One surprise release from each team ahead of IPL 2026 Auction ft. CSK & Matheesha Pathirana

All 10 Indian Premier League (IPL) teams announced their lists of retained and released players ahead of the 2026 auction, which is scheduled to take place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. The lists were made public on Saturday, November 15.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and runners-up Punjab Kings (PBKS) retained most of their core, while five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were among the teams that released several big names. In a major development before the retention deadline, Sanju Samson was traded to CSK, while Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran moved to Rajasthan Royals (RR) as part of the deal.

With all teams having revealed their lists, here is one surprise release from each franchise ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.

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One surprise release from each team ahead of the IPL 2026 auction

#1 Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) - Lungi Ngidi

IPL 2025 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) released a total of seven players, and among them, the biggest surprise was the departure of South African pacer Lungi Ngidi. The 29-year-old was bought by the franchise at the 2025 mega auction for ₹1 crore and featured in two matches during the tournament, picking up four wickets.

Given Ngidi’s potential and the experience he brings from international cricket and the IPL, where he has taken 29 wickets in 16 matches, his release came as a surprising decision by the franchise.

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#2 Punjab Kings (PBKS) - Glenn Maxwell

IPL 2025 runners-up Punjab Kings (PBKS) released five players, including Glenn Maxwell. The veteran had a tough season, scoring only 48 runs in six innings, but his release still came as a surprise, especially since his Australian teammate Josh Inglis was also let go. Head coach Ricky Ponting mentioned that Inglis might not be available for most of the season, which explained his departure.

Given Inglis’ release, PBKS could have considered retaining Maxwell, considering his calibre and the all-round value he offers. Moreover, at a price of ₹4.2 crore, he was not an expensive retention, which makes his release even more unexpected.

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#3 Mumbai Indians (MI) - Karn Sharma

Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians (MI) released nine players, including Arjun Tendulkar, who was traded to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). However, one of the most unexpected releases was that of veteran leg-spinner Karn Sharma.

Bought for ₹50 lakh during the 2025 mega auction, the 38-year-old played six matches, taking seven wickets in five innings at an average of 18.28, a strike rate of 12.8 and an economy of 8.53. Given his respectable numbers in limited game time, his release came as a surprise.

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#4 Gujarat Titans (GT) - Gerald Coetzee

Shubman Gill’s Gujarat Titans (GT) released six players, including Sherfane Rutherford, who was traded to Mumbai Indians (MI). One release that raised eyebrows, however, was that of South African pacer Gerald Coetzee.

The 25-year-old was bought for ₹2.40 crore at the 2025 mega auction. Although Coetzee had a modest season, taking only two wickets in four matches, the skill set he brings with his pace and aggression made his release a notable decision from GT.

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#5 Delhi Capitals (DC) - Faf du Plessis

Delhi Capitals (DC) released seven players, with Donovan Ferreira traded to the Rajasthan Royals (RR). However, the most notable release was that of veteran batter Faf du Plessis, who had been acquired by the franchise for ₹2 crore at the 2025 mega auction.

The 41-year-old did not have the best of seasons, scoring 202 runs in nine innings at an average of 22.44 and a strike rate of 123.92, including two fifties. Still, considering his vast experience with 4,773 runs in 154 IPL matches and his leadership value as DC’s vice-captain in the 2025 edition, his release came as a surprise.

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#6 SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) - Simarjeet Singh

Pat Cummins’ SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) released eight players, including Mohammad Shami, who was traded to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). However, one release that came as a surprise was that of Delhi pacer Simarjeet Singh.

The 27-year-old was acquired for ₹1.5 crore at the IPL 2025 auction but had a modest season, taking only two wickets in four matches. However, considering his potential and his consistent performances in first-class cricket, he could have been retained as a future prospect for the franchise.

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#7 Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) - Ravi Bishnoi

In a major move, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) released Ravi Bishnoi, who had been retained for ₹11 crore ahead of the 2025 mega auction. During the 2025 season, the leg-spinner managed only nine wickets in 11 games and conceded at an economy rate of 10.83. However, before this season, he had been a key performer for LSG across the previous three editions.

Across four seasons, Bishnoi featured in 54 matches, taking 48 wickets at an average of 33.98, a strike rate of 23.15 and an economy of 8.81. Considering his quality and the fact that he is still only 25 years old with 72 IPL wickets overall, his release came as a surprise.

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#8 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) - Andre Russell

Three-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have released their veteran all-rounder Andre Russell. The 37-year-old had been retained for ₹12 crore ahead of the previous season’s mega auction.

Russell, who joined the franchise in 2014, remained an integral part of the side until 2025, featuring in 133 matches and scoring 2,593 runs at an average of 28.81 and a strike rate of 174.97, including 12 fifties. He also picked up 122 wickets, including a five-wicket haul. Given his long association with the franchise and his all-round impact, his release came as a shocking decision.

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#9 Rajasthan Royals (RR) - Wanindu Hasaranga

Inaugural IPL champions Rajasthan Royals (RR) released nine players, with Sanju Samson being traded to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Nitish Rana moving to Delhi Capitals (DC). Among the departures, a surprising release was that of Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga, who had been bought for ₹5.25 crore during the 2025 auction.

The 28-year-old played 11 matches and picked up 11 wickets. Given that the franchise also released his compatriot Maheesh Theekshana, and considering Hasaranga’s all-round abilities and the value he could have added alongside Ravindra Jadeja in the XI, his release came as a surprise.

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#10 Chennai Super Kings (CSK) - Matheesha Pathirana

While Chennai Super Kings (CSK) traded away veteran Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to bring in Sanju Samson, the franchise also released Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana. The Sri Lankan quick had been retained by the five-time champions for ₹13 crore ahead of the 2025 mega auction.

His release may be linked to his recurring injury concerns. Looking at his record, he has featured in 32 IPL games, taking 47 wickets at an average of 21.61, a strike rate of 14.9 and an economy of 8.68. Despite his fitness issues, the 22-year-old has delivered more often than not, making his release a surprising one.

Edited by Dev Sharma