IPL 2026 Retention Live Streaming, Timing & Rules: All You Need to Know Before November 15

The IPL 2026 retention deadline is 15 November 2025 (Saturday) at 5 PM IST, when all franchises must announce their final retained and released player lists.

Unlike a mega auction, IPL 2026 mini-auction rules allow franchises to retain as many players as they want, giving teams flexibility in squad planning while staying within the 25-player cap.

Each team must finalize a 25-player squad with a total salary purse of ₹120 crore, ensuring franchises balance top Indian talent, overseas stars, and emerging players.

Though not officially confirmed, the IPL 2026 player auction is expected between 13-16 December 2025, potentially hosted overseas in Abu Dhabi, similar to IPL 2025’s Jeddah auction.

Fans can catch the IPL 2026 retention announcements live on Star Sports 2, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam feeds, or stream it online via the JioStar app and website.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are the reigning champions, having defeated Punjab Kings by six runs in last season’s final under Rajat Patidar, ending their long-awaited IPL title quest.

Historically, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings dominate with five IPL trophies each, followed by KKR with three titles, highlighting the competitive legacy in Indian cricket.

Franchises will build squads around retained players, weighing performance metrics, fitness, and team balance, making November 15 a high-stakes day for IPL fan debates and speculation.

With flexible retention rules, many high-profile trades and player swaps are emerging behind the scenes, adding intrigue ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction.

Teams finishing in the top four last season—like MI, RCB, GT, and PBKS—face tougher retention decisions due to high-caliber players, while bottom-table franchises may fill squads more easily.