IPL 2026 Team List, What You Need To Know

IPL is the famous and fastest growing league in the world. IPL 2026 is almost here and fans everywhere are excited to see the full IPL 2026 team list. Ten franchises will take part in the tournament.. Every fan wants to know who will represent their favourite team and which players are retained, who is released, and which stars might be up for grabs at the auction. In this article each and every full detail.
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IPL 2026 Auction and how many Players Registered
- The IPL 2026 is 19th season of Indian premier league.
- The auction will be a mini auction and not a mega auction.
- Ahead of the auction, all franchises submitted their retention and release lists (retention deadline was 15 November 2025).
- A huge total of 1,355 players including Indian and overseas players have registered for the auction pool.
- Out of these, there will be only 77 slots available across all teams making competition fierce.
IPL 2026 Team list and Their Budgets
Each of the ten teams will join the auction with some money left to complete their squad. Latest reports say,
| Team | Remaining Purse (Approx.)* |
| KKR | ₹ 64.3 crore Times Of Sports |
| CSK | ₹ 43.4 crore Times Of Sports |
| SRH | ₹ 25.5 crore Times Of Sports |
| Luck now Super Giants (LSG) | ₹ 22.95 crore Times Of Sports |
| Delhi Capitals (DC) | ₹ 21.8 crore Times Of Sports |
| RCB | ₹ 16.4 crore Times Of Sports |
| RR | ₹ 16.5 crore Times Of Sports |
| Gujarat Titans (GT) | ₹ 12.9 crore Times Of Sports |
| Punjab Kings (PBKS) | ₹ 11.5 crore Times Of Sports |
| MI | (Relatively small remaining purse) |
Players, Retained vs Released

Before the auction and teams gave lists of players they kept and players they released. This is very important before the mini-auction.
Because of this, the final IPL 2026 team list for each franchise will only be ready after the auction. Some released players are interesting and though because other teams might try to buy them.
For example:
- From KKR, players like Venkatesh Iyer and Andre Russell were reportedly released.
- From CSK, some players who played in 2025 may not return, depending on auction strategy.
What to Expect, Big Teams and Possible Moves
Lets watch the teams IPL 2026 what might happen with some of the big name teams.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
CSK enters the auction with a sizeable purse (₹ 43.4 crore), giving them decent flexibility. Likely they will try to strengthen both batting and bowling maybe pick up dependable all-rounder or bowlers to complement their retained core.
Given that some of their 2025 players were released and fans will look out for fresh talent and perhaps experienced players that suit CSK’s style.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
With the highest remaining purse (₹ 64.3 crore), KKR is in a very strong position. They have the financial muscle to aim for high value players’ overseas or Indian stars especially since they have many slots to fill.
Mumbai Indians (MI)
MI reportedly has one of the smaller remaining purses. That means MI might need to be strategic maybe focus on undervalued domestic talents and emerging players or bargain buys rather than big ticket stars.
Other Teams Like- RCB, SRH, RR, GT, PBKS, LSG, DC
Teams like RCB or SRH and RR with moderate purses will need to evaluate their team needs carefully. Some may target all-rounder, some might look for a specialist bowler or impact batter. Balance and strategy will matter more than just big names.
For smaller purse teams, identifying undervalued or uncapped domestic talent could be the main way to stay competitive.
Why This IPL 2026 team list Auction Is Special
- The registration figure 1,355 players is huge and showing the intense competition for limited slots.
- Only 77 slots are open across all teams and which raises the stakes high. Many good players may not make it.
- Because of a large number of released players and a big purse for some teams, we might see some surprising bids especially for overseas all-rounder or emerging talent.
- For fans, this means exciting uncertainty, favourite players might move teams and newcomers can shine, and team dynamics will shift significantly next season.
What We Don’t Know Yet and What Fans Should Watch
- The final squad for each team for 2026 is still unknown until auction completes. So the current team list is only provisional.
- The full auction player list with base price and final sold price including which players go to which team is yet to be made public.
- Because it is a mini auction and certain rules like the use of RTM Right to Match cards may not apply, which can affect team strategies.
- With many players Indian and uncapped or overseas competing and there will likely be surprises, both unexpected signings and shocking exclusions.

Conclusion
Fans are still waiting for the final IPL 2026 team list and update that is making this season exciting. The auction will be on 16 December 2025 in Abu Dhabi and 1,355 players are competing for only 77 spots and then so the tension and excitement are high.
Teams like KKR and CSK have strong purses and will likely go after major players and while others (like MI, RCB, SRH, RR) must strategist carefully to build a balanced squad. Fans can expect surprises, new stars and returning veterans and likely some shocking exits. IPL 2026 started the few month.
