Big moves mark IPL 2026 retentions as LSG trusts Mayank Yadav, PBKS drops Glenn Maxwell, and a major CSK–RR trade shakes up team strategies before the Dubai mega auction.
New Delhi: The IPL 2026 retention deadline passed at 3 PM IST, and it brought many big and surprising decisions. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) showed huge trust in young fast bowler Mayank Yadav by retaining him for ₹11 crore, even though he has struggled with frequent injuries. At the same time, Punjab Kings (PBKS) made a bold move by releasing Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell after his disappointing 2025 season.
The day became even more dramatic with a major trade: Sanju Samson moved to Chennai Super Kings (CSK), while Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran joined Rajasthan Royals (RR). This has completely changed the plans and strategies for the mega auction in Dubai this December.
With teams reducing their squads to around 16 players, more than 150 players, including big stars like Andre Russell and Matheesha Pathirana, are now available in the auction. The total auction purse across teams could go above ₹1,200 crore, making it one of the biggest auctions ever.
Retention Rules and Big Trades
The retention window opened on November 1 as per BCCI’s updated rules. Each team could keep up to six players — four direct retentions and two using Right to Match cards. The purse limit increased to ₹120 crore, depending on retention deductions.
After CSK won their sixth IPL title in 2025, teams focused on finding the right mix of big stars and young talent. One of the biggest trades was the CSK-RR deal:
• Samson (₹18 crore) to CSK
• Jadeja (₹14 crore) and Curran (₹2.4 crore) to RR
• Plus ₹1.6 crore cash to RR
CSK sees Samson as a long-term leader after MS Dhoni, while RR strengthens their middle order after failing to reach the IPL 2025 final.
LSG’s High-Risk Move: Mayank Yadav at ₹11 Crore
LSG made one of the boldest calls by retaining Mayank Yadav for ₹11 crore. The 23-year-old is famous for bowling the fastest ball in IPL history — 156.7 kmph against RCB in 2024. However, he missed more than half of IPL 2025 due to back and hamstring injuries.
Mayank made a strong debut with 7 wickets in four matches at an economy rate of 6.99, but recurring injuries have been a major concern.
LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka said,
“Mayank’s pace is a weapon we cannot ignore. He represents the future of fast bowling in the IPL.”
Former India opener Aakash Chopra questioned the decision:
“₹11 crore for someone who has played only 11 IPL matches? Great if he’s fit, but is the risk worth it?”
With KL Rahul (₹17 crore) and Nicholas Pooran (₹15 crore) also retained, LSG goes into the auction with a small purse of ₹22.95 crore and 14 squad slots to fill. They are hoping Mayank returns fully fit to push them into the top four.
PBKS Releases Maxwell, Begins Fresh Rebuild
PBKS made one of the toughest decisions of the day by releasing Glenn Maxwell. Bought for ₹10.75 crore in 2025, Maxwell had a poor season:
• 108 runs,
• Strike rate of 120,
• No fifties,
• No impact with the ball.
A PBKS team source told ESPNcricinfo,
“Maxwell’s X-factor did not work this season, and the team needed a change.”
PBKS also released Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Kuldeep Sen, and Praveen Dubey. But they kept their main Indian core:
• Shikhar Dhawan (₹8 crore, captain)
• Arshdeep Singh (₹18 crore)
• Prabhsimran Singh (₹4 crore)
PBKS now has one of the biggest purses: ₹118 crore with only 5 releases. They seem ready to build a young and energetic squad.
Meanwhile, Maxwell, now 36, is expected to attract interest from RCB and Mumbai Indians again, likely at a lower price.
How All 10 Teams Look After Retentions
(As per IPLT20.com and team announcements till November 15, 2025)
🟡 Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
• Key Retentions: Ruturaj Gaikwad (₹18 Cr), Devon Conway (₹12 Cr)
• Major Releases: Matheesha Pathirana, Deepak Chahar
• Auction Purse: ₹43.49 Cr
• Slots Open: 9
🔵 Mumbai Indians (MI)
• Key Retentions: Rohit Sharma (₹18 Cr), Hardik Pandya (₹16.35 Cr), Suryakumar Yadav (₹16.30 Cr)
• Major Releases: Tim David, Luke Wood
• Auction Purse: ₹95 Cr
• Slots Open: 8
🔴 Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
• Key Retentions: Virat Kohli (₹21 Cr), Rajat Patidar (₹11 Cr)
• Major Releases: Faf du Plessis, Will Jacks
• Auction Purse: ₹105 Cr
• Slots Open: 10
🟣 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
• Key Retentions: Shreyas Iyer, Sunil Narine (₹12 Cr)
• Major Releases: Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer
• Auction Purse: ₹110 Cr
• Slots Open: 9
🔵 Rajasthan Royals (RR)
• Key Retentions: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja & Sam Curran (via trade)
• Major Releases: Sanju Samson
• Auction Purse: ₹108 Cr
• Slots Open: 8
🟠 Gujarat Titans (GT)
• Key Retentions: Shubman Gill (₹18 Cr), Rashid Khan (₹18 Cr), Sai Sudharsan (₹8.5 Cr)
• Major Releases: Gerald Coetzee, Sherfane Rutherford, Dasun Shanaka
• Auction Purse: ₹92 Cr
• Slots Open: 10
🔵 Delhi Capitals (DC)
• Key Retentions: Axar Patel (₹16.5 Cr), KL Rahul (₹14 Cr), Karun Nair (₹4 Cr)
• Major Releases: Mitchell Marsh, Faf du Plessis
• Auction Purse: ₹102 Cr
• Slots Open: 9
🟢 Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
• Key Retentions: KL Rahul (₹17 Cr), Nicholas Pooran (₹15 Cr), Mayank Yadav (₹11 Cr)
• Major Releases: David Miller, Ravi Bishnoi, Shardul Thakur (8 total releases)
• Auction Purse: ₹22.95 Cr
• Slots Open: 14
🟡 Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
• Key Retentions: Travis Head (₹14 Cr), Abhishek Sharma (₹14 Cr), Pat Cummins (₹18 Cr)
• Major Releases: None major
• Auction Purse: ₹85 Cr
• Slots Open: 7
🔴 Punjab Kings (PBKS)
• Key Retentions: Arshdeep Singh (₹18 Cr), Shikhar Dhawan (₹8 Cr), Prabhsimran Singh (₹4 Cr)
• Major Releases: Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis (5 total releases)
• Auction Purse: ₹118 Cr
• Slots Open: 11
More Reactions and What Comes Next
CSK’s major clear-out, including the surprising release of Pathirana, gives them a purse of ₹43.4 crore. With Samson likely to lead, CEO Kasi Viswanathan said,
“Sanju represents our winning mindset and future plans.”
KKR shocked fans by parting ways with Russell and Venkatesh Iyer as they focus on a younger squad.
RCB kept Kohli but released Faf du Plessis to find a new opening partner at the auction.
On social media, #IPL2026Retention trended with over 50,000 posts.
Fans debated:
• “Mayank at 11 crore? LSG is dreaming big!”
• “PBKS releasing Maxwell means his next team will benefit.”
Experts like Harsha Bhogle said,
“Trades like Jadeja’s show that IPL has grown — loyalty and ambition now go hand in hand.”
With major stars such as Russell, Maxwell and Faf entering the auction pool, teams are preparing for intense bidding wars. PBKS, with the highest purse, is expected to dominate the auction table.
Fans are excited too. One user on X wrote:
“This auction might be crazier than a Mayank Yadav bouncer. Who do you want your team to buy?”
The IPL 2026 mega auction is expected to be one of the most dramatic ever seen.