🌟 IPL 2026 Retention List & Player Trades: Full Squads, Auction Purse, and Key Releases
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Retention List deadline has passed, and the landscape of the tournament has been fundamentally reshaped. Far from a quiet affair, this year’s retention process—ahead of the IPL Mini-Auction 2026—has delivered one of the most explosive trade and release windows in recent memory. Franchises have made bold, calculated moves to optimize their squad composition and auction purse.
In this comprehensive, long-form guide, we break down the definitive Full IPL 2026 Retention and Trade List for every franchise. We’ll explore the key strategic decisions, analyze the unexpected releases, and detail the monumental Player Trades that have stunned the cricket world. Understanding these moves is crucial to predicting the drama that awaits at the December mini-auction.
🚨 IPL 2026 Rules Explained: Mini-Auction vs. Mega Auction
The biggest factor shaping the **IPL 2026 Retention List** is the format of the upcoming auction. Unlike the biennial mega-auction, 2026 features a **mini-auction**, which dramatically changes the retention strategy for all ten teams. Franchises were handed unprecedented flexibility this year.
No Retention Limit: A Game Changer
The most significant rule change is the removal of the retention cap. In a mega-auction, teams are typically limited to retaining only three or four players. For the **IPL Mini-Auction 2026**, there was **no limit** on the number of players a team could retain, provided they adhered to the overall squad and financial regulations.
- Maximum Squad Size: A maximum of 25 players (Indian and Overseas combined).
- IPL Salary Cap: The total salary purse for the 2026 season remains at ₹120 Crore.
- No RTM Card: Crucially, the **Right-to-Match (RTM) card** is not available this year. Any released player will go into the open auction pool without a guaranteed buy-back option for their former team.
This flexibility allowed strong teams to keep their championship core intact, while struggling franchises could undertake a necessary, strategic clean-out without having to rebuild from scratch.
💰 IPL 2026 Auction Purse Remaining: Who Has the Most Cash?
The retention and trade decisions directly impact the funds available for the auction. By releasing high-value players, franchises successfully boosted their available **IPL Salary Cap** for the December auction. Here is a snapshot of the remaining purse for each team.
| Franchise | Players Retained | Purse Remaining (in ₹ Crore) | Available Slots (Total/Overseas) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) | 12 | 64.30 | 13 / 6 |
| Chennai Super Kings (CSK) | 16 | 43.40 | 9 / 4 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | 15 | 25.50 | 10 / 5 |
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | 17 | 22.95 | 8 / 4 |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | 17 | 21.80 | 8 / 4 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | 17 | 16.40 | 8 / 4 |
| Rajasthan Royals (RR) | 16 | 16.05 | 9 / 4 |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | 20 | 12.90 | 5 / 1 |
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | 21 | 11.50 | 4 / 2 |
| Mumbai Indians (MI) | 20 | 2.75 | 5 / 2 |
The data clearly shows a massive gap between teams like **KKR** and **CSK**, who have positioned themselves for a big spending spree, and a team like **Mumbai Indians (MI)**, whose pre-auction trading activities have left them with the least amount of funds. Teams with a lower purse like MI and PBKS have clearly prioritised squad stability over auction flexibility, opting to retain the bulk of their squad.
🔄 The Mega-Trade Blockbuster: Analysing Key Player Trades
The biggest headline this retention window wasn’t about who was retained, but who was traded. The pre-auction trade window saw some of the most high-profile player swaps in IPL history, directly impacting the **IPL 2026 Retention List** for multiple teams. These moves demonstrate an incredible level of franchise strategy and negotiation expertise.
The Blockbuster Double-Swap: Samson $\leftrightarrow$ Jadeja & Curran
The most shocking move was the trade that saw superstar wicketkeeper-batsman **Sanju Samson** move from Rajasthan Royals to the Chennai Super Kings. In return, RR received two international-level all-rounders: **Ravindra Jadeja** and **Sam Curran** (who was traded from CSK to RR in an all-cash deal). This monumental trade means:
- **CSK** secures a premier Indian wicketkeeper-batsman for the future, likely succeeding MS Dhoni. The question of **Who did CSK retain for IPL 2026** is now answered with a massive name.
- **RR** bolsters its middle-order and bowling attack with the experienced Jadeja and the all-round firepower of Curran, a crucial element of their **Franchise Strategy**.
Pace and Power: Shami to LSG, Rutherford & Thakur to MI
Other significant movements involved fast bowlers and hard-hitting finishers:
- Mohammed Shami: The star pacer was traded from SRH to **Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)** in an all-cash deal, adding serious Indian pace expertise to LSG’s bowling attack.
- Shardul Thakur: The seam-bowling all-rounder moved from LSG to **Mumbai Indians (MI)**.
- Sherfane Rutherford: The West Indian finisher was traded from GT to **MI**. MI’s low remaining purse is a direct result of these significant inbound trades, indicating a firm belief in their current squad.
These player movements are the kind of strategic manoeuvres that can define a championship season, proving the trade window is now as vital as the auction itself.
📜 Full IPL 2026 Retention and Trade List: Team-by-Team Breakdown
Here is the definitive **IPL 2026 Retention List** for all ten franchises, detailing the retained, released, and traded players. This list is essential for fans and analysts trying to determine which teams are favourites for the next season.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) 🦁
CSK maintained their core while making a huge move for a future leader. They released a number of international stars to fund the trade and prepare for the mini-auction.
- Key Retained Players: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), **MS Dhoni** (wk), Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, Khaleel Ahmad.
- Traded In: **Sanju Samson** (from RR).
- Key Released Players: Matheesha Pathirana, Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar.
