The IPL 2026 is set to take place from March 26 to May 31. Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to release the complete schedule, the upcoming edition of the marquee event is expected to begin around three weeks after the T20 World Cup 2026
Suresh Raina (Pic: File Pic)
Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction, former Team India cricketer Suresh Raina said that if Sarfaraz Khan gets picked by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), his form will then largely benefit the team.
Further speaking more about him, the former cricketer said even if Sarfaraz helps CSK win two matches out of six games, the price will be justified.
"I think he is in great form. We saw earlier that when Venkatesh Iyer was bought for a big amount, the form wasn't quite there. Sarfaraz, on the other hand, is batting really well right now. You don't get that kind of player easily--the range of shots he plays, the confidence he has. The form Sarfaraz is in, even if he plays four or six matches and wins you two games, that 7 crore will be fully justified," he said on JioStar.
"After his first-class performances, he has also been included in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He is a form player, following a process. Chennai's wicket is technically sound, and if he gets set in a system like CSK, where the focus is on winning games, I think CSK will benefit greatly from his form," he added.
The 28-year-old cricketer has delivered strong performances ahead of the cash-rich league auction. Recently, he has scored 256 runs in six innings of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with an average of 64.00 and a strike rate of 182.85.
The cash-rich league is set to take place from March 26 to May 31. Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to release the complete schedule, the upcoming edition of the marquee event is expected to begin around three weeks after the T20 World Cup 2026.
The 2026 auction will take place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The player list for the 2026 season auction has been finalised, with 350 players, including 240 Indian cricketers and 110 overseas.
CSK have retained 16 players, including four overseas, from their 2024 squad, spending a total of Rs 81.60 crores on retention. Their caps have Rs 43.40 crore remaining for the mini-auction.
List of 16 players retained: Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Jamie Overton, MS Dhoni, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Noor Ahmad, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Sanju Samson (T), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Shreyas Gopal, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Urvil Patel.
(With ANI Inputs)
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