Patna: Cricketers from Bihar made a strong mark at the IPL 2026 auction, with four players sold and four retained by franchises, ensuring the presence of as many as seven Bihar-origin players in the upcoming season. The auction was held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and saw fast bowler Akash Deep emerging as the highest-paid player from the state.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) picked up Rohtas-born pacer Akash Deep for Rs 1 crore during the accelerated auction round. He had gone unsold in the initial rounds before KKR secured him at his base price. Akash Deep was bought by Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 8 crore in the previous season. With this buy, he returns to the KKR setup, having earlier represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL.
KKR also signed Sarthak Ranjan, son of Purnia MP Pappu Yadav, for Rs 30 lakh. The opening batter, who plays domestic cricket for Delhi, entered the IPL auction for the first time. His recent performances in the Delhi Premier League, including a century and consistent run-scoring, had drawn attention ahead of the auction.
Sunrisers Hyderabad secured services of Gopalganj pacer Sakib Hussain for Rs 30 lakh, while Mumbai Indians bought left-arm fast bowler Mohammad Izhar from Supaul at the same price. Both players have previously worked as net bowlers with IPL franchises and have impressed in domestic and age-group tournaments.
In addition to the four players sold at the auction, four Bihar-origin players were already retained by their franchises. Sunrisers Hyderabad retained wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who was bought for Rs 11.25 crore last season. Delhi Capitals retained fast bowler Mukesh Kumar from Gopalganj, while Rajasthan Royals held on to teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi. KKR also retained Samastipur all-rounder Anukul Roy.
Akash Deep’s journey continues to inspire many in Bihar’s cricketing circles. After losing his father at the age of 16 and his brother within six months, he moved out of the state due to the ban on the Bihar Cricket Association and built his career in Bengal. From club cricket in Asansol to representing Bengal in domestic cricket and earning an India call-up, Akash Deep has steadily risen through the ranks. He has featured in seven IPL matches so far, picking up six wickets, and remains in contention for a Test debut.
Sakib Hussain’s story is equally compelling. Hailing from a modest background in Gopalganj, his family struggled financially, with his mother even pledging her jewellery to support his cricketing aspirations. A former Under-19 highest wicket-taker, Sakib has trained at the National Cricket Academy and has received encouragement from MS Dhoni during his stint as a net bowler with Chennai Super Kings.
Sarthak Ranjan, meanwhile, has been in the spotlight since his prolific run in domestic T20 leagues. Though his early selection for Delhi in 2018 had sparked debate, his recent performances have strengthened his case as a promising opening batter for the future.
Among the retained players, Vaibhav Suryavanshi continues to generate buzz as one of India’s youngest cricketing prodigies. Bought by Rajasthan Royals last season, he became the youngest player in IPL history to score a century and has broken several age-group records at the Under-19 level, including fastest centuries and most sixes in youth ODIs.
Mukesh Kumar, retained by Delhi Capitals, remains one of Bihar’s most consistent fast bowlers. From playing local tournaments in Gopalganj to representing India A and earning national recognition, his journey reflects the growing footprint of Bihar in Indian cricket.
With eight Bihar players listed among the 350 cricketers in the IPL 2026 auction pool, the strong showing this year underlines the state’s rising contribution to the country’s premier T20 league.
