The excitement for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season is about to escalate. JioStar, the official broadcasters of the league, made it clear that all IPL franchises will announce their lists of retained and released players on November 15. This eagerly awaited date for the IPL retentions was confirmed just moments after India secured a T20I series victory against Australia, following the washout of the fifth match in Brisbane.
IPL 2026 Retention list to be disclosed on November 15
Reports suggest that the auction for IPL 2026 is scheduled to take place in December. With only a mini-auction planned, teams are busy finalizing their retention and release lists. Since the IPL conducted a mega auction just last year to allow franchises to build squads for a three-year cycle, this year's retentions will differ slightly. Crucially, unlike the rules preceding a mega auction, there will be no cap on the number of players that each team is allowed to retain.
Furthermore, several teams have reportedly been active in the ongoing trading window, a period when players can be exchanged or purchased by other franchises. This window operates in three distinct phases, it opens seven days after the conclusion of a season, closes one week prior to the auction, then reopens immediately after the auction concludes, and finally shuts down 30 days before the start of the new season.
The countdown to the IPL 2026 mini-auction, with the retention deadline quickly approaching, has sparked the usual frenzy of speculation and strategic planning among franchises. The central theme dominating discussions this year is the high value of Indian core players. Teams are becoming notably cautious about releasing established domestic stars, especially those who offer dual utility as all-rounders or wicketkeeper-batters.
Major player speculations and trade rumors
The rumor mill is particularly active concerning a few high-profile players. There has been intense speculation that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) may be targeting KL Rahul to fill the crucial role of captain-wicketkeeper-batter. Rahul, who was bought by Delhi Capitals (DC) for 1.4 crore in last year's mega auction and scored 539 runs in 13 matches, is reportedly being shopped by DC, who have already tested the waters by exploring potential trades involving their former Punjab Kings skipper.
Another major name dominating the transfer rumors is Sanju Samson. Reports indicate that Samson has requested a release from Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of the 2026 auction. This has triggered interest from several franchises, with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) reportedly restarting talks with RR after earlier links with the Delhi Capitals. However, not all stars are expected to be retained, some of the costliest players from last year's auction, including Venkatesh Iyer, are anticipated to be released. Ultimately, the official retention announcements will be crucial, as they will provide teams with a much clearer picture of both the available player pool and their respective purse strengths before they enter the mini-auction.