As the Indian Premier League (IPL) gears up for its 2026 season, all ten franchises have revealed their retention lists. A clear indicator of how teams are strategizing ahead of the mini-auction. This year’s retention phase underlines the balance between continuity and rebuilding, as franchises lock in core players while also trimming squads to create room for fresh talent.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opted for stability, retaining stalwarts like MS Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwad, alongside young talent such as Dewald Brevis and promising domestic players. The franchise decided to part ways with several names, including the much-discussed Matheesha Pathirana, signaling a shift in their long-term vision.
On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals (RR) went through a major revamp. The blockbuster swap saw Sanju Samson traded to CSK, while Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran joined RR. Despite the shake-up, RR retained key young Indian players such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and wicket-keeper Dhruv Jurel emphasizing their faith in youth.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) surprised many by releasing big names like Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, and Quinton de Kock, indicating a decisive pivot in their strategy. The retained core, however, remains strong with players such as Ajinkya Rahane, Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, Varun Chakravarthy, and newcomer Arjun Tendulkar (via trade). With a huge budget left for the auction, KKR seem to be positioning for a major rebuild.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) largely maintained their core. They’ve held on to Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, and others. One of their biggest exits was Mohammad Shami, who was traded out to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) giving SRH flexibility in both their purse and squad composition.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), meanwhile, retained a deep and varied squad. Their list includes Rishabh Pant, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, Arjun Tendulkar, and Shahbaz Ahmed, among others. With 19 players retained, LSG appear confident in their existing core while leaving themselves options for squad fine-tuning.
For the Gujarat Titans (GT), continuity was the theme. They retained Shubman Gill (their captain), Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Rashid Khan, and a clutch of both Indian and overseas players.This signals their commitment to a stable core and a belief that their current crop can challenge again.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fresh off their 2025 title stuck with their mainstays like Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Krunal Pandya, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. They’ve preserved a blend of experience and youth, suggesting they trust the group that brought them their first championship.
Delhi Capitals (DC) retained 16 core players, according to reports. Their list runs from captain Axar Patel and top-order dynamo KL Rahul, to strike bowler Mitchell Starc, left-arm pacer T. Natarajan, promising domestic names like Abishek Porel, Sameer Rizvi, and all-rounders such as Mukesh Kumar and Tripurana Vijay. With a purse of Rs 21.8 crore remaining for the auction, DC seem poised to make targeted buys.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) opted for continuity over upheaval. They retained Shreyas Iyer, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, and a wide set of players including Nehal Wadhera, Vishnu Vinod, and Marcus Stoinis. Their disciplined retention points toward a steady, balanced rebuild rather than a complete reset.
While full details for some franchises (like Mumbai Indians) were less publicly covered in major outlets, available sources suggest MI made only modest adjustments, keeping faith in their existing core.