IPL Retention Highlights: IPL legends on the move after surprise retention calls; KKR with biggest pre-auction purse

IPL Retention Live Updates: They choose to hang on to Mayank Yadav, but the addition of Mohammed Shami means LSG have a lot of big budget players on the books. They do, however, release Ravi Bishnoi, allowing that purse to remain high. Spin needed to help Digvesh Rathi, but also a lot of seam bowling cover.

IPL Retention Live Updates: The top order batting and seam bowling was the strength, and that means GT won't have much to fix. Lower order batting will be needed, so a return to David Miller or access to Liam Livingstone might be on the cards. Remains a reliable and strong team.

IPL Retention Live Updates: Need some help in the bowling department which is looking a little thin, but they have plenty of cash to target that particular area of their team. Theur batting won't be much of a concern, but expect most of that purse to be aimed at bowling help.

IPL Retention Live Updates: Ricky Ponting's defending champions won't have too much cash to flaunt at the auction, but have most of their team settled down. They will want some top-end overseas batting to help them out, but the domestic core remains in place to push them forward.

IPL Retention Live Updates: RR solved a couple of key problems by bringing in depth hitting with Ferreira and Jadeja, with the latter providing key spin as well. Another spinner will be on RR's radar, with names like Karn Sharma and Rahul Chahar presenting solid budget options. 9 spots for them to fill.

IPL Retention Live Updates: Big news from the CSK camp! They add Sanju Samson, but the captaincy will not be going to him. He will play in the top order alongside the man who will, as Ruturaj Gaikward is confirmed as the skipper for the team in yellow!

IPL Retention Live Updates: The second most influential team at the auction will be CSK, who will need to rebuild a spin core around Noor Ahmad and pick up some fast-bowling help. Their batting is looking healthier, but the likes of Glenn Maxwell and David Miller will be on their radar.

IPL Retention Live Updates: The opposite story is for KKR, who have a lot of shopping to do but will also have a lot of money to flex when it comes to the auction. A lot of money freed up for their new coaching core to do some damage with.

IPL Retention Live Updates: The busy trade and desire to keep the team together means MI will head to the 2026 auction with just 2.75 crore in their pocket, the smallest purse of all teams involved. A settled lineup for them, then.

IPL Retention Live Updates: Here are all the players released by IPL franchises:

Indian players: Aryan Juyal, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Akash Deep, Ravi Bishnoi, Mahipal Lomror, Kulwant Khejroliya, Swastik Chikara, Mayank Agarwal, Manoj Bhandage, Mohot Rathee, Mohammed Shami, Atharva Taide, Abhinav Manohar, Sachin Baby, Simarjeet Singh, Rahul Chahar, Manvanth Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Darshan Nalkande, Venkatesh Iyer, Satyanarayana Raju, KL Srijith, Karn Sharma, Arjun Tendulkar, Vignesh Puthur, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Kunal Rathore, Ashok Sharma

Overseas players: David Miller, Shamar Joseph, Dasun Shanaka, Karim Janat, Sherfane Rutherford, Gerald Coetzee, Liam Livingstone, Tim Seifert, Lungi Ngidi, Blessing Muzarabani, Wiaan Mulder, Adam Zampa, Faf du Plessis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sediqullah Atal, Russell, Quinton de Kock, Moeen Ali, Anrich Nortje, Reece Topley, Bevon Jacobs, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Lizaad Williams, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi

IPL Retention Live Updates: Couple more releases for KKR with Spencer Johnson, Chetan Sakariya, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Luvnith Sisodia making way. No wicket-keepers on their roster – if you had to guess, Josh Inglis will see a lot of money heading his way to be a Knight Rider next season.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: A couple of big moves made by LSG! David Miller departs, as does Ravi Bishnoi despite his skillset. Akash Deep another player on his way out. Mohammed Shami and Arjun Tendulkar on the way in.

