JuicyTalk
The historic first-ever Pakistan Super League (PSL) auction has officially concluded in Lahore on February 11, marking a seismic shift in the T20 franchise landscape. While the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi left several world-class stars out in the cold, the PSL franchises, bolstered by two new expansion teams, wasted no time in securing that elite talent. From marquee veterans to high-velocity pace bowlers, the ‘unsold’ list of the IPL has effectively become the ‘superstar’ list for the upcoming Pakistan Super League season.
List of players unsold in IPL 2026 but selected in the PSL Auction
The expansion of the PSL to eight teams (including the new Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad Kingsmen) created a massive vacuum for international quality, which was filled by players who surprisingly found no takers in the IPL. While the IPL franchises prioritized domestic Indian uncapped talent and specific role-players, the PSL teams leaned into proven international experience. The following table highlights the key players who went unsold in the IPL 2026 auction but were successfully picked up, often for massive sums, in the PSL 2026 auction and direct signing window:
Player IPL 2026 and PSL 2026 Status
| Player | IPL 2026 Status | PSL 2026 Team | Category / Signing Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Smith | Unsold (2 Cr) | Sialkot Stallionz | Marquee (Direct Signing) |
| Daryl Mitchell | Unsold (2 Cr) | Team Rawalpindi | Auction (PKR 8.05 Cr) |
| Devon Conway | Unsold (2 Cr) | Islamabad United | Direct Signing |
| Michael Bracewell | Unsold (2 Cr) | Peshawar Zalmi | Auction (PKR 4.20 Cr) |
| Spencer Johnson | Unsold (1.5 Cr) | Quetta Gladiators | Direct Signing |
| Riley Meredith | Unsold (1.5 Cr) | Hyderabad Kingsmen | Auction (PKR 4.20 Cr) |
| Ashton Turner | Unsold | Sialkot Stallionz | Auction (PKR 4.20 Cr) |
| Richard Gleeson | Unsold (75 Lakh) | Islamabad United | Auction (PKR 1.10 Cr) |
| Dasun Shanaka | Unsold (75 Lakh) | Lahore Qalandars | Auction (PKR 75 Lakh) |
Also READ: Multan Sultans’ PSL exit: New owner and record sale price unveiled after rebranding to Rawalpindi
‘New Era’ of the Pakistan Super League (PSL)
The PSL 2026 season has officially rewritten the history books. Not only did it successfully bridge the gap for international stars who missed out on the IPL, but it also transformed the league’s fundamental structure to compete on a global scale. The 2026 season marks the most significant evolution in the league’s decade-long history, headlined by the expansion from six to eight franchises.
The addition of the Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen (along with the transition of the Multan Sultans into Team Rawalpindi) has injected fresh capital and strategic depth into the competition. For the first time, the league ditched its traditional draft system in favor of a live player auction, allowing teams to engage in high-stakes bidding wars.
This shift saw domestic records shattered, with Naseem Shah becoming the most expensive local player at PKR 8.65 crore, while the new franchises were given a “Direct Overseas Signing” wildcard to secure global icons like Steve Smith (Sialkot) and Marnus Labuschagne (Hyderabad) before the bidding even began. With more matches, new venues like Sialkot’s historic grounds and Hyderabad’s Niaz Stadium, and a salary cap that has nearly doubled to accommodate world-class talent, PSL 2026 has positioned itself as the definitive alternative to the IPL for the world’s elite cricketers.
*Note*: While 79 players went unsold in the IPL, 56 of them were Indian players (like Deepak Hooda, Prithvi Shaw and Mahipal Lomror). Because of BCCI regulations, Indian players do not participate in the PSL. This is why you only see the overseas players from your list making the move.
Also READ: Shubman Gill’s close friend Agni Chopra responds to PSL registration rumours
