5 big IPL stars who might be released before the 2026 auction

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 approaches its final stages, and the race for the prestigious trophy is under full force. With four teams having already secured their spots in the playoffs, the focus will now shift to the final push for victory. The 18th edition of the IPL has been a stage for young cricketers to shine and several emerging talents have made a name for themselves on the global stage.

But, not all seasoned players lived up to expectations this season. Some big stars struggled to deliver consistent performances and failed to justify their presence in the squad. As a result, these players may find themselves released by their respective franchises and enter the mini-auction ahead of the IPL 2026 season. In no particular order, let us take a look at five big names who might be released before the IPL 2026 mini-auction.

5 big stars who might be released ahead of IPL 2026 auction

5. Glenn Maxwell

The Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has been a prominent name in the IPL and is known for his explosive batting. But, the 2025 season was very poor from his end. He was bought by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for INR 4.20 crore, and failed to make an impact with either bat or ball.

In the seven matches he played, the right-handed batter managed to score only 48 runs and picked up just four wickets. He also had a poor season last year so much so that he dropped himself while playing for RCB. Due to his underwhelming performance, Maxwell might be among the players released ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.

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4. Ravichandran Ashwin

Indian veteran Ravichandran Ashwin returned to his former franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025, and was purchased for INR 9.75 crore. The fans and experts were eager to see him shine in his homecoming season. But, the experienced off-spinner could not deliver the impact expected of him.

In nine matches, Ashwin managed to pick only seven wickets and struggled to show his dominance with the ball. Even though he has been a key figure in previous IPL seasons for his teams, his bad performance this year may compel CSK to explore other options and release him ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.

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3. Rishabh Pant

India’s Test vice-captain Rishabh Pant made headlines when he was acquired by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a record INR 27 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. He became the most expensive buy in the tournament’s history. After a hefty price tag, he was under immense pressure and unfortunately could not rise to the occasion.

With the captaincy duties and big expectations the wicketkeeper-batter struggled throughout the season and managed to score only 151 runs from 12 innings. Moreover, LSG failed to qualify for the playoffs. After considering the poor display, LSG may opt to release Pant ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction.

Also Check: Is Rishabh Pant’s white-ball career over?

2. Quinton de Kock

The South African opener Quinton de Kock had a forgettable season with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2025. He was bought for INR 3.60 crore and the wicketkeeper-batter failed to make an impression at the top of the order by scoring just 152 runs in eight innings.

De Kock’s consistency has been a concern in recent IPL seasons and despite being given multiple opportunities, he was unable to deliver contributions for the team. So, the defending champions might look to drop the opener ahead of the IPL 2026 auction.

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1. Mohammed Shami

The Indian pace spearhead Mohammed Shami was picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for INR 10 crore with the hopes that his experience would support their bowling attack. But, the right-arm pacer struggled to find rhythm in IPL 2025.

He returned from injury and managed to take only six wickets from nine innings and was expensive throughout the season, finishing with an economy rate of 11.23. Despite being one of the most consistent performers over the past five years, his poor performance in this season may make SRH release him ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction.

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