The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises are currently deliberating their list of retained and released players ahead of the deadline set for Saturday, November 15. Teams must be mindful of their purse and remaining slots, which can be utilized during the upcoming IPL 2026 mini auction, reportedly scheduled for next month.
Since this is not a mega auction, franchises have the provision to retain as many players as they wish and release as many as they feel necessary. They will continue to operate under a salary cap of INR 120 crore and maintain a maximum squad size of 28 players, which can include no more than eight overseas players.
With that in mind, here is a prediction of one major player release from each team ahead of the IPL 2026 retention deadline.
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### #1 Mumbai Indians: Deepak Chahar
The five-time champions went all out to secure a new-ball Indian bowler, fighting tooth and nail to sign Deepak Chahar for INR 9.25 crore. This marked their most expensive Indian acquisition at the 2025 mega auction.
Though the pacer had a decent first season for his new franchise, the return on investment seems questionable. He picked up 11 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 34.18 and an economy of 9.17. Given his injury record, Mumbai Indians may consider releasing him and potentially roping him back in at a cheaper price or exploring alternate options.
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### #2 Chennai Super Kings: Rachin Ravindra
CSK’s shrewd buy of Rachin Ravindra promised much but delivered little. The New Zealand international has struggled to justify the franchise’s backing and has been inconsistent over the last couple of seasons.
While Ravindra has shined in international cricket, the same success has not translated in the IPL. He scored 413 runs in 18 innings at an average of 24.29. With a new-look top-order almost ready to be unleashed, CSK may have little option but to release him.
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### #3 Delhi Capitals: Mitchell Starc
Delhi Capitals secured veteran Australian pacer Mitchell Starc for INR 11.75 crore, initially considered a bargain. Starc started strong with eight wickets in his first two matches but managed only six wickets in his subsequent nine matches and ended four games wicketless.
Having already retired from T20 internationals and playing no T20s since the IPL 2025 season, DC may look to bolster their purse by releasing Starc and seeking more long-term options.
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### #4 Sunrisers Hyderabad: Mohammad Shami
Sunrisers Hyderabad targeted an Indian seamer after releasing Bhuvneshwar Kumar, winning a bidding war to acquire Mohammad Shami for INR 10 crore. However, the veteran couldn’t justify this hefty price tag.
Shami played only nine matches, taking six wickets at an average of 56.17 and conceding runs at an economy rate of 11.23. Despite recent success in red-ball cricket, SRH might raise these 10 crores back into their purse and look for fresher options.
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### #5 Punjab Kings: Glenn Maxwell
The Australian all-rounder’s third stint with Punjab Kings didn’t go as planned. Signed for INR 4.2 crore in IPL 2025, Maxwell scored only 48 runs in seven matches at an average of 8 before injury ruled him out.
At 37 years old, Maxwell still carries a reputation but lacks form and performances to justify retention. With Punjab featuring plenty of all-rounders and impact hitters, they could free up an overseas slot by releasing Maxwell.
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### #6 Kolkata Knight Riders: Venkatesh Iyer
KKR have invested heavily in Venkatesh Iyer since his debut in 2021, releasing and then reacquiring him in a costly INR 23.75 crore deal. Unfortunately, the move has faltered spectacularly.
Following a forgettable campaign and major backroom changes, KKR need to rebuild. Releasing Iyer would free up a significant portion of their budget, allowing them to plug multiple weaknesses while having the option to bring him back at a cheaper price.
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### #7 Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Liam Livingstone
As defending champions, RCB are likely to have minimal releases and purse adjustments. Their squad is well-assembled and covers almost all bases.
However, the England all-rounder Liam Livingstone stands out as a weak link. Despite fitting RCB’s team composition on paper, he underperformed last season, scoring only 112 runs in 10 matches at an average of 16, with little impact with the ball as well. He could be the player released.
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### #8 Lucknow Super Giants: Mayank Yadav
LSG showed patience with Mayank Yadav, investing INR 11 crore as a core retention before the mega auction. However, after just two appearances in IPL 2025 due to injuries and minimal returns, parting ways might be necessary.
LSG cannot afford another dismal season and would benefit from adding INR 11 crores to their purse to strengthen their squad ahead of IPL 2026.
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### #9 Gujarat Titans: Rahul Tewatia
Gujarat Titans made the most of the mega auction and are not looking for a major overhaul. Still, there is room for improvement.
Rahul Tewatia, holding an INR 4 crore contract, has underperformed compared to teammates like Washington Sundar, Sai Kishore, and Sherfan Rutherford. His IPL 2025 average dipped to 12.38, and he has not bowled in the last two seasons. GT may consider releasing the pinch hitter to free up funds.
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### #10 Rajasthan Royals: Maheesh Theekshana
Despite being ranked 16th among T20I bowlers, Rajasthan Royals may have to release Maheesh Theekshana ahead of the auction.
With overseas spinner Wanindu Hasaranga already in the squad and the expected arrival of Ravindra Jadeja, Theekshana could be the odd man out. His previous season stats—11 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 22.91 and an economy of 9.76—were decent but not spectacular enough to warrant retention over Hasaranga.
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As the retention deadline approaches, franchises will have to make tough decisions balancing performance, budget, and squad composition to prepare for IPL 2026. Keep an eye on official announcements to see how these predictions unfold.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/predicting-one-major-player-release-team-ahead-ipl-2026-retention-deadline-ft-venkatesh-iyer
