IPL 2026: How many players can each franchise retain before the deadline? Retention rules explained

Published - 14 Nov 2025, 13:34 IST | Updated - 14 Nov 2025, 13:34 IST

With the IPL 2026 retention deadline fast approaching on November 15, excitement is building across the cricketing world. Teams such as Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Rajasthan Royals (RR), and Mumbai Indians (MI) are drawing significant attention as speculation and trade activity intensify ahead of the new season.

Several trades have already taken place, with Shardul Thakur and Sherfane Rutherford moving to MI from LSG and GT, respectively. The biggest buzz, however, surrounds the potential blockbuster trade involving Sanju Samson moving to CSK from RR in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran. Unlike last season’s mega auction, IPL 2026 will feature a mini-auction, as most franchises have nearly finalised their retention lists.

Unlike the mega auction, the mini-auction does not limit franchises on the number of players they can retain. As per IPL regulations, each franchise can have a maximum squad size of 25 players, with a total salary purse of INR 120 crore.

The deadline for IPL 2026 retentions is November 15 (Saturday) at 3 PM IST. The full list of retained and released players is expected to be announced around 5 PM IST.

The IPL 2026 mini-auction will be held on December 16. Similar to the previous edition, the auction is set to be hosted overseas, this time in Abu Dhabi. Last year, the IPL 2025 auction took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Star Sports is the official broadcaster of the IPL. The IPL 2026 retention show will be telecast live on Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2 (Hindi), Star Sports 2 (Tamil), Star Sports 2 (Telugu), and Star Sports 2 (Malayalam) from 5 PM IST. Live streaming will be available on the JioStar app and website.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are the defending IPL champions. Led by Rajat Patidar, RCB defeated Punjab Kings by six runs in a thrilling final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, ending their 18-year wait for the title. Mumbai Indians and CSK remain the joint-most successful franchises with five trophies each, followed by KKR with three titles.