Introduction
All the teams playing in the Indian Premier League make some changes in the squad in the mini auction based on the performance and stats of the previous year, for example, whoever is out of form is released by the management before the upcoming auction.
Most Expensive Players Released for IPL 2026 Auction | Full List
All teams playing in the Indian Premier League can have a maximum of 25 cricket players, including 8 overseas players and 27 Indian players.
| Player Name | Team Name | ₹ Amount |
| Venkatesh Iyer | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹23.75 Crore |
| Matheesh Pathirana | Chennai Super King | ₹13.00 Crore |
| Andre Russell | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹12.00 Crore |
| Ravi Bishnoi | Lucknow Super Giants | ₹11.00 Crore |
| Jake Fraser-McGurk | Delhi Capital | ₹9.00 Core |
| Liam Livingstone | Royal Challenger Bengaluru | ₹8.75 Crore |
| Akash Deep | Lucknow Super Giants | ₹8.00 Crore |
| David Miller | Lucknow Super Giants | ₹7.50 Crore |
| Anrich Nortje | Kolkata Knight Riders | ₹6.50 Crore |
| Devon Conway | Chennai Super King | ₹6.25 Crore |
1. Venkatesh Iyer
Venkatesh Iyer was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹23.75 in the 2024 Mega Auction, but due to Venkatesh Iyer’s average performance, Kolkata Knight Riders released him from the team before the IPL 2025 Mini Auction. After releasing Venkatesh Iyer from the team, Kolkata team has received a huge amount of Rs 23.75 crore.
Venkatesh Iyer has been the fourth most expensive player in IPL history. He has also been India’s second most expensive released player.
2. Matheesh Pathirana
Matheesha Pathirana is the founding Right Arm Fast Bowler of Chennai Super Kings, whom Chennai Super Kings retained in the 2024 Mega Auction at a price tag of ₹13.00 Crore, but due to Matheesha Pathirana’s poor bowling performance, Chennai Super Kings released Matheesha Pathirana before the Mini Auction.
3. Andre Russell
Andre Russell has been the star all-rounder of Kolkata Knight Riders. He has been released by the management of Kolkata Knight Riders, but keeping in mind some reports, Andre Russell himself had asked for his release from the Kolkata management. Andre Russell was retained by Kolkata in the Mega Auction of the year 2024 at a price tag of ₹12.00.
4. Ravi Bishnoi
Ravi Bishnoi, the right arm leg spinner of Lucknow Super Giants, was released by the LSG management before the 2026 IPL mini auction after seeing his performance in 2025.
Ravi Bishnoi was retained by Lucknow Super Giants in the Mega Auction of 2024 with a price tag of ₹ 11.00 Crore.
5. Jake Fraser-McGurk
Jake Fraser-McGurk was also released based on his performance in IPL 2025. Jake Fraser-McGurk failed to score well in the 2025 IPL, due to which he was released to Delhi Capitals. Delhi Capitals had bought Jake Fraser-McGurk in the auction for ₹9.00 crore.
6. Liam Livingstone
Liam Livingstone, the batting all-rounder of Royal Challenger Bengaluru, also did not score as many runs in the 2025 IPL as his team and fans had expected from him, due to which Royal Challenger Bengaluru also released Liam Livingstone. Liam Livingstone was bought by RCB for ₹8.75 crore.
7. Akash Deep
LSG’s Medium Fast Bowler Akash Deep was also released by LSG Management. Due to his injury, Akash Deep could play only 6 matches in which Akash took only 3 wickets and that too with an economy of more than 12.
Akash Deep was bought by LSG for ₹8.00 crore in the IPL 2024 Mega Auction.
8. David Miller
David Miller, the experienced finisher of the South African cricket team, was also bought by the management of LSG for ₹7.50 crore in the 2024 IPL Mega Auction. But after a mediocre performance, Las Vegas’ team released David Miller.
9. Anrich Nortje
Anrich Nortje was also bought by Kolkata Knight Riders at a price tag of ₹6.50 Crore. Anrich Nortje played only 1 match in IPL 2025 in which Nortje conceded 23 runs and took 1 wicket.
10. Devon Conway
Devon Conway is a brilliant opening batsman of Chennai Super Kings, who after playing for about 3 seasons in CSK, was also released by Chennai Super Kings for the 2026 IPL. Devon Conway was bought by Chennai Super Kings in the Mega Auction of the year 2024 for a price of ₹6.25 crore.
Related Topic
IPL 2026 Retention Update: Biggest Trades
Information Source – iplt20.com
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