IPL 2026 Retentions and Releases: Stay tuned for all the latest updates from the IPL 2026 retention window as teams announce their list of released and retained players. The season has already witnessed major shakeups, with Sanju Samson moving to Chennai Super Kings, Ravindra Jadeja reuniting with Rajasthan Royals, and Mohammed Shami joining Lucknow Super Giants.
IPL 2026 Retention Window: Major Highlights
After all ten franchises unveiled their retention and release lists ahead of the mega auction, several big names surprisingly entered the auction pool.
Chennai Super Kings shockingly released Matheesha Pathirana, Devon Conway, and Rachin Ravindra.
Kolkata Knight Riders parted ways with Andre Russell, Quinton de Kock, and Venkatesh Iyer, while Lucknow Super Giants have let go of Ravi Bishnoi, making him available in the upcoming auction.
Scroll Down for Team-by-Team Full List
Sanju Samson Makes Historic Move to CSK
One of the biggest trade deals in IPL history saw Sanju Samson shift from Rajasthan Royals to Chennai Super Kings. The move marks CSK’s long-term transition plan post the MS Dhoni era.
Bought in a massive ₹18 crore trade, Samson will now represent CSK, moving closer to his home region. As part of the multi-player deal, CSK had to release their long-time superstar Ravindra Jadeja, who heads back to Rajasthan Royals.
RR also picked up Sam Curran for ₹2.4 crore within the same trade structure.
Mohammed Shami Heads to Lucknow Super Giants
Another headline transfer came on deadline day with veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami moving from Sunrisers Hyderabad to Lucknow Super Giants for ₹10 crore.
Back under the guidance of former India bowling coach Bharat Arun, Shami will be hoping to rediscover his peak form.
Ravindra Jadeja Reacts to His Emotional Return to Rajasthan Royals
Star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has completed a sensational return to Rajasthan Royals — the team where his IPL career began back in 2008. His departure from CSK ends a decade-long association marked by titles, leadership moments, and unforgettable performances.
IPL 2026 Retentions and Releases
Sharing his feelings after the official announcement, Jadeja said:
“Rajasthan Royals gave me my first platform and my first taste of victory. Coming back feels special; it’s not just a team for me, it’s home. RR is where I won my first IPL, and I hope to win many more with this group.”
Jadeja’s comeback, coupled with Samson’s move to CSK, stands out as one of the most emotionally significant trades in IPL history.
IPL 2026 auction on December 16 in Abu Dhabi
The IPL 2026 Player Auction is set to take place on 16th December at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, announced BCCI on Saturday, November 15. The player retention window for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season closed on 15 November 2025, with all 10 franchises finalising their squads ahead of the upcoming auction.
Which team has the largest auction purse in IPL 2026?
Chennai Super Kings, meanwhile, released Matheesha Pathirana, their match-winning fast bowler who had earned the trust of MS Dhoni. Apart from that, CSK also engaged in a player trade with Rajasthan Royals (RR) and let go of veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, along with Sam Curran, to acquire Sanju Samson.
Both CSK and KKR are expected to engage in several intense bidding wars for top players at the mini-auction as previous auction records are all set to be broken.
TATA IPL 2026 Player Retentions Announced
The player retention window for the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season closed on November 15, 2025, with all 10 franchises confirming their retained players ahead of the auction.
Across teams, a total of 173 players have been retained, including 49 overseas players. A combined purse of ₹237.55 crore will be available at the auction for a total of 77 player slots.
With each team allowed to have a maximum squad of 25 players, Punjab Kings have opted to retain 21 players, the most among the 10 franchises, while Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans have retained 20 players each.
The IPL Player Auction will take place on 16th December at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Heading into the auction, Kolkata Knight Riders will have a purse of ₹64.3 crore, the largest among the group, to fill a maximum of 13 slots with six overseas spots available. Chennai Super Kings will have the second-biggest kitty of ₹43.4 crore to fill a maximum of nine available slots.
The table below provides a team-wise breakdown of squad sizes, available player slots, and the remaining salary cap for each franchise.
| IPL 2026/ Squad Size/Salary Cap/Available Slots | ||||||
| Franchise | No of Players | No of Overseas Players | Total money spent (Rs.) | Salary cap available (Rs.) | Available Slots | Overseas Slots |
| CSK | 16 | 4 | 81.6 | 43.4 | 9 | 4 |
| DC | 17 | 3 | 103.2 | 21.8 | 8 | 5 |
| GT | 20 | 4 | 112.1 | 12.9 | 5 | 4 |
| KKR | 12 | 2 | 60.7 | 64.3 | 13 | 6 |
| LSG | 19 | 4 | 102.05 | 22.95 | 6 | 4 |
| MI | 20 | 7 | 122.25 | 2.75 | 5 | 1 |
| PBKS | 21 | 6 | 113.5 | 11.5 | 4 | 2 |
| RCB | 17 | 6 | 108.6 | 16.4 | 8 | 2 |
| RR | 16 | 7 | 108.95 | 16.05 | 9 | 1 |
| SRH | 15 | 6 | 99.5 | 25.5 | 10 | 2 |
| Total | 173 | 49 | 1012.45 | 237.55 | 77 | 31 |
