• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

IPL 2026 Auction: Virandeep Singh has scripted history as he has been shortlisted for the IPL 2026 final list of the mini auction. Hailing from Malaysia, he is the only cricketer from an associate nation to have registered his name with a base price of Rs 30 lakhs.

Why Virandeep stands out

The BCCI had revealed the final auction list, which went from 1390 players to 359. All of these players will be going under the hammer to fill up 77 spots, which also includes 31 overseas players. In this list, Virandeep has something special to offer-his extensive T20I experience, captaincy experience, and playing in different franchise leagues at a very reasonable price tag.

It should be noted here that he is just 26 years old and has been playing for Malaysia in the shortest format since 2019. He has scored 3115 runs after playing in 108 matches, and that's the most by any Malaysian player, and he is the only Malaysian player to have scored 3000 runs in this format. He had scored an unbeaten knock of 116 runs against Indonesia in 2023.

Also Read: Arshdeep Singh Opens Up On What Jasprit Bumrah Needs To Do To Be Like Kohli, Says, 'He Still Needs To...'

He also has performed well as a bowler in this format. He has taken 108 wickets, which also includes match-winning figures of 4 /5 against Mongolia last year. He has also won a lot of Player of the Match awards.

At the same time, Virandeep isn't just entering the IPL auction on the back of his domestic performance. He has already played franchise cricket like Sharjah Warriors in the ILT20, Surrey Jaguars in Global T20 Canada, and Chitwan Tigers in Nepal’s Everest Premier League, where he has learnt to play alongside some of the world's top players.

Hailing from a cricketing family, where his elder brother Pavandeep has also represented Malaysia, and Virandeep had also led the national team from the front when he was just 20 years old, and had become the youngest male cricketer to have led a team in the shortest format. His experience as a skipper has helped him become one of the players to watch out for.

Also Read: IND vs SA: Comeback Man Hardik Pandya Unveils His 'Biggest USP,' Says 'Tried To Put My Team First'

It remains to be seen which team will break their bank at an associate player like him. And even if he is bought by a team, then his performance in the shortest format will prove them right.

Also In News