The IPL 2026 mini-auction (IPL 2026 Auction) is set to take place once again on 16 December 2026. Before the auction, all 10 IPL teams have released a total of 73 players from their squads. These players were let go because their performance did not match the expectations of the franchises. Surprisingly, many of these released players were among the most expensive signings. In fact, four players were either bought for more than ₹10 crore or retained for a similar amount before the IPL 2025 mega auction. Big names like Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja were also released. However, these players did not remain without teams, as many of them were traded through inter-team trade deals.
Here are the 8 most expensive players released before the retention list was finalised:
1. Venkatesh Iyer – Kolkata Knight Riders
KKR shocked everyone last year when they bought Venkatesh Iyer for ₹23.75 crore, making him one of the top three most expensive players of the IPL 2025 mega auction. But his performance was extremely poor. In IPL 2025, he played 11 matches and scored only 142 runs. He didn’t bowl a single over throughout the season. His underperformance was considered a major reason for KKR’s poor run. As a result, KKR released him ahead of IPL 2026 and freed up ₹23.75 crore from their purse.
2. Matheesha Pathirana – Chennai Super Kings
CSK have released Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana, who played four seasons in the IPL and took 47 wickets in 32 matches. Before the IPL 2025 season, CSK had retained him for ₹13 crore. In IPL 2025, he took 13 wickets in 12 matches, but his economy rate of 10.14 hurt the team badly. After CSK’s disappointing campaign, it was expected that major changes would happen, and Pathirana was one of the notable releases.
Related: IPL 2026 Auction: Retained & Released Players, Purse, Slots
3. Andre Russell – Kolkata Knight Riders
West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell had been with KKR since 2014. Shah Rukh Khan’s team paid him ₹12 crore per season. Russell played 140 IPL matches, scoring 2651 runs and taking 123 wickets. However, his performance in IPL 2025 was far below his usual standard. He scored just 167 runs and took only 8 wickets in 13 matches. His trademark hard-hitting was missing, forcing KKR to release him and add ₹12 crore back to their purse.
4. Ravi Bishnoi – Lucknow Super Giants
Ravi Bishnoi, one of the best young spinners in IPL history with 72 wickets in 77 matches, was retained by LSG before the 2025 mega auction for ₹11 crore. But he failed badly in IPL 2025, taking only 9 wickets in 11 matches, with a high economy rate of 10.84. LSG released him ahead of the 2026 auction.
5. Jake Fraser-McGurk – Delhi Capitals
Delhi Capitals bought Australian all-rounder Jake Fraser-McGurk for ₹11 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. The decision shocked many. Jake failed to perform and played only 6 matches, scoring just 55 runs. As expected, DC have released him.
6. Liam Livingstone – Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Stylish English all-rounder Liam Livingstone was bought by RCB for ₹8.75 crore. Although RCB went on to win their first-ever IPL title in 2025, Livingstone had a disappointing season. He scored only 112 runs in 10 matches and took just 2 wickets. After six IPL seasons and 1051 total runs, Livingstone was released by RCB.
7. Akash Deep Singh – Lucknow Super Giants
Pacer Akash Deep Singh gained attention after his Test performance on the England tour. LSG bought him for ₹8 crore in IPL 2025, but fitness issues and inconsistent form cost him his place. He has played only 14 IPL matches in four years, taking 10 wickets. In IPL 2025, he played six matches and took just 3 wickets. LSG traded him out after acquiring in-form bowler Mohammed Shami from SunRisers Hyderabad.
8. David Miller – Lucknow Super Giants
South African star David Miller was once a fan favourite and one of IPL’s top finishers. LSG bought him for ₹7.50 crore in the 2025 auction. But his IPL 2025 season was extremely poor—he scored only 153 runs in 11 matches. Miller, who has 3077 IPL runs from 141 matches, was released by LSG due to lack of form.