Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, or Jasprit Bumrah in IPL Auction? Who will earn the most - ex-RCB player weighs-in

Kohli, Rohit or Bumrah in IPL Auction? Ex-RCB player reveals the No. 1 earner. (Photo: IPL)

Excitement is at an all-time high as the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 retention deadline draws near on November 15. While fans speculate about which major names might be released into the auction pool in December, franchises are finalizing their lists.

In the midst of this excitement, former Indian cricketer and former member of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Mohammad Kaif has offered his opinion on an intriguing hypothetical: if Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah all entered the auction simultaneously, who would receive the highest bid?

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Kaif's response was unambiguous and forceful. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif contended that Bumrah is a generational player who is even more valuable in auction dynamics than the superstar batters due to his ability to win games.

"Among the three, Jasprit Bumrah would get the most money. Bumrah will get a lot of money because a bowler like him comes once in a generation. The kind of work he does for his team is exceptional," Kaif said.

While acknowledging Virat Kohli's unparalleled stature off the field, he made a clear distinction between cricketing worth and brand value.

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"Virat the batter, maybe you can find others like him, but Virat the brand that continues. Nowadays, Virat the brand carries immense value," he explained.

Kaif added that IPL clubs prioritize business and saw elite players as both performers and financial assets.

"Whichever franchise joins the IPL or buys a team, they come to do business. They have invested money, so they want to earn money. It's simple. They haven't come here to do anyone a favour or to groom players, all that is nonsense," he added.

However, Kaif ranked Bumrah far higher than both Kohli and Rohit in terms of pure match-winning influence.

"If you ask who the biggest match-winner is among them, I would put Bumrah far ahead of Virat," he concluded.