With the coming IPL 2026 Mini Auction, all ten franchises from CSK to MI and RCB are busy concluding their lists of retained and released players. Whereas the excitement is building up for the new season, the teams have to submit their official retention lists before November 15, 2025.
If the Mega Auctions give franchises less time to retain, the Mini Auction is almost flexible in allowing them to keep the most of their squads. Therefore, most teams are only releasing those underwhelming and surplus players.create space for the players they want to buy at the sale as well as improve the auction purse.
Below is the team-wise breakdown of free and likely released players for IPL 2026, along with marked purse values.
IPL 2026 Released Players List – Team-Wise Breakdown
- Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Likely Released Players:
Rahul Tripathi, Devon Conway (o & wk), Deepak Hooda, Ravichandran Ashwin, Vijay Shankar, Gurjapneet Singh, Shreyas Gopal, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Mukesh Choudhary, Jamie Overton (o)
After an indifferent campaign in IPL 2025, CSK are eyeing a few changes. The franchise known for backing the experience could actually be letting go of a good 10 players, freeing up ₹29 crore ahead of the Mini Auction.
- Delhi Capitals (DC)
Likely Released Players:
Karun Nair, Ajay Mandal, Darshan Nalkande, Madhav Tiwari, Manvanth Kumar, Sediqullah Atal (o), Tripurana Vijay, Dushmantha Chameera (o), Mohit Sharma
DC started off well in 2025 but lost steam mid-way. It is expected to offload several uncapped players and retain funds — around ₹19 crore — for reinforcements of repute.
- Gujarat Titans (GT)
Likely Released Players:
Kumar Khushagra (wk), Dasun Shanaka (o), Glenn Phillips (o), Jayant Yadav, Karim Janat (o), Gurnoor Brar, Ishant Sharma
The GT is likely to release a few overseas players to rejuvenate their setup. There could be close to 7 players released, allowing them ₹11 crore in auction purse.
- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Likely Released Players:
Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell (o), Venkatesh Iyer, Luvnith Sisodiya (wk), Chetan Sakariya, Shivam Shukla, Spencer Johnson (o)
After a ragged 2025 season, KKR looks to strengthen batting and pace. Consider 7 releases and a healthy ₹36 crore purse.
- Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Likely Released Players:
Aryan Juyal, Matthew Breetzke (o), Yuvraj Choudhary, Shamar Joseph (o), M. Siddharth, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan
LSG had trouble with overlapping pacers in 2025. A release of 7 players may create ₹18 crore for all-rounders and key batters.
- Mumbai Indians (MI)
Likely Released Players:
Shrijith Krishnan (wk), Lizaad Williams (o), Mujeeb ur Rahman (o), Reece Topley (o), Raghu Sharma, Satyanarayana Raju
They would keep their strong core, while trimming a few overseas players. MI may release 6 names to gain ₹7 crore for strategic acquisitions.
- Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Likely Released Players:
Harnoor Pannu, Vishnu Vinod (wk), Aaron Hardie (o), Glenn Maxwell (o), Xavier Bartlett (o), Kyle Jamieson (o)
PBKS may still go out and release some foreign players after reaching the IPL 2025 final, including Glenn Maxwell, by virtue of inconsistent form. That way, ₹10 crores will get added to their purse on releasing 6 players.
- Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Likely Released Players:
Ashok Sharma, Kunal Rathore, Kumar Kartikeya, Fazalhaq Farooqi (o), Maheesh Theekshana (o)
RR will probably make only minor changes, releasing about 5 players so they will retain their core group. Estimated purse: ₹6 crore.
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru( RCB)
Likely Released Players:
Liam Livingstone (o), Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee
The defending champions will mostly hold on to their title-winning squad. Only three players are next on the chopping block, including Liam Livingstone, which will leave 14 crore rupees in their purse.
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Likely Released Players:
Sachin Baby, Adam Zampa (o), Mohammed Shami, Rahul Chahar, and Wiaan Mulder (o)
Though SRH are on track to lose five players-aided by the ageing Shami-for 21 crores in the auction, the team might still have its bowling arm refreshed after 2025’s disappointing run.
Final Word
From now until the retention deadline, there is surely no end to watching the IPL teams tweaking strategies before the IPL 2026 Mini Auction. Following some shrewd retentions, shocking exits, and surprise international signings, the franchises are set to start the bidding war for designing their squads for the new season.
