The IPL 2026 mini-auction is almost here, December 16 is circled on every fan’s calendar. And honestly, teams aren’t messing around this year. All 10 franchises just cleared out a total of 73 players. Some of the names on that list? Big ones. Expensive, too. We’re talking guys who went for more than Rs 10 crore just last season. Still, don’t feel too bad for them. Most have already landed elsewhere through trades.
Let’s check out the five costliest players who just got the boot before the retention list dropped:
Venkatesh Iyer (KKR)
Remember when Kolkata Knight Riders splurged Rs 23.75 crore on Venkatesh Iyer in the 2025 mega-auction? Hopes were high, but things unraveled fast. In 11 games, Iyer scored just 142 runs and didn’t bowl at all. KKR’s season fizzled, and his form was a big reason why. So, they let him go. Sometimes, it’s just about cutting losses.
Matheesha Pathirana (CSK)
Chennai Super Kings let go of Matheesha Pathirana, the Sri Lankan quick. They kept him for Rs 13 crore last year, banking on his consistency. But in IPL 2025, he played 12 matches, took 13 wickets, and bled runs his economy rate shot over 10. CSK needed to free up budget space, and Pathirana’s patchy form made the decision easier.
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Andre Russell (KKR)
Andre Russell is practically KKR’s identity, having played for them since 2014 and racking up 2,651 runs and 123 wickets. But 2025 was rough. He managed just 167 runs and 8 wickets in 13 outings. KKR finally pulled the plug, pocketing Rs 12 crore for the next round.
Ravi Bishnoi (LSG)
Ravi Bishnoi was a mainstay for Lucknow Super Giants, spinning his way to 72 wickets in 77 games. The team kept him for Rs 11 crore last season, but he just didn’t deliver this time – 9 wickets in 11 matches, with an economy of 10.84. LSG needed a shake-up and let him go to beef up their auction purse.
Liam Livingstone (RCB)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally bagged their first IPL title in 2025, but Liam Livingstone didn’t have much to do with it. Bought for Rs 8.75 crore, the English all-rounder managed only 112 runs and 2 wickets in 10 games. After six IPL seasons, RCB decided it was time to move on.
In the end, IPL teams keep proving they’re not afraid to make bold calls even if it means cutting loose big-money stars. The mini-auction’s shaping up to be a real spectacle, with plenty of talent on the table and teams scrambling to find the right mix for 2026.
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