David Miller's IPL 2026 Auction: AI predicts team and final bid price

Veteran South African batter David Miller is among the players to come under the hammer in the upcoming IPL 2026 mini-auction. Released by the Lucknow Super Giants after just one season, the 36-year-old now enters the auction pool with a base price of INR 2 crore, the highest bracket available. While his exit from LSG has drawn interest from several teams, who are searching for an experienced lower-middle-order batter.

Miller had a mixed 2025 campaign with LSG. Bought for INR 7.5 crore at the 2025 mega-auction, he was expected to provide the punch that the franchise had been missing. Instead, the southpaw finished the season with 153 runs from 11 innings at an average of 30.60 and a strike rate of 127.49. He crossed 30 just once and eventually lost his place in the XI as LSG opted for an overseas fast bowler due to constant injuries in their bowling attack. With LSG attempting to fix their pace issues, Miller became the unfortunate name to be often rotated.

Despite the poor numbers, Miller’s release grabbed significant attention. LSG’s batting core includes Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, Abdul Samad, Himmat Singh, and Ayush Badoni. Miller's long IPL career, which began in 2012, includes more than 3,000 runs at an average of 35.77 and a strike rate of 138.60. His role in the Gujarat Titans’ 2022 title-winning season, where he scored 481 runs at an average of 68.71, is one of the finest campaigns by a middle-order batter in IPL history.

However, LSG’s release strategy is more purse-driven than performance-based. With the franchise finishing seventh in IPL 2025 and looking for an overseas all-rounder instead of a specialist batter, freeing up Miller’s INR 7.5 crore salary became a straightforward decision. Yet, there is still an outside chance of LSG attempting to buy him back at a lower price in the auction.

AI Predicts David Miller's IPL 2026 Team and Final Bid Price   

According to AI, five-time champions, the Chennai Super Kings are the strongest contenders to secure David Miller at the IPL 2026 auction. With Andre Russell retiring and Glenn Maxwell opting out of IPL 2026, the market for dependable finishers is limited. CSK will arrive at the auction table with a sizeable purse of INR 43.4 crore and a vacant overseas slot.

Moreover, Ravindra Jadeja’s transfer to the Rajasthan Royals has left a space in CSK’s left-handed batting options. While MS Dhoni played impactful cameos in 2024, his 2025 strike rate dropped to 135.17, forcing CSK to rethink their finishing structure. Miller, who strikes at over 171 in the death overs across his IPL career, fits this requirement brilliantly. Notably, his predicted final bid price could be between INR 7 to 9 crore.

Notably, the southpaw will attract strong interest from multiple teams, especially the Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders. It is worth noting, GT wants an experienced finisher after trading Sherfane Rutherford. KKR, with the largest purse (INR 64.3 crore), needs a solid replacement for Andre Russell.

Disclaimer: The predictions in this article are based on AI analysis and are purely speculative. They are for entertainment and informational purposes only. The predicted team and bid price for David Miller in IPL 2026 may not reflect actual outcomes, and CricTracker is not responsible for any discrepancies.