Aryan Juyal, David Miller, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Shardul Thakur (Traded), Akash Deep, Ravi Bishnoi, Shamar Joseph

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: Gerald Coetzee released by GT, and will hit the auction. Sherfane Rutherford traded, Karim Janat and Dasun Shanaka as well.

Dasun Shanaka, Karim Janat, Sherfane Rutherford, Mahipal Lomror, Gerald Coetzee, Kulwant Khejroliya

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: Delhi Capitals next, and outside of the Ferreira trade, they will also see the departure of Faf du Plessis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sediqullah Atal. Manvanth Kumar and Darshan Nalkande the other two players released, and T Natarajan hung on to.

Faf du Plessis, Jake Frasher McGurk, Sediqullah Atal, Manvanth Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Darshan Nalkande, Donovan Ferreria (Traded)

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: A shake-up in the Hyderabad camp! Both lead spinners depart with Chahar and Zampa leaving, as do Shami and Simarjeet Singh, with Wiaan Mulder also let go of. A trio of Indian batters in Abhinav Manohar, Atharva Taide, and Sachin Baby.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: A few outgoings for RCB, but nobody too major. Livingstone's expenses off their books, as are Tim Seifert, Blessing Muzarabani, and Mayank Agarwal.

RCB release list: Liam Livingstone, Swastik Chikara, Mayank Agarwal, Tim Seifert, Manoj Bhandage, Lungi Ngidi, Mohot Rathee, Blessing Murazabani

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: Other franchises will have their ears perk up as Josh Inglis hits the open market! Surprising call from PBKS, who haven't released too many players.

PBKS released: Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Kuldeep Sen, Praveen Dubey

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: Sanju Samson is obviously the big news, as is the trade of Nitish Rana. But big news from the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, as both Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana exit! Almost 10 crore freed up there, and RR will be in the market for one of the big name spinners in the auction.

Sanju Samson (Traded), Nitish Rana (Traded), Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: Nothing too shocking from MI in terms of their releases. Reece Topley, Bevon Jacobs, Mujeeb ur Rahman, and Lizaad Williams join Vighnesh Puthur, Karn Sharma, and Satyanarayana Raju on their way out from the Wankhede. They hang on to Will Jacks.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: Big money for KKR to flaunt when they get to the auction, but a lot of holes to fill too! Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer join Moeen Ali, Anrich Nortje, and Quinton de Kock in leaving the Eden Gardens.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: The news begins to land! Starting with CSK, the big releases are their trades, but also the release of Matheesha Pathirana, Rachin Ravindra, Deepak Hoodam and Rahul Tripathi. Andre Siddharth and Shaik Rasheed also on their way out

Released players: Rachin Ravindra, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Shaik Rasheed, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Matheesha Pathiran, Rahul Tripathi, Vanshi Bedi, C Andre Siddharth, Devon Conway

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: One of the most dangerous hitters in his hey-day, but age going against him, Andre Russell is off the books at a franchise he called home for a decade! He will be in the auction, where KKR might try to get him on a bargain, but he is on the table for other franchises for the first time in several years, as per ESPNcricinfo.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: With action drawing to a close in Kolkata, shouldn't be too long before the announcements begin to filter through regarding retentions and releases.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: Next, Cricbuzz reports that Will Jacks will ultimately remain a Mumbai Indians player, despite earlier reports stating he was on the chopping block. Jacks didn't play at his best position in IPL 2025, but MI might keep him on for the all-round threat he possesses.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: CSK are definitely in win-now mode, and that might mean releasing Matheesa Pathirana after retaining him at a high cost last year. Pathirana has been excellent in yellow, but might need to be bought back at a cheaper cost to accomodate CSK's extra expenditure.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: Surprising decision! Punjab Kings weren't expected to shake too many things up after their run to the final, but reports from Cricbuzz indicate they will move on from wicketkeeper-batter from Australia, Josh Inglis! Surprising call, given his growing pedigree – do Ricky Ponting and Shreyas Iyer have an eye on a big-money overseas batter for their middle order?

