Franchises across the Indian Premier League face critical squad decisions as the November 17 retention deadline approaches. With the mini-auction scheduled for December 16 in Goa, teams must determine which players to keep and which to release. Cheteshwar Pujara has provided detailed analysis of retention strategies likely to unfold across all ten franchises, identifying high-value overseas and Indian players who may not be retained.
Pujara’s assessment of Kolkata Knight Riders centres on uncertainty surrounding Cameron Green’s future. The Australian batter was purchased for Rs 25.20 crore at the IPL 2026 auction, making him the costliest overseas acquisition in IPL history. Despite this record-breaking investment, Pujara believes KKR may explore alternative options in the auction market rather than commit long-term to Green.
“They can still get him back at the auction,” Pujara said in a video released by Star Sports.
For Chennai Super Kings, Pujara outlined a potential choice between releasing Matt Henry or Matthew Short, both integral squad members. At Gujarat Titans, he suggested the franchise faces a decision between Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan. Punjab Kings, according to Pujara’s analysis, may choose between Xavier Bartlett and Lockie Ferguson for release. Sunrisers Hyderabad could release either Jaydev Unadkat or Harshal Patel, he added.
Release scenarios across other franchises
Delhi Capitals presents another retention dilemma, with Pujara suggesting Prithvi Shaw or Karun Nair could depart. Lucknow Super Giants may release Nicholas Pooran, the Rs 21-crore star, though Pujara noted an alternative scenario where the franchise backs Pooran and releases Ayush Badoni instead. For Rajasthan Royals, Pujara remained uncertain about specific releases but suggested one Indian player could potentially leave.
A trade rumour has circulated involving Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings, with Hardik Pandya potentially moving to the latter in exchange for Arshdeep Singh joining the former. Pujara’s analysis suggests Hardik could be among the high-value players facing retention uncertainty at Mumbai.
Pujara identified Kolkata Knight Riders as the franchise likely to release the most players, partly due to captaincy considerations. He noted that KKR’s lack of a confirmed captain adds complexity to their retention strategy. In contrast, Pujara backed Royal Challengers Bengaluru to retain their entire squad, citing their status as defending champions and the strength of their established combination. He suggested RCB has a balanced squad with no pressing recruitment needs, making wholesale retention the logical approach for the franchise.
