The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 player-holding timeline has drawn to a close with a flurry of calculated rulings and significant player movements, readying the landscape for an exciting mini-auction event in December.
IPL 2026 Player Holdings: Notable Talents Entering the Auction Pool
While key teams chose to retain their captains and top performers, several high-priced international and local players were surprisingly set free from their contracts. This planned emptying of roster spots by franchises such as Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings is intended to amplify their available expenditure, enabling them to aim for particular, high-influence acquisitions. The exits of long-term franchise mainstays like Andre Russell and the highly publicized transfer of Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja highlight a clear change in team-composition strategy. The free players, including Matheesha Pathirana and Venkatesh Iyer, will now make the auction’s player selection incredibly competitive, suggesting furious bidding sessions.
1. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
The Super Kings have performed a significant roster restructuring, notably the major trade deal that dispatched their premier all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (India, All-rounder) and Sam Curran (England, All-rounder) to the Rajasthan Royals in return for team captain Sanju Samson (India, Wicketkeeper/Batter).
This decision, although assuring a long-term leader and premier batsman, has mandated the release of several other important foreign and local players to restore the squad’s equilibrium. The releases involve gifted Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana and opening batsman Devon Conway, freeing up valuable financial resources for intended auction acquisitions. CSK will now give priority to reinforcing their spin bowling lineup and lower-order run-scoring strength.
2. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Kolkata Knight Riders have chosen the most intense reorganization, discharging as many as nine players, including their long-standing Caribbean star player, Andre Russell, recognized as a T20 all-rounder. The most startling discharge involves Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, whom they had obtained for a premium price, displaying a significant change in team direction after a lackluster previous season. By shedding a noteworthy fraction of their salary limitations through these high-value dismissals, KKR has collected the highest available funds to forcefully compete for a new main group, especially for a captain and wicketkeeper-batter.
3. Mumbai Indians (MI)
Mumbai Indians have been noticeably more hushed on the discharge front, concentrating alternatively on pinpointed trades to reinforce defined segments of their squad, obtaining Shardul Thakur (India, All-rounder) and Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies, Batter/All-rounder). Their discharge roster is minimal, probably centering on players who struggled to locate a consistent spot in the starting XI. They removed seasoned pace and spin bowlers, enabling them to maintain their core arrangement and solely deal with minor gaps in their fast bowling and spin departments throughout the auction.
4. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
RCB let go of a substantial quantity of players to reconstitute around their sustained core. The most visible discharge is the explosive all-rounder Liam Livingstone, an English batter and spin bowler. Key pacers Lungi Ngidi (South Africa) and Blessing Muzarabani (Zimbabwe) were also let go, signaling a tactical requirement to rebuild their pace bowling capability. By sustaining a smaller core, RCB has a flexible amount of funds to participate in the auction and secure top-level foreign fast bowlers or a high-impact local all-rounder.
5. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
SRH were greatly involved in the trade arena, moving their star pacer Mohammed Shami (India, Bowler) to LSG. Beyond the trade, SRH discharged two important international players: leg-spinner Adam Zampa (Australia) and all-rounder Wiaan Mulder (South Africa). The most significant local player release is leg-spinner Rahul Chahar. Their decisions display a distinct intent to rebalance their bowling lineup and address the void left by Shami, likely aiming for another frontline Indian pacer and a wrist-spinner throughout the auction.
6. Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Punjab Kings shocked numerous by letting go of a considerable Australian contingent, most prominently star all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis. They also dismissed pacers such as Kuldeep Sen (India) and all-rounder Aaron Hardie (Australia). This planned reduction indicates a desire to lessen a high salary limit tied up in non-core players. PBKS will take part in the mini-auction to discover a top-order Indian batter and a dependable death bowler to complement their sustained overseas all-rounders.
7. Rajasthan Royals (RR)
were central to the trading activity, transferring captain Sanju Samson (India, Wicketkeeper/Batter) to CSK and reclaiming former hero Ravindra Jadeja (India, All-rounder) and Sam Curran (England, All-rounder). Important international releases involve Sri Lankan spin twins Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. The choice to acquire Jadeja, a well-known spinner, allowed them to liberate funds by dismissing their overseas spin options, which will be reinvested in a frontline fast bowler or a world-class finisher.
8. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Lucknow Super Giants had a bustling day of trading, obtaining star pacer Mohammed Shami (India, Bowler) from SRH. They let go of pacer David Miller (South Africa) and wrist-spinner Ravi Bishnoi (India), two significant tactical departures. Bishnoi’s release shows a desire to reset their spin options, while also freeing up resources. LSG also traded out Shardul Thakur (India, All-rounder) to MI. Their auction focus will be on substituting their departing spinners and securing a consistent Indian middle-order batter.
9. Gujarat Titans (GT)
Gujarat Titans were quieter on the release front, having traded out Sherfane Rutherford (West Indies, Batter/All-rounder) to MI. The most visible releases include South African pacer Gerald Coetzee and Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka. They have concentrated on sustaining their star players such as Shubman Gill, Rashid Khan, and Jos Buttler. GT will enter the auction looking for a high-impact overseas all-rounder and a dependable middle-order Indian batsman to reinforce the core around their sustained players.
10. Delhi Capitals (DC)
The Delhi Capitals were active on the trade deadline day, acquiring batter Nitish Rana (India, Batter) from Rajasthan Royals in exchange for all-rounder Donovan Ferreira (South Africa, All-rounder). The franchise, led by Axar Patel, made strategic releases to free up funds for key targets in the auction, particularly focusing on their overseas batting options. They surprisingly released their veteran and successful former overseas captain, Faf du Plessis, along with the explosive Australian opener, Jake Fraser-McGurk. By retaining a solid Indian core of batters and spinners, DC will now enter the auction aiming to strengthen their fast-bowling unit and find a new high-impact foreign player.
Also READ: IPL 2026 Player Holdings: Kavya Maran’s SRH respond after trading Mohammed Shami to Lucknow Super Giants
Complete list of players released ahead of IPL 2026 auction
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
| Player Name | Role | Country | Status / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder | India | Traded Out to RR |
| Sam Curran | All-rounder | England | Traded Out to RR |
| Matheesha Pathirana | Bowler (Pace) | Sri Lanka | Released |
| Devon Conway | Batter/WK | New Zealand | Released |
| Rachin Ravindra | All-rounder | New Zealand | Released |
| Deepak Hooda | All-rounder | India | Released |
| Rahul Tripathi | Batter | India | Released |
| Vijay Shankar | All-rounder | India | Released |
| Kamlesh Nagarkoti | Bowler (Pace) | India | Released |
| Vansh Bedi | Bowler (Pace) | India | Released |
| Shaik Rasheed | Batter | India | Released |
| C Andre Siddharth | Bowler (SLA) | India | Released |
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
| Player Name | Role | Country | Status / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venkatesh Iyer | All-rounder | India | Released |
| Andre Russell | All-rounder | West Indies | Released |
| Quinton de Kock | Wicketkeeper/Batter | South Africa | Released |
| Anrich Nortje | Bowler (Pace) | South Africa | Released |
| Moeen Ali | All-rounder | England | Released |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Wicketkeeper/Batter | Afghanistan | Released |
| Spencer Johnson | Bowler (Pace) | Australia | Released |
| Chetan Sakariya | Bowler (Pace) | India | Released |
| Luvnith Sisodia | Batter | India | Released |
| Mayank Markande | Bowler (Leg-spin) | India | Traded Out to MI |
Delhi Capitals (DC)
| Player Name | Role | Country | Status / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faf du Plessis | Batter | South Africa | Released |
| Jake Fraser-McGurk | Batter | Australia | Released |
| Donovan Ferreira | All-rounder | South Africa | Traded Out to RR |
| Mohit Sharma | Bowler (Pace) | India | Released |
| Sediqullah Atal | Batter | Afghanistan | Released |
| Manvanth Kumar | All-rounder | India | Released |
| Darshan Nalkande | Bowler (Pace) | India | Released |
| Nitish Rana | Batter | India | Traded In from RR |
Mumbai Indians (MI)
| Player Name | Role | Country | Status / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arjun Tendulkar | All-rounder | India | Traded Out to LSG |
