As the IPL 2026 retention deadline closed on 15 November, teams officially revealed the players they chose to retain or release ahead of the upcoming mini auction. While some franchises made bold calls, others opted for stability and continuity. The retention announcement also concluded weeks of speculation around big-name exits and reshuffles.

Two of the biggest headlines came from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)—both teams released a large number of players, unlocking significant space in their purse for the mini auction.

Major Retention Highlights

KKR Shock Fans by Releasing Andre Russell

Kolkata Knight Riders sparked major discussions by parting ways with Andre Russell, one of their most impactful match-winners. The franchise retained Ajinkya Rahane, who may continue leading the side if they don’t land a marquee captain in the auction.

CSK Let Go of Matheesha Pathirana

Former champions Chennai Super Kings released star pacer Matheesha Pathirana, a trusted performer under MS Dhoni. The franchise also moved on from several seasoned names ahead of the rebuild.

Minimal Changes for MI, RCB & PBKS

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians, and last year’s finalists Punjab Kings made only minor changes, signaling confidence in their core squads.

In a strategic shift, Punjab Kings avoided their usual large-scale shake-up, sticking with stability as captain Shreyas Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting aim to build on last season’s momentum.

Delhi Capitals Back Indian Core

Delhi Capitals released big overseas names like Faf du Plessis, Harry Brook, and Jake Fraser-McGurk, choosing instead to rely heavily on their domestic roster. They retained T Natarajan and Mukesh Kumar, both high-investment signings from the previous auction.

LSG Release David Miller

Lucknow Super Giants made a notable move by releasing explosive finisher David Miller, while continuing to show faith in young fast bowler Mayank Yadav, despite his injury concerns.

FULL LIST OF RETAINED & RELEASED PLAYERS FOR IPL 2026

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Retained Players:

Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy

Released Players:

Andre Russell (₹12 Cr), Venkatesh Iyer (₹23.75 Cr), Quinton de Kock (₹3.6 Cr), Moeen Ali (₹2 Cr), Anrich Nortje (₹6.5 Cr)

Available Slots: 13 (including 6 overseas)

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

Retained Players:

Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, MS Dhoni, Urvil Patel, Sanju Samson (Traded In), Shivam Dube, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Choudhary, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Nathan Ellis, Anshul Kamboj, Jamie Overton, Gurjapneet Singh, Noor Ahmed, Shreyas Gopal

Released Players:

Ravindra Jadeja (₹18 Cr), Matheesha Pathirana (₹13 Cr), Devon Conway (₹6.25 Cr), Rachin Ravindra (₹4 Cr), Rahul Tripathi (₹3.40 Cr), Sam Curran (₹2.40 Cr), Deepak Hooda (₹1.70 Cr), Vijay Shankar (₹1.20 Cr), Vansh Bedi (₹55 Lakh), Andre Siddharth (₹30 Lakh), Shaikh Rasheed (₹30 Lakh), Kamlesh Nagarkoti (₹30 Lakh)

Available Slots: 9

Available Purse: ₹43.4 Cr

Purse & Slots Remaining for All Teams (IPL 2026)