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Rivalry notes
One of the biggest advantages in IPL Fantasy is finding good, cheap players before everyone else does. IPL rookies/uncapped players usually come in at a low price (7-8cr), which gives you more flexibility to build your team. If even one of them becomes a regular starter, they can be massive value. When making a team with stars you need these cheaper options to balance the budget to get the better players so here are a few uncapped players to keep an eye on this season. Not all will play immediately or every game, but they all have unique skillsets and great potential that could make them must haves.
Salil Arora (SRH, 7cr) is probably the most interesting uncapped option heading into this season. He has built a reputation in the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as a clean finisher, striking at nearly 200! in recent appearances and showing the ability to clear the boundary consistently at the death. Wicketkeepers who can finish games are gold for teams, but it’s unlikely he’ll get the gloves on at SRH. He also had an excellent inning in the intra-SRH practice matches with 81 off just 33 and a rapid 47 off 15. The main question is opportunity, but I think he’ll definitely get a chance in a game soon with his talent and he could become one of the best cheap enablers early on.
Kartik Sharma (CSK, 7.5cr) will likely attract the most attention out of this group as the most expensive uncapped player at 14.2CR! He has been consistent in domestic t20 cricket, often batting in the middle order and maintaining a solid average while striking around 160. There is already a lot of expectation around him as any young player paid that much for a long-term role in CSK is always going to be watched closely. Like Salil, he fits that wicketkeeper finisher profile which can be very useful in fantasy (though he also likely won’t get the chance too). If he locks in a spot, he has the potential to deliver consistent value at a lower price.
Mukul Chaudhary (LSG, 7cr) is another player in that same mould, although he may go more under the radar. He has shown flashes in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with quick cameos, smacking 173 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 198.85. The challenge again is breaking into a strong lineup, but if injuries or poor form open the door, he becomes very relevant very quickly. Players in these roles do not need many balls to make an impact, which makes them high risk high reward picks depending on whether they even get a chance to bat.
Shivang Kumar (SRH, 7.5cr) brings a really unique combination. Left arm wrist spin is already rare, and adding finishing ability with the bat makes him even more valuable for fantasy points. He has a very small sample size in domestic matches but has picked up wickets at a solid strike rate while also contributing useful runs down the order. He may not play this season in the XI, but SRH don’t have very experienced spinners anyway so he could sneak in if lucky at some point. If he does get in, he is the type of player who can contribute in multiple ways, which is exactly what you want in fantasy.
Mangesh Yadav (RCB, 7.5cr) fits the profile of a high upside all rounder. He has been effective in the few domestic matches he’s played with the ball, while also showing some ability to score with the bat lower down the order. A left arm pacer who can bowl 140 is always quite nice, but clearly RCB scouts have seen something beyond the numbers on paper as he was chosen as a like-for-like replacement for Yash Dayal.
Aquib Nabi (DC, 7.5cr) might be uncapped but he certainly isn’t young at 29 but his experience likely plays in his favour as one of the most likely to play of those on this list. He had two incredible Ranji Trophy seasons where he picked up 104 wickets across the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons. The second was critical, where he finished as the season's highest wicket-taker taking 60 wickets in 17 innings at 12.65, while his team Jammu and Kashmir won a historic maiden Ranji title. He has been one of the more reliable performers in domestic competitions and his price of 8.4cr reflects that, contributing regularly with the ball and maintaining an economy that keeps him in games, while also chipping in with important runs on occasion. A lot of players in this category are picked as backups, but he looks good enough with the ball to be selected immediately. 100% should be on the look out as one of the most complete bowlers for just 7.5cr.
Ashok Sharma (GT, 7cr) has had a difficult time mostly as a net bowler and bench warmer for a couple teams now but still GT put their faith in him. In his 10 t20’s he’s taken an above average 22 wickets at a 15.6 average so there’s clearly some potential. He has already shown that he can hit high speeds consistently and pick up wickets, which is exactly what you want from a fantasy perspective. The issue is less about ability and more about opportunity, especially in a strong bowling unit with Rabada, Prasidh, Ishant AND Rashid AND Siraj. If he does get a chance though, fast bowlers can pick up wickets in clusters and quickly become valuable fantasy options.
Daksh Kamra (KKR, 7.5cr) fits into the mystery spinner category that teams like to use. He was especially a mystery for me with NO stats on ESPN cricinfo. The lack of any record suggests that KKR’s scouting team has picked him based on potential observed in local circuits, trials or perhaps net performances rather than match stats. He can also apparently contribute with the bat, adding a bit of extra upside. He may not get a chance this season, but if he does, mystery spinners can be difficult to handle on turning pitches. That gives him some upside as a differential pick if he finds his way into the XI.
Smaran Ravichandran (SRH, 7cr) is another name worth keeping an eye on as a potential budget option. He has been impressive in domestic cricket, where he has combined consistency with the ability to accelerate when needed. Averaging and striking at 73/63 in FC, 50/96 in List A and a phenomenal 49/162 in t20’s. He was chosen by SRH in 2025, couldn’t play due to injuries but was still retained so there’s definitely some potential within him. His recent numbers suggest significant improvements with decent performances in intra matches. Depending on whether he can fit into his SRH’s INCREDIBLE batting lineup, he could offer decent points with the potential for quick cameos, making him a decent pick for the price.
Not all of these players will start the season, and some may not play ANY games. But in IPL Fantasy, spotting cheap players before they become popular is one of the best differentials for you. Even if one or two of these picks perform and become mainstays they can make a big difference to your team balance as they allow you to make major players picks you otherwise wouldn’t be able to. As usual, keep an eye on team news and pregame lineup releases, as these are the types of players that can quickly go from unknown to must haves with a single unexpected game. If you want to compete with us be sure to join the Fantasy Faceoff league with the code 7B40KD0110@1. Thanks for reading this quite long post and I’ll see you again before the first clash that this has all built up to.