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: The needle was moving back and forth on if Delhi would hang on to their big-money signing of T Natarajan after the southpaw's injuries meant he only played one game in 2025. As per ESPNcricinfo, the verdict is in: Natarajan stays in the capital! Banking on him coming good as a premium death bowler in the tournament.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: As the second day in Eden Gardens draws to a close, focus will begin shifting to the retention deadline, and the IPL admins certainly know fans are waiting with bated breath.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: Tim Southee has been appointed as KKR bowling coach for IPL 2026. He retired from international cricket in 2025 and has been part of England's Test setup as a bowling consultant. Southee joins Abhishek Nayar and also Shane Watson, who was recently roped in as assistant coach.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: RR owner Manoj Badale broke his silence on Samson's trade to CSK. He said, "Sanju was with us at trials when he was just 17 years old, went on to become one of our youngest captains of RR and since then, he has been an integral part of the Royals family for more than a decade, continuing to inspire everyone around him."

"His chapter with us has been one of belief, brilliance, and heart. Sanju has been an exceptional ambassador of our values, and we thank him for everything he has done for the Royals family," he added.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: Jadeja played the first two IPL seasons for RR, and was called a 'rockstar' by Shane Warne. Jadeja was then also banned for one season in 2010, after he was found guilty of negotiating a trade deal himself with one franchise. He has been part of CSK since 2012, expcept for 2016 and 2017, when the franchise was suspended.

In an official statement, 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. Rajasthan Royals is where I won my first IPL, and I hope to win more with this current group of players," he added.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: RR likely to release the following as well for these reasons:

Wanindu Hasaranga

The Sri Lankan leg-spinner was expected to anchor the Royals’ middle overs, but despite a couple of good outings, he struggled for consistency. An economy rate of around nine and 11 wickets in 11 matches suggested he fell short of expectations, making him a likely release ahead of next season.

Maheesh Theekshana (INR 4.40 cr)

Trusted to deliver in the powerplay and through the middle overs, Theekshana also underperformed. He managed 11 wickets in 11 games but conceded nearly 10 runs per over, leaving the Royals unconvinced about his efficiency. He, too, could be on the way out.

Tushar Deshpande (INR 6.5 cr)

Deshpande was expensive at CSK but compensated with wickets. With the Royals, he remained costly but lacked penetration, and his dip in effectiveness may push him onto the release list.

Other possible release candidates include Kumar Kartikeya (INR 30 lakh), Fazalhaq Farooqi (INR 2 cr) and Kwena Maphaka (INR 1.5 cr).

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: Chennai Super Kings, who finished at the bottom of the points table for the first time in their history, have begun a major overhaul. The trade window allowed the five-time champions to bring Sanju Samson into the setup while parting ways with Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.

During IPL 2025, CSK also roped in injury replacements such as Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis and Ayush Mhatre. However, the franchise is now expected to move on from Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tripathi and Jamie Overton. Releasing these names would free up nearly INR 20 crore, significantly boosting their auction purse.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: Despite being one of the biggest names in T20 cricket, Glenn Maxwell endured a miserable IPL 2025 campaign. Across six innings, he managed just 48 runs at an average of 8 and a strike rate of 97.95. Although he contributed respectably with the ball, Maxwell couldn’t deliver in his primary role with the bat. Considering how the Kings performed last season, he appears the most likely candidate to be released by the 2025 runners-up.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: KKR are likely to take some tough calls ahead of IPL 2026, with several high-profile names under consideration for release after underwhelming 2025 campaigns. Venkatesh Iyer (INR 23.75 crore), their most expensive investment, was expected to be the central figure in the squad. However, he produced only 142 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 139.21 and did not bowl at all, making his retention difficult given the purse space he occupies.

Quinton de Kock (INR 3.6 crore), brought in for stability and explosiveness at the top, managed 152 runs in eight innings without delivering the expected impact. Releasing him could offer greater overseas flexibility. Ramandeep Singh (INR 4 crore), projected as an all-round option, neither bowled nor made significant contributions with the bat, and may be better suited to a different franchise.

