IPL 2026 Auction: 10 Big-Name Players Likely to Be Released Ahead of Upcoming Event

IPL 2026 Auction: With the IPL 2026 mini-auction expected to take place between December 13-15, all ten franchises are working overtime to finalize their retention lists before the November 15 deadline. As teams look to rebalance their squads and free up purse space, several big-ticket players are staring at an uncertain future.

Last season saw a few high-profile signings flop, either due to poor form or injury setbacks, and these players could now be released or even traded before the next auction window.

Here’s a look at 10 big-name players who might be shown the door ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction:

Devon Conway (Chennai Super Kings)

Conway’s 2025 campaign never took off. Injuries limited him to just six matches, where he scored a modest 156 runs. With Dewald Brevis stepping up brilliantly as a replacement, CSK could prefer to retain the young South African and let Conway go to free up funds.

Mitchell Starc (Delhi Capitals)

Despite grabbing 14 wickets, Starc’s economy rate (10.17) made him a liability at the death. Delhi Capitals are likely to release the Aussie pacer to reinvest in more consistent and cost-effective bowlers during the auction.

T Natarajan (Delhi Capitals)

Natarajan barely got a game in IPL 2025, featuring in only two matches. With fitness issues and form concerns in domestic cricket, DC might not retain the left-arm quick given his hefty price tag.

Venkatesh Iyer (Kolkata Knight Riders)

One of the most expensive players in IPL history, Iyer failed to deliver with the bat in 2025. KKR, who had a forgettable season, are unlikely to take another risk on the all-rounder, making his release a strong possibility.

Akash Deep (Lucknow Super Giants)

Akash Deep impressed in red-ball cricket, but his T20 performance left much to be desired. With just 3 wickets in 6 matches at an economy of 12, LSG may cut their losses and look for a better T20 prospect in the auction pool.

Deepak Chahar (Mumbai Indians)

Chahar had a full season injury-free but couldn’t deliver match-winning performances. At 33, and with a decent but unspectacular 11 wickets in 14 games, MI may look to release him and invest in younger pacers with higher potential upside.

Rasikh Salam Dar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

Despite RCB’s title-winning run, Rasikh Salam was almost invisible. The most expensive uncapped player of the 2025 auction played just two games and failed to impress. With his massive price tag, RCB could look to offload him to bolster other areas.

Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals)

While Samson has been a pillar of RR for years, reports suggest he’s looking for a change. If a trade deal doesn’t materialize, RR might release him into the auction pool. Either way, his future with the franchise looks uncertain.

Why This Matters

With every franchise looking to maximize value and squad balance, releasing big names is not just about performance – it’s about cost vs. contribution. The upcoming IPL 2026 mini-auction could be full of surprises as teams go for smart buys and some big names re-enter the bidding war.