Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar Dec 9: In a significant recognition of Jammu & Kashmir’s rising cricketing standards, eight players from the region have secured a place in the final shortlist for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mega auction slated for December 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released its refined list of 350 eligible players on Tuesday.
The list was narrowed down from nearly 1,390 initial entries based on team requirements and recent domestic performances.
From the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA), eight players have found their names among the shortlisted group: Auqib Nabi, Nasir Muzaffar, Atif Mushtaq, Waseem Khanday, Vivrant Sharma, Abid Mushtaq, Qamran Iqbal, and Ashwin Murugan.
Leading the J&K contingent is Baramulla-born pacer Auqib Nabi, who has steadily carved a reputation as one of the finest swing bowlers in the domestic circuit. The 28-year-old has consistently delivered for J&K across formats, with his standout performance coming in the last Ranji Trophy season where he bagged 44 wickets, placing him among the top bowlers nationwide.
Alongside Nabi, several other promising J&K players have made it to the list. The group represents a balanced mix of all-rounders, pacers, and young batting prospects who have impressed in various domestic tournaments that includes asir Muzaffar – known for his composure in the middle order, Atif Mushtaq – a consistent performer in white-ball cricket, Waseem Khanday – a reliable run-getter with strong T20 credentials, Vivrant Sharma – who has earlier been associated with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Abid Mushtaq – J&K’s dependable spin-bowling all-rounder, Qamran Iqbal – talented opener with aggressive stroke play and Ashwin Murugan – impressive fast-medium bowler emerging through.
Officials from JKCA say the shortlisting reflects the continuous improvement in local cricketing standards, crediting better infrastructure, enhanced coaching systems, and increased exposure in domestic tournaments.
The upcoming auction will offer 77 available spots across the ten franchises. The shortlisted lineup includes 240 Indian and 110 overseas players, with a strong emphasis on emerging domestic talent—224 uncapped Indian players form a major part of the pool.
While 40 players have placed themselves in the top base price category of Rs 2 crore, the majority of cricketers—227—fall in the Rs 30 lakh bracket, a range often favoured by teams looking to secure promising young players.
Jammu & Kashmir has gradually built a meaningful presence in the IPL over the last decade. Earlier, players such as Abdul Samad, Umran Malik, Parvez Rasool, Rasikh Salam, Yudhvir Singh, Mohammad Mudhasir, and Manzoor Pandav made it to various franchises. While some gained substantial game time, others saw limited on-field opportunities but benefitted from elite-level exposure and training environments.
Cricket lovers in the region see the inclusion of eight players in the auction pool as a milestone, hoping that many of them secure contracts and continue J&K’s growing contribution to the league.
