Nikhil ChaudharyJust a day after his name trended to be listed in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction, he has now revealed the franchise he hopes to represent in the upcoming season of the cash-rich league. The IPL 2026 mini-auction is scheduled to take place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi, where franchises will look to strengthen their squads ahead of the new campaign.
Speaking in an interview with Daily Post Punjabi, Chaudhary expressed his desire to play for Punjab Kings (PBKS), saying that the franchise has always been close to his heart. He mentioned that he is optimistic about being selected by PBKS, who finished runners-up in IPL 2025, ending an 11-year wait to reach the final once again.
In a development that has sparked curiosity among fans, Choudhary, who currently plays domestic cricket in Australia, has been listed as an uncapped Indian all-rounder in the auction pool. He appears in the fifth set of uncapped all-rounders and has set his base price at Rs 40 lakh. Despite moving abroad, his state association is listed as Punjab Cricket Association, adding another layer of intrigue to his profile.
Chaudhary made his List A and T20 debut for Punjab in 2017. Since shifting his cricket activities to Australia in 2020, he has been active in domestic competitions and even featured in the Big Bash League (BBL), representing the Hobart Hurricanes. Notably, he is only the second Indian-origin player to feature in the BBL after Unmukt Chand. Their eligibility for foreign leagues stems from a BCCI regulation that prevents active Indian players from participating in foreign leagues until they have retired from all formats of Indian cricket.
As far as the dynamics of the auction are concerned, franchises will compete for 77 available slots, which also includes 31 overseas posts. The highest reserve price is Rs 2 crore, with 40 players listed in this top bracket. Out of the initial 1390 registrants, only 350 players have been shortlisted, including 240 Indians and 110 foreigners. Earlier this year, all ten franchises announced their retained player lists, in what promises to be an exciting mini-auction.
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