Anrich Nortje (INR 6.5 crore), expected to spearhead the pace attack, struggled with injuries and failed to impress in his limited appearances, making an overseas pace replacement a strong possibility. Moeen Ali (INR 2 crore) contributed only five runs and six wickets, and with age catching up, he may also be moved on.

Other probable releases include Spencer Johnson, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Manish Pandey, and Mayank Markande.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: The Gujarat Titans are expected to make several cuts ahead of IPL 2026 after a disappointing season from multiple squad members. Ishant Sharma (INR 75 lakh), brought in for experience, managed only four wickets in seven matches and leaked runs at over 11 an over, falling well below expectations. The franchise may look to replace him with a younger Indian pacer.

Arshad Khan (INR 1.3 crore), trusted with both new-ball duties and middle-order responsibilities, also underperformed. In nine matches, he picked up six wickets at an economy of 10.33 and scored just 23 runs, offering neither bowling control nor batting depth, making him a likely release.

Karim Janat (INR 75 lakh) played only one game, conceding 30 runs in a single over without facing a ball. With limited utility and no impactful performance, he too is set to be let go.

Other probable release candidates include Jayant Yadav and Kulwant Khejroliya.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: The Delhi Capitals are likely to make significant changes ahead of IPL 2026, with several big-ticket names under scrutiny after underwhelming seasons. T Natarajan (INR 10.75 crore), signed as a specialist death bowler, featured in only two matches and conceded runs at nearly 17 an over in his three overs, indicating he may not fit into the team’s plans. Faf du Plessis (INR 2 crore), expected to anchor the batting, managed 202 runs from nine innings at a strike rate of 123.92. With age catching up and his impact diminishing, Capitals may look to free up an overseas slot by releasing him.

Jake Fraser-McGurk (INR 9 crore), one of the team’s biggest investments, had a disappointing campaign with only 55 runs in six innings. Although a long-term prospect, his immediate future at the franchise remains uncertain. Mohit Sharma (INR 2.2 crore), brought in for his death-overs expertise, picked just two wickets in eight matches while going at 10.28, falling well below expectations. Dushmantha Chameera (INR 75 lakh) also struggled, taking four wickets in five innings at an economy of 11.40, making him another likely release.

Other probable players on the chopping block include Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari, and Darshan Nalkande.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: More official confirmations coming in!

Here are some of the major releases/trades ahead of the official retention list is out:

- Shardul Thakur to Mumbai Indians from Lucknow Super Giants

- Arjun Tendulkar to Lucknow Super Giants from Mumbai Indians

- Sherfane Rutherford to Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans

- Donovan Ferreira to Rajasthan Royals from Delhi Capitals

- Nitish Rana to Delhi Capitals from Rajasthan Royals

- Sam Curran to Rajasthan Royals from Chennai Super Kings

- Mohammed Shami to Lucknow Super Giants from Sunrisers Hyderabad

- Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals to Chennai Super Kings

- Ravindra Jadeja from Chennai Super Kings to Rajasthan Royals.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: Devon Conway has already bid adieu to CSK fans! He took to X, and had a message for them. He wrote, "Thank you to all loyal fans of CSK for amazing 3 years support".

He made his CSK debut in 2022 and had a standout 2023 season, smacking 672 runs in 15 innings. But then last year, he was in poor form, managing only 156 runs in six innings. He was bought for ₹6.25 crore in the mega auction, and failed to reflect that in his output during the last season.

IPL Retention LIVE Updates: BIG news of the day!

The much-anticipated trade-off between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals is complete, with Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja switching sides. Samson is headed to five-time champs CSK for ₹18 crore, whereas Jadeja is headed to his old franchise, his first franchise. However, for that, the Indian all-rounder has taken a pay cut of ₹4 crore, reducing his fee to ₹14 crore. CSK opened up on letting go of the maverick all-rounder, saying Jaddu felt he would be better off going to the Royals at the 'fag end of his career'.