Preparations are underway for the Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026) as all ten franchises work to finalize their squads ahead of the mini-auction for the upcoming season. The IPL Governing Council has set November 15 as the deadline for teams to announce their retained and released player lists for the 19th edition of the tournament.
With the IPL 2026 auction set to take place on December 15 in Abu Dhabi, franchises are leaving no stone unturned as they look to secure their preferred players and explore potential trade deals. As the deadline approaches, here’s our complete IPL 2026 retention guide:
How many players can a team keep?
Franchises can retain or release as many players as they wish without restrictions, unlike in the years of mega auctions. Teams have the option to redesign their teams as they see fit. However, each franchise must operate within the limits of 120 million crowns.
Each team can field a squad of up to 25 players, including a maximum of eight overseas players.
What are the IPL trading rules?
Teams can trade players with other franchises and can trade players of similar or different value. In cases where players of different values are exchanged, the franchise receiving the higher value player must pay the remaining amount.
Trades can also take place through all-cash trades where a player is transferred in exchange for a fee. A player’s consent is mandatory for any trade, although the final decision to retain or release a player ultimately rests with the franchise.
What is the duration of the IPL trading window?
As per IPL regulations, the trade window opens immediately after the end of the season, remains active up to one week before the auction and then reopens up to one month before the start of the following season. However, players purchased in the IPL 2026 mini-auction cannot be traded.
Confirmed Player Exchanges for IPL 2026
Shardul Thakur to Mumbai Indians
All-rounder Shardul Thakur was traded to Mumbai Indians (MI) from Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a fee of 2 crore last season.
Sherfane Rutherford to the Bombay Indians
All-rounder Sherfane Rutherford was also traded to MI from Gujarat Titans (GT) for his existing fee of Rs 2.6 crore.
Devon Conway leaves CSK East
It’s not quite a business in any sense, but Devon Conway has confirmed his departure from CSK. The New Zealand opener was bought for Rs. 6.25 million.
Expected player trades
IPL 2026 Retentions Program: Live Streaming Details
The official updated rosters of all ten franchises will be revealed during a live program on Star Sports on Saturday, November 15. Live streaming of the show will be available on JioHotStar.
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Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
November 15, 2025