- Purse Remaining: ₹43.40 Crore
Mumbai Indians (MI) 💙
MI has arguably the most settled side, utilizing the trade window to plug specific gaps rather than relying on the auction. They have the lowest **IPL 2026 Auction Purse Remaining**.
- Key Retained Players: Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, **Hardik Pandya**, **Jasprit Bumrah**, Tilak Varma.
- Traded In: Shardul Thakur (from LSG), Sherfane Rutherford (from GT).
- Key Released Players: Reece Topley, Karn Sharma, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
- Purse Remaining: ₹2.75 Crore
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) 💜
KKR made the boldest financial moves, releasing massive contracts like Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, and Quinton de Kock to secure the largest auction purse. Their **Franchise Strategy** is clearly a major overhaul.
- Key Retained Players: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana.
- Key Released Players: Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, Moeen Ali.
- Purse Remaining: ₹64.30 Crore
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ❤️
The defending champions have focused on continuity, retaining the bulk of their title-winning squad, including their core Indian talent.
- Key Retained Players: Rajat Patidar (c), **Virat Kohli**, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Josh Hazlewood.
- Key Released Players: Mayank Agarwal, Tim Seifert, Liam Livingstone, Lungi Ngidi.
- Purse Remaining: ₹16.40 Crore
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) 💚
LSG made a strategic trade to acquire an elite Indian fast bowler, Shami, while also trading out a few high-value contracts to balance the books.
- Key Retained Players: Rishabh Pant (c), Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan.
- Traded In: Mohammed Shami (from SRH), Arjun Tendulkar (from MI).
- Key Released Players: David Miller, Ravi Bishnoi, Akash Deep.
- Purse Remaining: ₹22.95 Crore
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) 🧡
SRH retained their powerful international core but surprisingly released pace leader Mohammed Shami via trade. They have a decent purse to target Indian talent.
- Key Retained Players: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, **Heinrich Klaasen**, Pat Cummins, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
- Traded Out: Mohammed Shami (to LSG).
- Key Released Players: Adam Zampa, Rahul Chahar, Wiaan Mulder.
- Purse Remaining: ₹25.50 Crore
Rajasthan Royals (RR) 💖
RR made a calculated gamble, trading their captain Samson but gaining two match-winners in return. Their **Full IPL 2026 Retention and Trade List** shows a focus on a strong Indian batting core.
- Key Retained Players: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma.
- Traded In: **Ravindra Jadeja** (from CSK), **Sam Curran** (from CSK), Nitish Rana (from DC).
- Traded Out: Sanju Samson (to CSK).
- Purse Remaining: ₹16.05 Crore
*(The remaining teams, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Gujarat Titans, also released and retained players based on similar strategies, focusing on stability and value.)*
📊 Comparison Box: Strategic Releases vs. Stability Retentions
The **IPL 2026 Retention List** highlights two core **Franchise Strategy** approaches: those who released big contracts for maximum auction flexibility and those who prioritized squad stability by retaining the majority of their players.
Table 2: Comparing Retention Strategies
| Strategic Approach | Franchises | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Flexibility (Release-Heavy) | KKR, CSK | Largest auction purse, ability to target multiple marquee players (e.g., Who did CSK retain for IPL 2026 allowed them to shed high-value contracts), complete squad overhaul possible. | Higher risk of team chemistry disruption, reliance on success at the mini-auction. |
| High Stability (Retention-Heavy) | MI, PBKS, GT | Maintained core team combination, minimal disruption to team dynamic, immediate balance and proven performers. | Lowest remaining auction purse, restricted ability to buy high-value players or cover multiple gaps if they emerge later. |
❓ FAQ Section: IPL 2026 Retention Rules and Trades
To ensure high expertise and comprehensive information, here are the answers to the most common questions regarding the **IPL 2026 Retention List** and auction rules, formatted for easy Google Schema compatibility.
1. What is the biggest takeaway from the IPL 2026 Retention List and Player Trades?
The biggest takeaway is the massive **Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran** trade, which fundamentally changed the future of the CSK and RR franchises. It signals that teams are willing to make extremely high-value player swaps, using the trade window to secure established Indian talent for their long-term core, influencing the **Full IPL 2026 Retention and Trade List** heavily.
2. Is IPL 2026 a mega-auction, and how does this affect the retention rules?
No, IPL 2026 is a **mini-auction**. This is a crucial distinction, as the rule for a mini-auction allows franchises to retain an **unlimited number of players**, provided they stay within the ₹120 Crore salary cap and the 25-player squad limit. This is why many teams retained more players than they would in a mega-auction year, maintaining their core stability.
3. Which team has the highest IPL 2026 Auction Purse Remaining for the mini-auction?
The **Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)** have the largest auction purse remaining, with **₹64.30 Crore** available. They achieved this by strategically releasing multiple high-value contracts, including Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer, demonstrating a bold **Franchise Strategy** to target big names in the upcoming auction.
4. Was the Right-to-Match (RTM) card available for the IPL Mini-Auction 2026?
No, the RTM (Right-to-Match) card **is not available** for the IPL 2026 Mini-Auction. This means that all players released onto the **Released Players List** will be subject to open bidding, and their former franchise will not have a preferential option to re-acquire them at the final bid price.
5. What is the latest update on the Mohammed Shami trade?
Star Indian pacer **Mohammed Shami** was traded from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to the **Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)**. This was confirmed as an all-cash trade, giving LSG a world-class Indian fast-bowling option and SRH additional funds to bolster their squad via the auction.
📈 Conclusion: The Road Ahead to the IPL Mini-Auction 2026
The **IPL 2026 Retention List** and the subsequent trade activity have set the stage for one of the most intriguing mini-auctions in history. With the massive
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