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The dust has settled as all IPL teams have submitted their lists of retained and released players, setting the stage for the much-anticipated auction scheduled for 19th December. With 91 players released and 173 retained, each franchise has made strategic decisions to either secure key players or free up funds for the upcoming all-important auction.
1. Chennai Super Kings – CSK, a powerhouse in the IPL, retained iconic leader MS Dhoni along with key players like Ravindra Jadeja, Devon Conway, and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Notable releases include Ben Stokes, who opted out, and Ambati Rayudu, who retired.
Retained Players: Ajay Mandal, Ajinkya Rahane, Deepak Chahar, Devon Conway, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Mitchell Santner, Moeen Ali, MS Dhoni, Mukesh Choudhary, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shaik Rasheed, Shivam Dube, Simarjeet Singh, Tushar Deshpande
Released Players: Akash Singh, Ambati Rayudu, Ben Stokes, Bhagath Varma, Dwaine Pretorius, Kyle Jamieson, Sisanda Magala, Subhranshu Senapati.
Remaining Purse: Rs 31.4 crore
2. Royal Challengers Banglore – RCB made intriguing releases, parting ways with star all-rounders Wanindu Hasaranga and Michael Bracewell, along with ace pacer Josh Hazlewood. Surprisingly, They retained Anuj Rawat, who has yet to make a mark in the IPL, and also released a total of 11 players, securing the highest purse for the auction.
Retained Players: Akash Deep, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik, Faf Du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Himanshu Sharma, Karn Sharma, Mahipal Lomror, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Dagar, Mohammed Siraj, Rajan Kumar, Rajat Patidar, Reece Topley, Suyash Prabhudessai, Virat Kohli, Vyshak Vijay Kumar, Will Jacks, Cameron Green
Released Players: Avinash Singh, David Willey, Finn Allen, Harshal Patel, Josh Hazlewood, Kedar Jadhav, Michael Bracewell, Siddharth Kaul, Sonu Yadav, Wanindu Hasaranga, Wayne Parnell
Remaining Purse: Rs 23.25 crore
3. Gujarat Titans – GT, known for consistency, raised eyebrows by retaining Hardik Pandya amidst rumors of a trade to MI. However, sources later suggest that the deal regarding Pandya is signed and confirmed between GT and MI. GT retained a strong squad, including Shubman Gill and Rashid Khan.
Retained Players: Abhinav Sadarangani, B. Sai Sudharsan, Darshan Nalkande, David Miller, Jayant Yadav, Joshua Little, Kane Williamson, Matthew Wade, Mohammad Shami, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, R. Sai Kishore, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Vijay Shankar, Wriddhiman Saha
Released Players: Alzarri Joseph, Dasun Shanaka, K.S. Bharat, Odean Smith, Pradeep Sangwan, Shivam Mavi, Urvil Patel, Yash Dayal, Hardik Pandya
Remaining Purse: Rs 38.15 cr
4. Mumbai Indians – MI, a five-time champion, is looking for a pace overhaul, releasing eight fast-bowlers, including Jofra Archer. Their retained squad boasts key players like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav.
Retained Players: Akash Madhwal, Arjun Tendulkar, Hardik Pandya, Dewald Brevis, Ishan Kishan, Jason Behrendorff, Jasprit Bumrah, Kumar Kartikeya Singh, Tilak Varma, Nehal Wadhera, Piyush Chawla, Rohit Sharma, Romario Shepherd, Shams Mulani, Surya Kumar Yadav, Tim David, Vishnu Vinod
Released Players: Chris Jordan, Duan Jansen, Hrithik Shokeen, Jhye Richardson, Jofra Archer, Mohd. Arshad Khan, Raghav Goyal, Ramandeep Singh, Roley Meredith, Sandeep Warrier, Tristan Stubbs, Cameron Green
Remaining Purse: Rs 17.75 cr
5. Sunrisers Hyderabad – SRH made minimal changes, which includes Harry Brook. Their retained squad includes big names like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rashid Khan and Aiden Markram.
