Auction Story
Prashant Veer, a 20-year-old all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh, shattered records at the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, becoming the most expensive uncapped player in the tournament's history. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) secured his services for a staggering Rs 14.20 crore, i.e. 47.3 times his base price of Rs 30 lakh, after a multi-team bidding war.
CSK had to fend off initial interest from Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants, followed by aggressive bids from Rajasthan Royals and a late challenge from Sunrisers Hyderabad. The deal places Veer at the top of the uncapped list, a spot he was joined in moments later by Kartik Sharma, who was acquired by CSK for the same price.
CSK's strategy
The massive outlay signals a strategic shift for CSK as they look for a long-term successor to Ravindra Jadeja, who was traded to Rajasthan Royals during the retention window. Head coach Stephen Fleming confirmed that Veer was identified specifically to fill the tactical void left by the veteran all-rounder. "Prashant Veer, given that we needed that kind of skillset with trading Jadeja for Sanju, we identified him as a good talent going forward,"
He added that the franchise is placing greater emphasis on domestic scouting, noting, "We knew if we can get a strong core of local players, I think your team's in good shape... sometimes you have to invest time in them and also money."
Prashant Veer: Who is he?
For Veer, the auction result felt surreal. "Sapna lag raha tha sab (It all felt like a dream), I told Rinku Singh bhai to pinch me once," he told The Indian Express. Hailing from Shahjipur village near Amethi, Veer’s background is humble; his father works as a 'Shiksha Mitra' (contract teacher) earning Rs 12,000 per month.
"My family has not seen so much money in their life, this will change things for good," Veer said, adding that playing under MS Dhoni had been a lifelong wish. "I had wished that whenever the auction happens, I should go to CSK. Bhagwan ne lagta hai sun liya (It seems God heard me)."
Prashant Veer's journey
Veer’s journey to the IPL involved various personal sacrifices. At 15, he moved from Amethi to Saharanpur to find better coaching under Rajiv Goyal, as local facilities were lacking. His cricketing dreams were initially funded by his late grandfather’s pension.
"When his grandfather died, he said, 'Sir ab mera cricket khatam' (Sir, my cricket is over now). I told him you play here, I will manage whatever I can," Goyal recalled, noting that local administrator Akram Saifi also stepped in to help. Despite clearing trials, he initially missed out on the UP U-16 squad and had to seek opportunities in Chandigarh before eventually breaking into the UP U-19 setup.
Prashant veer's Domestic records:
On the field, Veer has built a reputation as a hard-hitting middle-order batter and effective left-arm spinner. Known as "Miller" during his academy days in Kanpur for wearing a green jersey resembling South Africa's David Miller, Veer impressed scouts during trials with both CSK and Mumbai Indians.
In 12 T20s, he has scored 112 runs at a strike rate of over 167 and claimed 12 wickets with an economy rate of 6.45. His recent schedule underlines his grind; he juggled U-23 duties and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, flying constantly between Mumbai and Kolkata to feature in both tournaments.
What does the auction change?
Despite the sudden wealth, those close to Veer expect him to remain grounded. His coach noted that Veer had previously used earnings from the UP T20 League to start a small transport business for his father. "Money won’t change him, he understands the value of it," Goyal said.
"He is the first one to be at the ground and last to leave, his ethics separate him from others." With the auction drama settled, the youngster now faces the pressure of a price tag and the expectation of stepping into a role previously held by one of India's greatest all-rounders.