With a hectic international cricket calendar wrapped up — including India’s tours of England and Australia and the intense India–Pakistan clash at the Asia Cup — the spotlight has now shifted back to the Indian Premier League. After Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifted their historic first IPL trophy on June 3, 2025, discussions have moved swiftly toward the next big phase: the IPL 2026 retentions and trade activity.
As the IPL 2026 auction draws closer, set to be held overseas for the third straight year, all ten franchises are in the final stages of preparing their retention lists. With the deadline just around the corner, here’s a clear breakdown of the official retention rules, squad size restrictions, purse details, and how the IPL trade window operates.
IPL 2026 Retention Deadline
The IPL Governing Council has confirmed 5 PM IST on November 15, 2025 as the official deadline for teams to submit their list of retained players.
Although franchises are free to announce their retention decisions at any time before the cut-off, most teams typically wait until the final day — and this season appears no different.
How Many Players Can Franchises Retain for IPL 2026?
Unlike mega auctions, which impose strict limits on the number of retentions, the IPL 2026 mini-auction offers full flexibility.
For IPL 2026, teams can:
- Retain any number of players from their existing squad
- Release players they no longer want to continue with
- Maintain a final squad size of 18 to 25 players
- Stay within the ₹120 crore total salary cap
This system allows franchises to preserve their core group of players while making targeted changes for the upcoming season.
Can Teams Trade Players After Submitting Retentions?
Yes. Teams can continue trading players even after announcing their retentions. The IPL trading window is designed to stay open for an extended period.
How the IPL Trade Window Works
- Opens one month after the conclusion of the previous IPL season
- Stays active until one week before the auction
- Reopens after the auction
- Remains open for 30 days leading into the start of the next season
Important:
Players purchased during the auction cannot be traded immediately afterward, as per IPL rules.
