Odisha duo eyes IPL contracts with 30 lakh base price.

Bhubaneswar: The excitement surrounding cricket in the state has reached new heights as two homegrown talents from Odisha have officially entered the race for the Indian Premier League. In a boost for the local sporting ecosystem, Swastik Samal and Rajesh Mohanty have successfully secured spots in the final roster for the highly anticipated IPL 2026 auction.

This development serves as a validation of the cricketing talent emerging from the region. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently expanded the pool of available players, inserting 19 new names into the mix at the eleventh hour. Both Samal and Mohanty were beneficiaries of this update, finding their names among the final list of candidates. According to the auction data, both players have been categorized with a base price of Rs 30 lakh, positioning them as attractive, cost-effective options for franchises looking to strengthen their domestic lineup.

The stage is set for the mini-auction to unfold at the prestigious Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The bidding wars are scheduled to begin on Tuesday at 2:30 PM IST. With the fresh additions, the total count of players going under the hammer now stands at 369. However, competition will be fierce, as the ten competing franchises have a combined total of only 77 slots left to fill in their squads.

For fans in Odisha, the event promises to be a nail-biter. The inclusion of Samal and Mohanty is not just a personal milestone for the cricketers but a testament to the quality of players being produced by the state association in recent domestic seasons. As uncapped Indian players often spark bidding wars due to their value in squad composition, there is high hope that these two emerging stars will attract interest from team owners looking for raw talent.

All eyes will now turn to Abu Dhabi this Tuesday to see if these Odisha cricketers can turn their nomination into a life-changing contract.