Retained Players: Abdul Samad, Abhishek Sharma, Aiden Markram, Anmolpreet Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Glenn Phillips, Heinrich Klaasen, Marco Jansen, Mayank Agarwal, Mayank Markande, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Rahul Tripathi, Sanvir Singh, Shahbaz Ahamad, T Natarajan, Umran Malik, Upendra Singh Yadav, Washington Sundar
Released Players: Adil Rashid, Akeal Hosein, Harry Brook, Kartik Tyagi, Samarth Vyas, Vivrant Sharma
Remaining Purse: Rs 34 crore
6. Lucknow Supergiants – Led by KL Rahul, Lucknow Super Giants retained a core squad with a focus on continuity. With the lowest available purse, they will aim for strategic picks in the auction.
Retained Players: Amit Mishra, Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, Devdutt Padikkal, K. Gowtham, KL Rahul, Krunal Pandya, Kyle Mayers, Marcus Stoinis, Mark Wood, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Nicholas Pooran, Prerak Mankad, Quinton De Kock, Ravi Bishnoi, Yash Thakur, Yudhvir Charak
Released Players: Arpit Guleria, Daniel Sams, Jaydev Unadkat, Karan Sharma, Karun Nair, Manan Vohra, Suryansh Shedge, Swapnil Singh
Remaining Purse: Rs 13.15 cr
7. Punjab Kings – PBKS, in pursuit of their maiden trophy, released seven players, including Bhanuka Rajapaksa. Their retained squad includes Jonny Bairstow and Shikhar Dhawan.
Retained Players: Arshdeep Singh, Atharva Taide, Harpreet Brar, Harpreet Bhatia, Jitesh Sharma, Jonny Bairstow, Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone, Nathan Ellis, Prabhsimran Singh, Rahul Chahar, Rishi Dhawan, Sam Curran, Shikhar Dhawan, Shivam Singh, Sikandar Raza, Vidwath Kaverappa
Released Players: Baltej Dhanda, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Matthew Short, Mohit Rathee, Raj Angad Bawa, Shahrukh Khan
Remaining Purse: Rs 29.1 crore
8. Delhi Capitals – DC, aiming for a turnaround, released 11 players but retained key figures like Rishabh Pant, David Warner and Prithvi Shaw.
Retained Players: Abhishek Porel, Anrich Nortje, Axar Patel, David Warner, Ishant Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav, Lalit Yadav, Lungisani Ngidi, Mitchell Marsh, Mukesh Kumar, Pravin Dubey, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Vicky Ostwal, Yash Dhull
Released Players: Aman Khan, Chetan Sakariya, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Manish Pandey, Mustafizur Rahman, Phil Salt, Priyam Garg, Rilee Rossouw, Ripal Patel, Rovman Powell, Sarfaraz Khan
Remaining Purse: 28.95 crore
9. Rajasthan Royals – The Pink Army released Joe Root from the team, who had earlier announced his unavailability for the upcoming season.
Retained Players: Adam Zampa, Avesh Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira, Jos Buttler, Kuldeep Sen, Kunal Rathore, Navdeep Saini, Prasidh Krishna, R. Ashwin, Riyan Parag, Sandeep Sharma, Sanju Samson, Shimron Hetmyer, Trent Boult, Yashaswi Jaiswal, Yuzvendra Chahal
Released Players: Abdul PA, Akash Vashisht, Jason Holder, Joe Root, KC Cariappa, K.M. Asif, Kuldip Yadav, Murugan Ashwin, Obed Mccoy
Remaining Purse: Rs 14.5 crore
10. Kolkata Knight Riders – KKR went full throttle in terms of releasing players. They let go of some key players, including star all-rounders Shakib Al Hasan and Shardul Thakur, as well as prominent pacers Lockie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav and Tim Southee
Retained Players: Andre Russell, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Jason Roy, Nitish Rana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Sunil Narine, Suyash Sharma, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Venkatesh lyer
Released Players: Aarya Desai, David Wiese, Johnson Charles, Kulwant Khejroliya, Litton Das, Lockie Ferguson, Mandeep Singh, N. Jagadeesan, Shakib Al Hasan, Shardul Thakur, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav
Remaining Purse: Rs 32.7 crore