Top 5 overseas wicketkeepers who could be in demand in IPL 2026 auction with Quinton de Kock


The long awaited IPL The 2026 auction is scheduled for Abu Dhabi on December 16. With 31 overseas spots up for grabs, several franchises will be looking to buy goalkeepers to bolster their squads for next season.

Jamie Smith, Jonny Bairstow (both England), Quinton de Kock (South Africa), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan), Tim Seifert, Find Allen (both from New Zealand), Josh Inglis (Australia), Ben Duckett (England), Where in Mendi or Kusal Perera (Both from Sri Lanka) will be among the top choices abroad for franchises.

With the highest purse in the IPL 2026 auction, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are expected to buy their wish list. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will also be keen to make the most of their second highest purse.

In this article, we take a look at the top 5 foreign goalkeepers who are likely to be on the priority list for franchises. Take a look:

Jamie Smith

Jamie Smith - Source: GettyJamie Smith - Source: Getty
Jamie Smith – Source: Getty

England wicketkeeper and batsman Jamie Smith is one of the big names in the category. The 25-year-old has an impressive record with the bat in T20s, amassing 1687 runs in 97 matches at a strike rate of 144.31, including nine half-centuries. Behind the stumps, he has made 10 stumpings and 53 catches.

With 17 Tests, 19 ODIs and five T20Is, Jamie Smith also brings international experience. The Surrey-born player has been signed up for a base price of INR 2 crore in the IPL 2026 auction.

Tim Seifert

Tim Seifert - Source: GettyTim Seifert - Source: Getty
Tim Seifert – Source: Getty

New Zealand opener Tim Seifert could be another wicketkeeper batsman on the wish lists of IPL franchises for the 2026 auction. The 30-year-old has a wealth of experience in the T20 circuit, scoring 6,698 runs in 293 matches at a strike rate of 134.63, including four tons and 32 half-centuries. In those games, he took 181 sacks and forced 37 fumbles.

The Kiwi batsman has played 77 T20Is. He has also played in numerous overseas T20 leagues, including the Big Bash League (BBL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), ILT20 and Major League Cricket (MLC). Seifert has a base price of Rs 1.5 crore.

Ben Duckett

Ben Duckett - Source: GettyBen Duckett - Source: Getty
Ben Duckett – Source: Getty

Ben Duckett has been signed up for a base price of INR 2 million in the IPL auction 2026. The left-handed batsman has played 216 T20s, scoring 5,397 runs at a strike rate of 140.18, hitting 34 half-centuries. He has inflicted two hits and made 107 catches.

The 31-year-old has represented England in 40 Tests, 31 ODIs and 20 T20Is. With plenty of international exposure, IPL franchises will be looking to use Duckett’s experience next season.

Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow - Source: GettyJonny Bairstow - Source: Getty
Jonny Bairstow – Source: Getty

Jonny Bairstow is an experienced player in the IPL. The 36-year-old has played 52 matches in the T20 leagues, amassing 1674 runs at a strike rate of 146.07, including two centuries and nine half-centuries. His last stint was with five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI), for whom he scored 85 runs in two matches in the playoffs of IPL 2025. The English wicketkeeper-batsman had joined as a substitute player mid-season.

In all, Bairstow has 5,951 runs in 247 T20s, including five tons and 31 half-centuries. His wicketkeeping credentials include 31 wickets and 131 catches in the format. Apart from this, Bairstow has played 100 Tests, 107 ODIs and 80 T20Is for England. The Yorkshire-born player has a base price of INR 1 crore in the IPL 2026 auction.

Quinton de Kock

Quinton de Kock - Source: GettyQuinton de Kock - Source: Getty
Quinton de Kock – Source: Getty

Like Jonny Bairstow, Quinton de Kock is another experienced player in the IPL. The left-handed batsman has amassed 3309 runs in 115 matches in the T20 leagues. In these games, he played at a strike rate of 134.02, comprising two centuries and 24 fifties. Behind the wickets, he took 73 catches and inflicted 16 stumpings.

De Kock last played for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2025, managing 152 runs in eight matches with a top score of 97 not out. Three-time IPL champions KKR released him as part of a revamp after a below-par 2025 season.

In all, de Kock has 11,452 runs in 414 T20s, smashing seven tons and 75 fifties. He is also a regular for the Proteas in international cricket. The opening batsman has been registered for a base price of INR 1 crore in the IPL 2026 auction.