The IPL 2026 retention window closed on November 15, 2025, with all ten franchises confirming their squads ahead of the high-stakes auction.

A total of 173 players were retained, including 49 overseas players, leaving INR 237.55 crore available across teams to fill 77 remaining slots.

With the auction scheduled for December 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, teams will now focus on addressing gaps and identifying key match-winners.

Among franchises, Kolkata Knight Riders head into the auction with the largest purse—a massive INR 64.30 crore—while Punjab Kings have retained the most players (21).

Below is the full team-by-team narrative with INR values clearly highlighted.

TEAM-WISE HIGHLIGHTS & AUCTION PRIORITIES

Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

Purse remaining: INR 43.40 crore

Slots left: 9 (4 overseas)

CSK made some of the biggest retention-window headlines by trading out Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran while bringing in Sanju Samson. With several experienced names moving out, CSK look ready for a rebuild phase.

Auction Needs:

A top-tier overseas allrounder (likely targets: Russell, Maxwell, Livingstone, Green) and a seam-bowling backup for Nathan Ellis.

Delhi Capitals (DC)

Purse remaining: INR 21.80 crore

Slots left: 8 (5 overseas)

DC's release list included Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk — leaving their top order thin. With only three overseas players retained, they must stock up.

Auction Needs:

Top-order hitters + at least 2–3 overseas signings.

Gujarat Titans (GT)

Purse remaining: INR 12.90 crore

Slots left: 5 (4 overseas)

GT's major move was trading Sherfane Rutherford to Mumbai Indians. Their core remains strong with Gill, Buttler, Rabada, and Rashid.

Auction Needs:

A finisher and a versatile allrounder.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Purse remaining: INR 64.30 crore

Slots left: 13 (6 overseas)

KKR shocked fans by releasing Andre Russell, along with de Kock, Gurbaz, and Nortje. With such heavy churn, they are primed to dominate the auction with the highest purse available.

Auction Needs:

A wicketkeeper, an opening batter, and a high-impact allrounder.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Purse remaining: INR 22.95 crore

Slots left: 6 (4 overseas)

LSG traded in Mohammed Shami and Arjun Tendulkar, but releasing David Miller and Bishnoi leaves their middle order and spin department lighter.

Auction Needs:

A middle-order reinforcement, a frontline spinner, and possibly an allrounder.

Mumbai Indians (MI)

Purse remaining: INR 2.75 crore

Slots left: 5 (1 overseas)

MI brought in Shardul Thakur, Rutherford, and Markande — completing their squad composition. With only INR 2.75 crore in hand, they are unlikely to make large bids.

Auction Needs:

Low-budget backups only.

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

Purse remaining: INR 11.50 crore

Slots left: 4 (2 overseas)

PBKS released Maxwell, Inglis, and Jamieson but retained much of their core. Their lineup looks settled.

Auction Needs:

Minimal — possibly bargain bench-strength additions.

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Purse remaining: INR 16.05 crore

Slots left: 9 (1 overseas)

RR completed two blockbuster incoming trades: Jadeja and Sam Curran. But their spin group is depleted after letting go of Theekshana, Hasaranga, and Kartikeya.

Auction Needs:

At least two quality spinners and an experienced Indian fast bowler.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

Purse remaining: INR 16.40 crore

Slots left: 8 (2 overseas)

RCB released Livingstone and Ngidi but kept the core of Kohli, Salt, Hazlewood, and Tim David intact. With Hazlewood's workload concerns, they need depth in pace.

Auction Needs:

An overseas fast-bowler backup and an Indian pacer for bench strength.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

Purse remaining: INR 25.50 crore

Slots left: 10 (2 overseas)

SRH moved on from Shami, Zampa, and Chahar, leaving gaps in spin and pace. Their batting core (Head, Klaasen, Abhishek Sharma) is strong.

Auction Needs:

Two spinners, an allrounder, and one Indian quick.

Ready for Abu Dhabi

With INR 237.55 crore still in play, several teams will enter the auction aggressively—especially KKR, CSK, and SRH.

The December 16 showdown promises bidding wars, comeback stories, and possibly the costliest player in IPL history.