Jamie Smith the 24 year old English cricketer is fast becoming a star. As a wicketkeeper batter he’s been in great form especially for England’s Test team.
Smith made his Test debut at Lord’s last year and scored a century in his first innings. His 184 not out against India at Edgbaston really got people talking. He came in when England were 84 for 5. His innings full of controlled, aggressive and brave shots had everyone talking about his chances of playing in T20 leagues around the world including the Indian Premier League (IPL). He seems to have the skills to do well there.
Teams are always looking for good batters who can also keep wickets so Smith seems like a good fit. Many thought he would get an IPL deal in the 2026 mini auction especially after his performance under pressure.
But IPL rules now require overseas players to register for the 2025 mega auction to be eligible for the 2026 mini auction. The IPL governing council announced this before the 2025 mega auction.
This rule was created because some overseas players were skipping the mega auction to get more money in the mini auction. This works because teams in need often bid high for specific players in the mini auctions.
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Since Smith didn’t register for the 2025 mega auction he can’t participate in the 2026 mini auction. So he’ll miss next year’s IPL disappointing fans and teams who wanted to see him play.
The IPL has made exceptions before and since Smith hasn’t played in the league yet he might still be allowed to register for the next auction. If not he will be able to participate in the IPL auction from 2027.
