The IPL 2026 retention window will be closed in an hour, triggering one of the most dramatic and movement-heavy pre-auction cycles in recent years. High-profile players have switched jerseys, long-serving stars have been released, and franchises have recalibrated their cores ahead of the December 16 auction in Abu Dhabi.
This year’s retention list is defined by three themes: the blockbuster Jadeja–Samson–Curran swap, the release of several global stars, and franchises making sharp value-based calls on underperforming or injury-prone players.
The Blockbuster Trade That Shook the Retention Window
Samson to CSK, Jadeja and Curran to RR — A seismic three-player swap
The standout development arrived early on Saturday:
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- Sanju Samson → CSK
- Ravindra Jadeja → RR
- Sam Curran → RR
Sanju Samson (₹18 crore) will join Chennai Super Kings at his existing salary, while Ravindra Jadeja shifts to Rajasthan Royals at a revised salary of ₹14 crore, a ₹4 crore pay cut from what he earned at CSK. Sam Curran also moves for his existing ₹2.4 crore fee.
Why this matters
- CSK desperately needed a top-order Indian batter.
- RR gain two proven all-rounders to strengthen balance.
- Jadeja returns to the franchise that first called him Rockstar in 2008.
- Samson ends an 11-year association with RR.
Big-name releases — what they mean for each franchise
CSK release Matheesha Pathirana (₹13 crore)
CSK ended their association with the Sri Lankan speed prodigy, who struggled with injuries and rhythm over the last two seasons.
Pathirana’s under-performance:
- IPL 2023: 19 wickets at 8.01 (title-winning season)
- IPL 2024: Injured
- IPL 2025: 13 wickets at 10.13 economy
Concerns over his evolving bowling action, injury lay-offs and decreasing impact pushed CSK to let him go—with an eye to buying him back at a lower price at the auction.
PBKS release Glenn Maxwell (₹4.2 crore)
Glenn Maxwell’s third stint at Punjab Kings ends after a disappointing year.
- 2025 returns: 48 runs in 6 innings
- Single-digit scores in his last four matches
- 4 wickets with the ball
Injury and inconsistency made Maxwell a low-value retention as PBKS reorganise their overseas core around younger all-rounders.
PBKS release Kyle Jamieson, Hardie, KS, Dubey, Vinod
Kyle Jamieson, brought in as a replacement for Lockie Ferguson, showed flashes but not enough to justify retention (5 wickets in 4 matches).
Hardie, Sen, Dubey, Vinod did not make meaningful contributions, prompting Kings to release them ahead of the auction.
RCB release Liam Livingstone (₹8.75 crore)
Livingstone’s release is a strategic move, not a performance rebuke.
- 2025 season: 112 runs in 8 innings
- SR 133.33
- 2 wickets
Livingstone’s role was squeezed out by the emergence of two high-impact finishers:
- Tim David (SR 185.14)
- Romario Shepherd (SR 291.66)
- Releasing Livingstone gives RCB more funds heading into the auction.
RCB retain Yash Dayal despite availability concerns
Yash Dayal, who impressed in IPL 2025 but has not played since due to injury, stays in the side. RCB are betting on his high-pressure death-overs ability.
LSG release Ravi Bishnoi, David Miller, Akash Deep
Three major names depart Lucknow Super Giants.
Ravi Bishnoi
Reason for release: Inability to consistently win matches despite strong early seasons.
Bishnoi’s last two seasons:
- 2024: 10 wickets at 8.77 economy
- 2025: 9 wickets at 10.83 economy
Though LSG attempted to trade him, there were no takers.
David Miller
Despite his reputation as a finisher (153 runs, SR 127.49), Miller struggled for impact.
Akash Deep
Played six matches after injury recovery, but 3 wickets at 12.05 economy forced LSG to reset their pace bench.
