IPL 2026 auction possibilities: Players likely to be released, traded or go unsold

The thrilling IPL 2025 (Indian Premier League) is just a few weeks away from concluding. Four teams have qualified for the playoffs, while six others have been knocked out of the tournament after the 63rd match of the season. The remaining league-stage matches will be contested among the qualified teams to determine the top two spots in the table. Teams that failed to qualify will aim to finish the tournament on a high.

The focus is likely to shift to the 19th edition of the league, which will require better planning from the teams that failed to reach the playoffs. Some players who underperformed in the 18th edition could be released by their franchises. A few could be traded between teams based on role requirements, while others might go unsold due to a lack of demand.

Releases, transfers, & unsold: Bold prediction for IPL 2026

Major Releases by teams ahead of IPL 2026:

Chennai Super Kings

Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who were arguably the worst team of the season, could release a number of players. They may part ways with the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Mukesh Choudhary, Shreyas Gopal, Rahul Tripathi, Deepak Hooda, and Vijay Shankar. Alongside them, some uncapped players could also be released.

Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals (DC), who had a poor campaign in the second half of the tournament, might release the likes of Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sameer Rizvi, Faf du Plessis, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair, and Donovan Ferreira in an effort to acquire better players suited to their team composition.