| Reece Topley | Bowler (Pace) | England | Released |
| Mujeeb ur Rahman | Bowler (Off-spin) | Afghanistan | Released |
| Lizaad Williams | Bowler (Pace) | South Africa | Released |
| Karn Sharma | Bowler (Leg-spin) | India | Released |
| Bevon Jacobs | Wicketkeeper/Batter | South Africa | Released |
| KL Shrijith | Batter | India | Released |
| Satyanarayana Raju | Bowler (Leg-spin) | India | Released |
| Vignesh Puthur | Batter | India | Released |
| Shardul Thakur | All-rounder | India | Traded In from LSG |
| Sherfane Rutherford | All-rounder | West Indies | Traded In from GT |
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
| Player Name | Role | Country | Status / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liam Livingstone | All-rounder | England | Released |
| Lungi Ngidi | Bowler (Pace) | South Africa | Released |
| Blessing Muzarabani | Bowler (Pace) | Zimbabwe | Released |
| Tim Seifert | Wicketkeeper/Batter | New Zealand | Released |
| Mayank Agarwal | Batter | India | Released |
| Mohit Rathee | Bowler (Leg-spin) | India | Released |
| Manoj Bhandage | All-rounder | India | Released |
| Swastik Chikara | Batter | India | Released |
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
| Player Name | Role | Country | Status / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammed Shami | Bowler (Pace) | India | Traded Out to LSG |
| Adam Zampa | Bowler (Leg-spin) | Australia | Released |
| Rahul Chahar | Bowler (Leg-spin) | India | Released |
| Wiaan Mulder | All-rounder | South Africa | Released |
| Abhinav Manohar | Batter | India | Released |
| Atharva Taide | All-rounder | India | Released |
| Simarjeet Singh | Bowler (Pace) | India | Released |
| Sachin Baby | Batter | India | Released |
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
| Player Name | Role | Country | Status / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn Maxwell | All-rounder | Australia | Released |
| Josh Inglis | Wicketkeeper/Batter | Australia | Released |
| Aaron Hardie | All-rounder | Australia | Released |
| Kuldeep Sen | Bowler (Pace) | India | Released |
| Praveen Dubey | Bowler (Leg-spin) | India | Released |
| Shivam Dube | All-rounder | India | Released |
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
| Player Name | Role | Country | Status / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanju Samson | Wicketkeeper/Batter | India | Traded Out to CSK |
| Nitish Rana | Batter | India | Traded Out to DC |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | All-rounder | Sri Lanka | Released |
| Maheesh Theekshana | Bowler (Off-spin) | Sri Lanka | Released |
| Akash Madhwal | Bowler (Pace) | India | Released |
| Ashok Sharma | Bowler (Pace) | India | Released |
| Kunal Singh Rathore | Wicketkeeper/Batter | India | Released |
| Kumar Kartikeya | Bowler (SLA) | India | Released |
| Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder | India | Traded In from CSK |
| Sam Curran | All-rounder | England | Traded In from CSK |
| Donovan Ferreira | All-rounder | South Africa | Traded In from DC |
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
| Player Name | Role | Country | Status / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ravi Bishnoi | Bowler (Leg-spin) | India | Released |
| David Miller | Batter | South Africa | Released |
| Shardul Thakur | All-rounder | India | Traded Out to MI |
| Akash Deep | Bowler (Pace) | India | Released |
| R Hangargekar | All-rounder | India | Released |
| Aryan Juyal | Wicketkeeper/Batter | India | Released |
| Mohammed Shami | Bowler (Pace) | India | Traded In from SRH |
| Arjun Tendulkar | All-rounder | India | Traded In from MI |
Gujarat Titans (GT)
| Player Name | Role | Country | Status / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sherfane Rutherford | All-rounder | West Indies | Traded Out to MI |
| Gerald Coetzee | Bowler (Pace) | South Africa | Released |
| Mahipal Lomror | All-rounder | India | Released |
| Dasun Shanaka | All-rounder | Sri Lanka | Released |
| Karim Janat | All-rounder | Afghanistan | Released |
| Kulwant Khejroliya | Bowler (Pace) | India | Released |
Also READ: Preity Zinta’s Punjab Kings split with Glenn Maxwell ahead of IPL 2026 auction
