IPL 2026 Squads: Major Player Moves Ahead of Abu Dhabi Auction

With the IPL 2026 player retention deadline passed on Saturday, November 15th, the stage is set for an exciting auction. All 10 franchises have confirmed their decisions, leading to 173 players being retained, featuring 49 international cricketers. This leaves a significant INR 237.55 crore purse available for the acquisition of 77 player slots at the upcoming auction. The IPL 2026 auction is scheduled for December 16th in Abu Dhabi. Surprises abound, with Chennai Super Kings releasing Matheesha Pathirana, Kolkata Knight Riders letting go of Andre Russell, and Lucknow Super Giants releasing Ravi Bishnoi into the auction pool. Punjab Kings have the most retained players at 21, followed by Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans with 20 each. The trade window remains open, offering teams a final chance to reshape their rosters before the auction.