Top 5 Underrated Players in IPL 2026: The IPL auction is done, and the underrated players in IPL 2026 could end up defining the league. Big players are already in the spotlight, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are set to start their title defence on March 28 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
But every IPL season shows the same thing. Big names alone don’t win trophies. Teams win because of players who don’t get much attention but deliver at the right time.
In IPL 2026, teams spent ₹215.45 crore on 77 players in the mini-auction. Along with star players, teams also picked young and lesser-known talent. Some of these signings did not get much attention, but they could become very important.
This includes a player who started with tennis-ball cricket and now bowls 140 km/h, a nearly 7-foot fast bowler from Zimbabwe who performed well in the T20 World Cup, and two young ₹14.2 crore players who could shape Chennai Super Kings’ future.
List of the Top 5 Underrated Players in IPL 2026
1. Mangesh Yadav (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
Mangesh Yadav was playing tennis-ball cricket in Madhya Pradesh not long ago. Now he is in the IPL for ₹5.2 crore. He is a left-arm pacer who can bowl above 140 km/h and has already taken 14 wickets in the MP T20 League.
What makes him dangerous is his pace and his slower ball, especially in death overs. He has very little domestic experience, but still got attention because of his impact in T20 cricket.
In RCB, bowlers like Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar lead the attack, but Mangesh offers a different left-arm option. If he gets a chance, he can make quick impact.
His underrated factor is simple – he came from tennis-ball cricket and now bowls 140+, so he has nothing to lose.
2. Blessing Muzarabani (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Muzarabani is nearly 7 feet tall, which already makes him different. But he also performed strongly in the T20 World Cup 2026, taking 13 wickets and finishing in the top 5.
He joined KKR as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman. His height helps him get extra bounce, which is hard for batters to handle.
He creates problems with steep bounce and movement. In a KKR attack with Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, and Harshit Rana, he adds something unique.
His underrated factor is that Zimbabwe players don’t get much IPL attention, even after strong performances.
3. Prashant Veer (Chennai Super Kings)
Prashant Veer is just 20 but was bought for ₹14.2 crore. He is a left-arm spin all-rounder and is seen as a replacement for Ravindra Jadeja.
He scored 320 runs at a strike rate of 155 and took 8 wickets in the UP T20 League. In U-23 cricket, he had 376 runs and 18 wickets.
He can hit big shots and bowl useful spin. He also showed strong fitness by playing multiple matches in a short time.
CSK need someone in Jadeja’s role, so he may get direct chances. His underrated factor is that people talk more about his price, not his actual ability.
4. Kartik Sharma (Chennai Super Kings)
Kartik Sharma is a 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter bought for ₹14.2 crore. He has not played IPL yet, but his numbers are strong.
He hit 28 sixes in just 12 T20 innings with a strike rate above 160. He was also among the top six-hitters in Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.
In Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he scored 133 runs in 5 matches at a strike rate of 160. CSK may use him as a finisher and future replacement for MS Dhoni.
His underrated factor is that people see only his price, but he is actually a strong power-hitter.
5. Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals)
Suryavanshi is just 14 years old but already made headlines. He scored 101 off 38 balls in IPL 2025.
In the U-19 World Cup 2026 final, he scored 175 off 80 balls and helped India win. After that, he has been training under Kumar Sangakkara.
He is expected to open with Yashasvi Jaiswal. His strength is aggressive batting from the start. The only concern is consistency after his debut.
His underrated factor is that people still see him as “potential” because of his age, even after big performances.
FAQs
Q. Who is playing the first match in IPL 2026?
A. IPL 2026 starts on March 28, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru playing against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Q. How much money was spent in the IPL 2026 mini-auction?
A. Teams spent ₹215.45 crore on 77 players in the IPL 2026 mini-auction.
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