How many players can franchises keep or release before auction? All you need to know
IPL 2026 retention rules state exactly how many players each franchise can retain or release before the mega auction. Teams must carefully balance their core values, purse value, and long-term strategies when deciding which stars to keep and which players to send back to the auction pool.
The Indian Premier League is once again hitting the headlines after a long focus on international cricket, which also includes a Test series in England and the Indo-Pak rivalry in the Asia Cup, along with the much-awaited return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli during the white-ball tour of Australia.
Like Indian cricket every year, the IPL stole the spotlight in the summer months and remained a major talking point for several weeks after Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s historic maiden title on June 3, 2025.
Previously, discussions revolved around player and team performances, standings and play-off race. But now the focus has turned to player retention and trades.
With the IPL player auction approaching (just a month away), the event is expected to take place outside India for the third year in a row. Before the auction, ten teams must submit their rosters of remaining players for next season, and the deadline ends this week.
What is the deadline for franchises to announce the players they have retained for IPL 2026?
The IPL Governing Council has set the deadline for franchises to announce their players to be retained in the 2026 Indian Premier League as November 15 at 5 pm IST.
When are franchisees expected to release retention lists?
While franchises can announce retention lists at any time before the deadline, they typically wait until the deadline to make their announcements, and this month is unlikely to be an exception.
How many players can a franchise retain before the IPL 2026 auction?
Unlike mega-auctions, where franchises can only keep a limited number of core players as teams go through a reset process of sorts, mini-auctions impose no such restrictions.
This means that franchises are allowed to retain as many players as they want from their existing rosters, provided they comply with the league’s rules and have a squad size ranging from 18 to 25 players and maintain a salary cap not exceeding Rs 120 billion.
Will teams have the opportunity to trade players after announcing their remaining players?
Yes, franchises are allowed to trade players even after the holding period has expired. The trading window officially opens one month after the end of the season and remains open until one week before the auction. After the auction, the trading window reopens and remains open for 30 days before the start of the next season.
However, according to the regulations set by the GC, players acquired during the auction cannot be traded immediately afterwards.
Also read| IPL 2026 retention deadline: Will CSK face the risk of losing Ravindra Jadeja? Are KKR and LSG ready for major overhauls?
