In a landmark decision ahead of the 2026 season, the Indian Premier League has approved an unprecedented rule allowing franchises to retain an unlimited number of players. The move is set to redefine squad-building strategies and could significantly alter the competitive landscape of the tournament.
Unlimited Retention Rule Changes IPL Dynamics
Until now, IPL teams were restricted to retaining only a fixed number of players before mega auctions, forcing franchises to release key performers despite long-term plans. However, under the newly introduced policy for IPL 2026, teams can retain as many players as they wish — even their entire squad.
This major shift gives franchises greater control over continuity and stability. Instead of being compelled to release star players due to retention limits, management can now focus on strategic tweaks by offloading underperformers and reinforcing weak areas.
Cricket experts believe this decision will:
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Strengthen team identity and long-term vision
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Reward franchises with strong scouting systems
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Increase tactical planning over impulsive auction spending
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Make IPL 2026 one of the most strategically intense seasons ever
The rule is expected to particularly benefit teams that have built solid cores over recent years.
MS Dhoni Confirms IPL 2026 Return for CSK
In another development that has thrilled fans, MS Dhoni has confirmed his participation in IPL 2026 for Chennai Super Kings.
Ending months of speculation surrounding his retirement, CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan confirmed that Dhoni has made himself available for the upcoming season.
“Yes, Dhoni will play the next IPL season. He has confirmed his availability, and we are delighted,” Viswanathan stated.
Dhoni’s return is a massive boost for CSK, both in terms of leadership and morale. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter continues to be the heartbeat of the franchise, guiding younger players and anchoring the team’s tactical decisions on the field.
With Dhoni set to wear the iconic yellow jersey again, IPL 2026 promises another emotional chapter in his legendary IPL journey.
Probable Retained Players for IPL 2026
With unlimited retention now in place, here’s a look at the likely core squads across franchises:
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Shivam Dube, Nathan Ellis, Dewald Brevis, Rachin Ravindra, Ayush Mhatre, Urvil Patel, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Choudhary, Anshul Kamboj, Shaik Rasheed
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Ajinkya Rahane, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Anukul Roy, Mayank Markande, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Spencer Johnson, Umran Malik
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Tim David, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Jacob Bethell
Mumbai Indians (MI)
Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Trent Boult, Ryan Rickelton, Mitchell Santner, Will Jacks, Naman Dhir, Raj Angad Bawa, Shrijith Krishnan, Bevon Jacobs, Arjun Tendulkar, Ashwani Kumar
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Kunal Rathore, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya Singh, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Nandre Burger, Ashok Sharma
Gujarat Titans (GT)
Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, Anuj Rawat, Kumar Kushagra, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Washington Sundar, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gerald Coetzee
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Shreyas Iyer, Josh Inglis, Prabhsimran Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Priyansh Arya, Harpreet Brar, Marco Jansen, Azmatullah Omarzai, Suryansh Shedge, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Ayush Badoni, Mitchell Marsh, Abdul Samad, Mayank Yadav, Akash Singh, M. Siddharth, Akash Deep, Shardul Thakur, Digvesh Rathi
Delhi Capitals (DC)
Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs, Abishek Porel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mitchell Starc, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Manvanth Kumar, Darshan Nalkande
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, Atharva Taide, Nitish Reddy, Jaydev Unadkat
