IPL 2026 Retentions Revealed: Biggest Player Bets by Top 10 Teams
Lucknow, Punjab top IPL 2026 retentions. See full list of players, Rs values, and get ready for the December auction frenzy.
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The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 promises a thrilling season as the various franchises are disclosing the players they are keeping prior to the December mini-auction. The ten teams have all settled on their players to be retained, thus allowing enormous bidding to take place and making it easier to plan one’s moves.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) were in the limelight when they decided to keep Rishabh Pant for Rs 27 crore, which is the largest retention in IPL history. The revelation ignited a conversation on social media, where fans were arguing about the possible impact of this move on team compositions and auction dynamics.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) also took a bold step by retaining Shreyas Iyer for Rs 26.75 crore, which was the second highest retention of the day. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) chose to keep Heinrich Klaasen at Rs 23 crore, while Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) got Virat Kohli for Rs 21 crore. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) took a joint decision to keep Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad at Rs 18 crore each, equaling the retention of Yashasvi Jaiswal by Rajasthan Royals (RR). Mumbai Indians (MI) also picked Jasprit Bumrah at Rs 18 crore. Delhi Capitals (DC) held back Axar Patel for Rs 16.5 crore, Gujarat Titans (GT) held on to Jos Buttler at ₹15.75 crore, and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) placed their trust in Rinku Singh at Rs 13 crore.
The list indicates a combination of both expensive retainers and smart bets, with Lucknow and Punjab at the forefront. On the other hand, the KKR management's decision to keep Rinku Singh hinges on their belief in his potential. Experts predict that such actions will alter the strategies of the auction as teams will try to find the right mix for their line-ups.
The IPL 2026 mini-auction is set for December 16. It is going to be a very active auction where, among other things, the teams are going to be very aggressive in filling vacancies and increasing their overall strength. During this time, supporters will be able to watch and in some cases even suggesting the going-ons as teams will be engaging in these competitive bidding wars over talented local and foreign players. Besides the other happenings, there will be live coverage, teams’ lists of players, and auction results that are going to be big topics in cricket news for the entire season.
