31 for overseas players. Most of the players are in the age bracket of 25 to 35, but a few experienced names close to 40 years old are also hoping for one last opportunity in the world's biggest T20 league.

 

Several seasoned players who have been around for years, having experience in international and domestic cricket, have entered this auction and proved that age is no barrier when it comes to skill and value.

 

5 Oldest Players in IPL 2026 Mini-Auction

 

Jalaj Saxena - 39 Years

 

The oldest player in the IPL 2026 auction will be Jalaj Saxena at 39 years of age. A true domestic cricket legend, Saxena has been one of the consistent performers in Indian cricket for nearly two decades. He has scored over 7,000 runs and taken nearly 500 wickets in first-class cricket.

 

Despite his impressive domestic record, Saxena has not had an extended IPL career. A part of the league since 2014, he has shared dressing rooms with Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Yet, he has played just one IPL match, which came for Punjab Kings, where he bowled three overs without getting a chance to bat.

 

Saxena has kept his base price at ₹40 lakh. Considering he is an experienced all-rounder, the franchises might prefer him as a decent back-up option due to the long season.

 

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Umesh Yadav - 38 Years

 

Other big names among the oldest players in the auction for IPL 2026 are Umesh Yadav, a veteran Indian fast bowler. Umesh is 38 years old and brings immense experience, having played 148 IPL matches throughout his career.

 

Known for his pace and ability to swing the new ball, Umesh had standout seasons in 2012 and 2018, when he picked up 19 and 20 wickets respectively for Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His most recent IPL stint was with Gujarat Titans in 2024, where he took eight wickets in seven matches.

 

Umesh went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction but recently received a recall for Vidarbha in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He has set a base price of ₹1.5 crore and will hope franchises still see value in his experience.

 

Richard Gleeson - 38 Years

 

England fast bowler Richard Gleeson will go to the IPL 2026 auction at 38. Gleeson is known for a memorable moment in international cricket when, within his first eight balls in T20Is, he removed Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant.

 

Gleeson made his professional debut at 27 and later represented several franchise leagues around the world. He first made his IPL debut for Chennai Super Kings in 2024 and later on for Mumbai Indians. His overall figures in three IPL matches read two wickets.

 

The English pacer has kept his base price at ₹75 lakh and may well attract teams in search of an experienced overseas fast bowler.

 

Also Read | 5 Young SMAT Stars Who Can Trigger Big Bidding Wars in IPL 2026 Mini Auction

 

Karn Sharma - 38 Years

 

Leg-spinner Karn Sharma is another experienced name in the auction pool for IPL 2026. At 38, Sharma has played 90 IPL matches and picked up 83 scalps. He made his IPL debut in 2014 and has been known as a useful option in the middle overs.

 

Sharma has donned the jerseys of Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru through his 11-year IPL career. In IPL 2025, he played six matches and took seven wickets, showing he has still got plenty to offer.

 

Dwaine Pretorius - 37 Years

 

The South African all-rounder, Dwaine Pretorius, will be 37 years old at the time of the IPL 2026 auction. He has played several T20 leagues across the world and made his IPL debut for Chennai Super Kings in 2022. He, upto now, has featured in seven matches in two seasons of IPL and picked up six wickets. Pretorius has thrown his hat into the auction ring with a base price of ₹1 crore and could be a decent pick for teams looking at overseas depth.