The IPL 2026 auction was buzzing with excitement and energy, largely because foreign players bring an element of surprise that can completely transform a team's prospects in just one season. In total, the teams snapped up 77 players, shelling out around ₹215.45 crore during the auction. Despite this hefty spending, quite a few prominent foreign cricketers went unsold. The main reason? This year's auction was a mini-auction. In a mini-auction, teams aren't looking to overhaul their entire rosters; instead, they concentrate on filling a few key positions. With limited slots and budgets, franchises had to be very choosy, which unfortunately meant that several talented overseas players missed out on contracts. Shai Hope Shai Hope has emerged as one of the standout batters from the West Indies in recent years. So, it came as a shock when he wasn’t picked in the IPL 2026 auction. Over the last year, he’s been on fire in international cricket, racking up 556 runs in 19 T20 International innings, which includes 4 fifties and a century. His One Day International (ODI) stats are even more impressive, with 678 runs at an average of 55.8, featuring 4 fifties and 2 centuries. Many cricket experts believed his consistent performance would make him a hot commodity for any IPL team, yet he went unsold. Also Read | Top 5 Cricket Controversies That Shook 2025 Jamie Smith Jamie Smith is a promising wicketkeeper-batter hailing from England. He’s been making waves in international cricket, but surprisingly, he didn’t get picked in the IPL 2026 auction. He had set his reserve price at ₹2 crore, hoping to land his first IPL contract. A few teams had him on their radar, and he was even considered during some quick auctions. However, in the end, no one took the plunge. This left many cricket fans scratching their heads, as Smith has shown immense potential, especially in the wicketkeeper-batter role, which is always in high demand in T20 leagues. Maheesh Theekshana Maheesh Theekshana, the skilled spinner from Sri Lanka, also found himself unsold in the IPL 2026 auction. With a base price of ₹2 crore, he didn’t attract any bids. He’s had success in Indian conditions and has prior IPL experience. Last season, he played for the Rajasthan Royals, where he took 11 wickets in 11 matches with an economy rate of 9.76. Given his solid performance and experience, it was surprising to fans that teams chose not to pick him, especially considering his talent in the T20 format.