The IPL 2026 retention list has finally been announced, and it has already sent shockwaves across the cricket world. With the retention deadline now closed, all 10 franchises have confirmed which players they’ll keep and which stars will head back to the auction pool.
A total of 173 players have been retained, while 77 slots remain open for the December 16 auction in Abu Dhabi, the first-ever IPL auction to be hosted in the UAE. Big names such as Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, and Matheesha Pathirana were released, while the sensational Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) trade became one of the biggest stories of the year.
Below is a complete franchise-wise list of retained and released players.
Team-Wise IPL 2026 Retention List
| Team | Retained Players | Released Players |
|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | Ruturaj Gaikwad, MS Dhoni, Sanju Samson, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Shreyas Gopal, Gurjapneet Singh, Ayush Mhatre, Jamie Overton | Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Rahul Tripathi, Matheesha Pathirana, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, R. Ashwin |
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana, Rovman Powell, Umran Malik | Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Moeen Ali |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger | Sanju Samson, Nitish Rana, Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Will Jacks, Mitchell Santner | Arjun Tendulkar, Reece Topley, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Karn Sharma |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Tim David, Josh Hazlewood, Romario Shepherd | Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Tim Seifert, Lungi Ngidi |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc, Tristan Stubbs, T. Natarajan | Faf du Plessis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Donovan Ferreira |
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | Shreyas Iyer, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Lockie Ferguson | Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Rishabh Pant | Ravi Bishnoi, Shardul Thakur, David Miller |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, Harshal Patel | Mohammad Shami, Rahul Chahar, Adam Zampa |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | Shubman Gill, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Jos Buttler, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj | Sherfane Rutherford, Mahipal Lomror, Dasun Shanaka |
Retention Window & Key Highlights
Retention Window & Key Highlights
- Total Players Retained: 173
- Total Slots Open: 77
- Auction Date: December 16, 2025
- Venue: Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi
- Combined Purse Remaining: ₹237.55 crore
Among the major financial takeaways, Kolkata Knight Riders lead with a ₹64.3 crore purse, followed by Chennai Super Kings with ₹43.4 crore, giving both teams strong leverage at the auction table.
Top Trades & Surprises in IPL 2026 Retention
- Sanju Samson to CSK: The ₹18 crore blockbuster trade that could define CSK’s post-Dhoni era.
- Ravindra Jadeja to RR: A reunion after years, giving RR a strong all-round core.
- Andre Russell Released: KKR’s decision to let go of their most iconic match-winner shocked fans.
- Venkatesh Iyer & Pathirana Released: Two big-money stars now back in the auction pool.
This year’s retention and release list proves franchises are thinking long-term, prioritizing balance and purse flexibility over sentimental loyalty.
Retention Rules for IPL 2026
Since IPL 2026 will have a mini-auction, there are no retention caps. Each team can retain as many players as they wish within the 25-player squad limit. Every franchise starts with a purse of around ₹120 crore, adjusting for prior retentions and trades.
Summary
The IPL 2026 retention list has redrawn the league’s competitive landscape. Big names have changed colors, purse values have shifted, and teams are eyeing the upcoming auction with renewed strategies. With only a few weeks left until the hammer falls in Abu Dhabi, fans can expect fireworks on and off the field.
This retention phase has already given us trades, twists, and tactical surprises — and the mini-auction promises even more drama.
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