IPL Retention 2026: Venkatesh Iyer, Maxwell could be dumped; likely releases for all teams

We have reached the end of the Indian Premier League (IPL) retention window, with the deadline ending on 15 November (Saturday). All 10 IPL teams will have to make their final list of retentions and released players public and official on Saturday before the IPL 2026 auction, which most likely would take place one month from now.

Follow LIVE | IPL Retention Deadline Day LIVE Updates

While there are no caps on releases and retentions, do not expect a large number of releases from IPL teams, barring a few, as we inch closer to a mini-auction. IPL franchises usually release only a few players before the mini-auction, which they feel are surplus to requirements and then try to find suitable replacements at the auction or through trades.

For example, the Mumbai Indians have already traded in Shardul Thakur and Sherfane Rutherford from the Lucknow Super Giants and the Gujarat Titans, respectively. Some more trades are rumoured, including Mohammed Shami from Sunrisers Hyderabad to LSG and a swap between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, which would see Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran heading to Jaipur in exchange for Sanju Samson.

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Nonetheless, teams would have time to complete trades 30 days before the next season, but the deadline to retain and release players ends on 15 November.

KKR set to release Venkatesh Iyer, SRH to retain Klaasen

One of the biggest names that can be released is Venkatesh Iyer, who was bought for Rs 23.75 by Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2025 mega auction but scored just 142 runs in 11 matches last season. There are reports that KKR could try to get him back for less in the mini-auction. But by releasing him, they are set to increase their auction purse.

A report in Cricbuzz states that, contrary to rumours, Heinrich Klaasen, who was paid Rs 23 crore for retention last season, could be retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad. The report further added that LSG have also decided to retain injury-prone Mayank Yadav after trading Thakur to MI, but Ravi Bishnoi could be released.

CSK, who finished at the bottom of the IPL 2025 standings, are set to release a significant number of players, as Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Rachin Ravindra, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, and Jamie Overton could be released.

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Rajasthan Royals, who also had a poor tournament, may see Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Kwena Maphaka leaving.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru could part ways with Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Blessing Muzarabani and Rasikh Dar, but nothing is confirmed as of now. Last year’s finalists, the Punjab Kings, could release Glenn Maxwell.

IPL Retention 2026: Likely releases for all teams

The entire confirmed list of retained and released players for each IPL team will be announced on Saturday evening. But here’s a look at possible releases for each team.

KKR: Venkatesh Iyer, Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje

LSG: Ravi Bishnoi, David Miller, Akash Deep, Shamar Joseph, Shardul Thakur (traded to MI)

DC: T Natarajan, Jake Fraser-McGurk

RCB: Mayank Agarwal, Liam Livingstone, Blessing Muzarabani, Rasikh Dar

PBKS: Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, Praveen Dubey, Vishnu Vinod

MI: Reece Topley, Will Jacks, Arjun Tendulkar (traded to LSG)

RR: Sanju Samson (traded to CSK), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kwena Maphaka

CSK: Ravindra Jadeja (traded to RR), Sam Curran (traded to RR), Devon Conway, Rahul Tripathi, Rachin Ravindra, Deepak Hooda, Vijay Shankar, Jamie Overton

SRH: Mohammed Shami (traded to LSG), Rahul Chahar

GT: Sherfane Rutherford (traded to MI)

Please note that the official list for all teams can still vary, as nothing has been made official yet.