| Full list of traded players by all 10 franchisees | ||||
| Player name | IPL 2026 team | IPL 2025 team | Current Salary | Previous salary |
| Sanju Samson | CSK | RR | Rs 18 crore | Rs 18 crore |
| Ravindra Jadeja | RR | CSK | Rs 14 crore | Rs 18 crore |
| Sam Curran | RR | CSK | Rs 2.4 crore | Rs 2.4 crore |
| Mohammed Shami | LSG | SRH | Rs 10 crore | Rs 10 crore |
| Arjun Tendulkar | LSG | MI | Rs 30 lakh | Rs 30 lakh |
| Mayank Markande | MI | KKR | Rs 30 lakh | Rs 30 lakh |
| Nitish Rana | DC | RR | Rs 4.2 crore | Rs 4.2 crore |
| Donovan Ferreira | RR | DC | Rs 1 crore | Rs 75 lakh |
| Shardul Thakur | MI | LSG | Rs 2 crore | Rs 2 crore |
| Sherfane Rutherford | MI | GT | Rs 2.6 crore | Rs 2.6 crore |
| SRH Released players | ||||
| Abhinav Manohar | TBD | SRH | TBD | Rs 3.2 crore |
| Rahul Chahar | TBD | SRH | TBD | Rs 3.2 crore |
| Adam Zampa | TBD | SRH | TBD | Rs 2.4 crore |
| Simarjeet Singh | TBD | SRH | TBD | Rs 1.5 crore |
| Atharva Taide | TBD | SRH | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| Sachin Baby | TBD | SRH | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| Wian Mulder | TBD | SRH | TBD | NA |
| CSK released players | ||||
| Player name | IPL 2026 team | IPL 2025 team | Current Salary | Previous salary |
| Matheesha Pathirana | TBD | CSK | TBD | Rs 13 crore |
| Rachin Ravindra | TBD | CSK | TBD | Rs 4 crore |
| Rahul Tripathi | TBD | CSK | TBD | Rs 3.4 crore |
| Deepak Hooda | TBD | CSK | TBD | Rs 1.7 crore |
| Vijay Shankar | TBD | CSK | TBD | Rs 1.2 crore |
| Vansh Bedi | TBD | CSK | TBD | Rs 55 lakh |
| C Andre Siddarth | TBD | CSK | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| Shaik Rasheed | TBD | CSK | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| Kamlesh Nagarkoti | TBD | CSK | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| KKR released players | ||||
| Player name | IPL 2026 team | IPL 2025 team | Current Salary | Previous salary |
| Venkatesh Iyer | TBD | KKR | TBD | Rs 23.75 crore |
| Andre Russell | TBD | KKR | TBD | Rs 12 crore |
| Anrich Nortje | TBD | KKR | TBD | Rs 6.5 crore |
| Quinton de Kock | TBD | KKR | TBD | Rs 3.6 crore |
| Spencer Johnson | TBD | KKR | TBD | Rs 2.8 crore |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | TBD | KKR | TBD | Rs 2 crore |
| Moeen Ali | TBD | KKR | TBD | Rs 2 crore |
| DC released players | ||||
| Player name | IPL 2026 team | IPL 2025 team | Current Salary | Previous salary |
| Jake Fraser-McGurk | TBD | DC | TBD | Rs 9 crore |
| Mohit Sharma | TBD | DC | TBD | Rs 2.2 crore |
| Faf du Plessis | TBD | DC | TBD | Rs 2 crore |
| Manvanth Kumar | TBD | DC | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| Darshan Nalkande | TBD | DC | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| Sediqullah Atal | TBD | DC | TBD | NA |
| Gujarat Titans released players | ||||
| Player name | IPL 2026 team | IPL 2025 team | Current Salary | Previous salary |
| Gerald Coetzee | TBD | GT | TBD | Rs 2.4 crore |
| Mahipal Lomror | TBD | GT | TBD | Rs 1.7 crore |
| Karim Janat | TBD | GT | TBD | Rs 75 lakh |
| Kulwant Khejroliya | TBD | GT | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| LSG released players | ||||
| Player name | IPL 2026 team | IPL 2025 team | Current Salary | Previous salary |
| Ravi Bishnoi | TBD | LSG | TBD | Rs 11 crore |
| Akash Deep | TBD | LSG | TBD | Rs 8 crore |
| David Miller | TBD | LSG | TBD | Rs 7.5 crore |
| Shamar Joseph | TBD | LSG | TBD | Rs 75 lakh |
| Yuvraj Chaudhary | TBD | LSG | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| Rajvardhan Hangargekar | TBD | LSG | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| Aryan Juyal | TBD | LSG | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| Players released by Rajasthan Royals | ||||
| Player name | IPL 2026 team | IPL 2025 team | Current Salary | Previous salary |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | TBD | RR | TBD | Rs 5.25 crore |
| Maheesh Theekshana | TBD | RR | TBD | Rs 4.4 crore |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | TBD | RR | TBD | Rs 2 crore |
| Akash Madhwal | TBD | RR | TBD | Rs 1.2 crore |
| Kunal Singh Rathore | TBD | RR | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| Ashok Sharma | TBD | RR | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| Kumar Kartikeya | TBD | RR | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| Players released by PBKS | ||||
| Player name | IPL 2026 team | IPL 2025 team | Current Salary | Previous salary |
| Glenn Maxwell | TBD | PBKS | TBD | Rs 4.2 crore |
| Josh Inglis | TBD | PBKS | TBD | Rs 2.6 crore |
| Aaron Hardie | TBD | PBKS | TBD | Rs 1.25 crore |
| Kuldeep Sen | TBD | PBKS | TBD | Rs 80 lakh |
| Praveen Dubey | TBD | PBKS | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| RCB released players | ||||
| Player name | IPL 2026 team | IPL 2025 team | Current Salary | Previous salary |
| Liam Livingstone | TBD | RCB | TBD | Rs 8.75 crore |
| Lungi Ngidi | TBD | RCB | TBD | Rs 1 crore |
| Swastik Chikara | TBD | RCB | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| Mohit Rathee | TBD | RCB | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| Mayank Agarwal | TBD | RCB | TBD | Came as replacement |
| Tim Seifert | TBD | RCB | TBD | Came as replacement |
| Manoj Bhandage | TBD | RCB | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| Blessing Muzarabani | TBD | RCB | TBD | Came as replacement |
| MI released players | ||||
| Player name | IPL 2026 team | IPL 2025 team | Current Salary | Previous salary |
| Reece Topley | TBD | MI | TBD | Rs 75 lakh |
| Lizaad Williams | TBD | MI | TBD | Rs 75 lakh |
| Karn Sharma | TBD | MI | TBD | Rs 50 lakh |
| Vignesh Puthur | TBD | MI | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| Bevon Jacobs | TBD | MI | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| Satyanarayana Raju | TBD | MI | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |
| Krishnan Shrijith | TBD | MI | TBD | Rs 30 lakh |

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