The much-anticipated mini-auction is just around the corner, and franchises are gearing up to assemble formidable squads that can take them all the way in the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 16, when the IPL 2026 mini-auction kicks off at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are stepping into the auction with the biggest budget of INR 64.3 crore, while the Mumbai Indians (MI) will have the smallest purse at INR 2.75 crore, having retained most of their players. There are a total of 77 slots available at the auction, with 31 set aside for overseas players. According to IPL rules, each team can register a maximum squad size of 25. In this article, we will look at three players who might go unsold for the second year in a row. Umesh Yadav Umesh Yadav played for the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024, taking eight wickets in seven matches. However, when the IPL 2025 mega-auction rolled around, he went without any bids. A leg injury had been troubling him during the season, and the need for surgery may have swayed the franchises' decisions. Umesh has put in a lot of effort to improve his fitness and showcased good speeds during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025, where he represented his home team, Vidarbha. Still, at 38 years old, he’s well past his prime, and T20 cricket has never been his strong suit. It seems unlikely that he’ll catch the eye of any buyers this time around either. Also Read | 2 Indians and 15 overseas: Know the players registered with 1 crore base price Kyle Mayers Kyle Mayers had quite a notable performance with the bat during IPL 2023, racking up 379 runs over 13 matches, boasting an average of 29.15 and a strike rate of 144.11 while playing for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Although he was re-signed by LSG for IPL 2024, he found himself sitting on the bench for the entire season. When the IPL 2025 mega-auction rolled around, he didn’t attract any bidders. At 33 years old, he recently lost his spot on the West Indies T20I team after some underwhelming performances against Nepal in September. It seems pretty unlikely that Mayers will find a team at the auction table. Still, there’s a chance he could join IPL 2026 if a team needs an injury replacement. Steve Smith Steven Smith last made an appearance at an IPL auction on February 18, 2021, when he was picked up by the Delhi Capitals. Unfortunately, he only played eight matches and hasn’t been active as a player in the league since then. He went unsold during the IPL 2024 and 2025 auctions. Instead, he took on the role of an expert, analyzing matches featuring his fellow players. Smith has registered for the upcoming mini-auction, setting his base price at the maximum of INR 2 crore. While there’s no denying the Australian star’s batting skills, teams might hesitate to bring on an anchor like him, opting instead for more dynamic players, especially given the high-scoring nature of the venues in recent IPL seasons.