The IPL 2026 retention window has officially closed, and all ten franchises have released their full lists of retained, released and traded players ahead of the highly anticipated IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi. Some teams stayed loyal to their core players, while others opted for massive resets — releasing big names and freeing up purse for major auction moves.
This breakdown provides team-wise tables, bullet points, key insights, auction impact and purse remaining for each franchise — making it easy for readers to understand who kept whom, who traded whom and why.
1. Big Names Released Means Auctions Will Be Aggressive
Andre Russell
Glenn Maxwell
Quinton de Kock
Sanju Samson (via trade)
Hasaranga Teams with large purses will compete for these stars.
2. India’s Next-Gen Core Is Being Trusted More
Jaiswal
Riyan Parag
Gaikwad
Abhishek Sharma Franchises are clearly planning long-term.
3. Teams With Highest Purse Will Dominate Early Bidding
KKR
CSK
PBKS
DC
4. Teams With Lowest Purse Will Focus on Value Buys
MI
GT
🎯 Conclusion
The IPL 2026 retention list has completely reshaped the auction landscape. Some teams stuck to their winning combinations, while others released superstars to start fresh. With massive trades, surprising exits and purse differences, the IPL 2026 auction is set to be one of the most unpredictable ever.
