Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are poised to dominate the bidding wars at the IPL 2026 mini-auction, scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi. Both franchises have substantial financial resources, with KKR entering the auction with ₹63.4 crore after releasing underperformers Venkatesh Iyer and Andre Russell. CSK has freed up ₹40 crore despite trading Sanju Samson, having let go of several senior players.
KKR aims to make significant changes to their squad, while CSK is looking to bolster their bowling lineup. They may seek to reacquire Matheesha Pathirana or attract Ben Stokes, depending on his availability post-Ashes. KKR has also let go of other high-profile players like Quinton de Kock, Moeen Ali, and Anrich Nortje, but has retained key figures such as Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Ajinkya Rahane, maintaining a strong core.
In recent trades, Ravindra Jadeja has shifted to Rajasthan Royals, and Sanju Samson, who has played 177 matches since his 2013 debut, joins CSK as only his third franchise. His transfer fee remains at ₹18 crore, while Jadeja’s fee has been adjusted from ₹18 crore to ₹14 crore. Other notable trades include England all-rounder Sam Curran moving to Rajasthan Royals for ₹2.4 crore.
Mohammed Shami has been traded to Lucknow Super Giants for ₹10 crore after missing IPL 2024 due to injury. He boasts an impressive record, having taken 20 wickets during the Gujarat Titans’ championship win in 2023. Furthermore, Arjun Tendulkar will join the Lucknow Super Giants from Mumbai Indians at ₹30 lakh, while Nitish Rana moves to Delhi Capitals at ₹4.2 crore.
Delhi Capitals have released six players, including Faf du Plessis, but retain a core group featuring Axar Patel and Mitchell Starc. Gujarat Titans have released five players, while CSK has released notable names, including Devon Conway and Sam Curran. Sunrisers Hyderabad has let go of eight players, including Mohammed Shami and Adam Zampa. Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians are also shaking up their rosters by releasing multiple players.
All released players will enter the mini-auction pool, heightening competition among franchises looking to strengthen their squads. Ahead of the mega auction, here are the remaining purses for all teams: CSK has ₹43.40 crore, KKR leads with ₹64.30 crore, while teams like Mumbai Indians possess only ₹2.75 crore.
As the auction approaches, all eyes will be on the key players moving teams, reshaping the strategy for IPL 2026. This mini-auction not only impacts team compositions but also shapes the competitive landscape for the upcoming season.
Original Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl/top-stories/ipl-2026-retention-retained-and-released-players-with-purse-remaining-for-all-ipl-teams/articleshow/125349365.cms
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Publish Date: 2025-11-15 19:50:00
