Media365
The IPL 2026 auction has sparked discussions due to an unusual listing of Vijay Shankar, a former India all-rounder, in the uncapped players’ category. The auction, scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, features 350 shortlisted cricketers.
Shankar’s inclusion in the uncapped category is noteworthy given his previous international experience of 12 ODIs and nine T20Is for India. His classification stems from a new IPL regulation implemented before the 2025 season.The regulation states that Indian players who haven’t played in India’s starting XI across any format in the past five calendar years and don’t hold a current BCCI central contract can be classified as uncapped. This rule applies exclusively to Indian cricketers.This regulation was previously applied in the case of MS Dhoni and Sandeep Sharma, who were retained as uncapped players by Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals respectively at a capped retention salary of Rs 4 crore last year.Shankar’s recent performance has been less than impressive after being released by Chennai Super Kings following a disappointing IPL 2025 season. His Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign for Tripura showed limited success, with only two scores above 30 runs in seven matches and a highest score of 50.Despite his recent form, Shankar’s base price of Rs 30 lakh makes him an economical option for teams seeking experienced players. At 34 years old, he will be listed in the seventh auction set among uncapped all-rounders.Other players in his category include Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Tanush Kotian, Auqib Nabi, Mahipal Lomror, and Prashant Veer. While Shankar may not be a first-choice player, his experience and versatility could attract teams looking for squad depth.The auction will reveal whether Shankar’s new uncapped status and experience will generate interest among the franchises. His situation has become one of the notable aspects of this year’s auction proceedings.
