IPL 2026 Retention List to Be Announced on November 15: Broadcasters Confirm Date Ahead of Mini-Auction
IPL 2026 player retention lists will be unveiled on November 15, confirmed official broadcaster JioStar. The announcement comes ahead of the mini-auction in December, with major speculation around KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, and other big names.
Franchise captains to announce their 2026 retention lists on November 15, setting the stage for the much-awaited IPL mini-auction in December.
The hype around the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is at last going to get more thrilling as the official broadcasters, JioStar, have confirmed that all the ten franchises will announce their lists of retained and released players on November 15. The promotion is made only a few weeks before the mini-auction which is expected to be held in December 2025.
Confirmation was provided right after India managed to win a T20I series in Australia. Each team is working hard to get their squads ready before the auction opens up for new players. The IPL 2026 auction will be a part of the second year of the new three-year player cycle, which started last year with a mega auction.
No Cap on Retentions This Season
Differently to the mega auction, the IPL 2026 retention will allow each franchise to keep any number of players without a cap. This rule gives the teams the option to retain their best players and at the same time have the money to buy new ones at the auction.
Team changes through trading and rumors
The IPL trading window that opens after the end of the season and closes before the auction has already been the source of a lot of activity. It is reported that a few teams have been negotiating trades and swaps in a strategic manner to get stronger.
One of the main topics in the pre-auction buzz is the future of KL Rahul. There are rumors that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) might be after Rahul as their captain-wicketkeeper-batter for the year 2026. The ace opener was bought by Delhi Capitals for ₹14 crore in the previous mega auction, where he scored a total of 539 runs in 13 matches. Delhi, it seems, is willing to take part in discussions on a possible trade involving the batter.
Likewise, Sanju Samson's position with Rajasthan Royals has also been in the news. The wicketkeeper-batter is believed to have applied for a release and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are interested in him and are reportedly renewing their discussions with the Delhi Capitals after having talks with them earlier.
Besides, some of the current season's high-priced players, such as Venkatesh Iyer, may get released as the teams are looking to rearrange their financial resources.
The Road Ahead
The announcement of November 15 concerning retentions will be the beginning of the IPL 2026 mini-auction and will give clearer insight into each franchise's money, strength and the direction they will take. While the speculation is widespread, both fans and analysts are eager to see which star names will still be on the same side and which will go to the market.
