IPL 2026 live - Conway, Maxwell, Miller among big releases

Today we got to learn of a few big names who are set to go into the auction and some of the key players retained by the franchises ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, which is set to be held on December 16 in Abu Dhabi.

But tomorrow is the retention deadline, and there are still some trades to be finalised before the teams reveal who they are keeping and who they are letting go of. So put this in your bookmarks and tune in again tomorrow to stay updated with the latest stories to break.

Five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings are set to release their pair of left-hand New Zealand batters: Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. While Conway was bought for INR 6.25 crore at the auction last year, CSK bought back Ravindra via the right-to-match card option for INR 4 crore. Both players were expected to play a critical role in CSK's top order but both struggled through the season where CSK finished last with just four wins.

Ravindra made 191 runs at a strike rate of 128.18 and Conway scored 156 runs at a strike rate of 131.09. It is understood the CSK think tank opted to release both batters considering it has decided to invest in the development of the young batters that were added to the squad late in the season including South Africa batter Dewald Brevis along with the uncapped Indian pair of Ayush Mhatre and Urvil Patel who are likely to be part of the XI for the 2026 season.

Full story here.

Having built what turned out to be championship winning squad, the only pressing question for 2025 IPL winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru was whether to retain or release their England allrounder Liam Livingstone. ESPNcricinfo has learned RCB have ticked the release option.

Livingstone, who was bought for INR 8.75 crore at the 2025 auction, made 112 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 133.33 and picked two wickets in the nine overs he bowled in five innings at an economy of 8.44. The presence of Australian powerhitter Tim David along with West Indies allrounder Romario Shepherd means RCB already have enough options for the finisher’s role in the lower order and probably they might have wanted to utilise the money accrued from Livingstone’s release to go to the 2026 auction with a strong purse.

More details here.

More from Nagraj

Glenn Maxwell is set to be the headline release at Punjab Kings, the 2025 IPL runners-up. Maxwell missed playing the final after sustaining a finger fracture midway into the IPL. Maxwell’s fellow Aussie teammate, Mitchell Owen, was brought in by PBKS as his replacement. It is understood that Owen is among the players the franchise is set to retain.

Maxwell, who retired from ODIs in June, was bought by PBKS at the 2025 auction for INR 4.2 crore. Maxwell’s returns were poor by his lofty standards: he scored 48 runs in six innings, including single-digit scores in each of his last four games.

Among the other players PBKS are set to release include Aaron Hardie, Kyle Jamieson, Kuldeep Sen, Praveen Dube and Vishnu Vinod.

Full story here.

We have our first bit of retention news coming in, courtesy Nagraj Gollapudi. LSG are set to retain India fast bowler Mayank Yadav but will release legspinner Ravi Bishnoi, South Africa batter David Miller and India fast bowler Akash Deep.

Uncapped Indian allrounder Arshin Kulkarni and South Africa batter Matthew Breetzke are also set to be among their retainees.

More details here

In another deal involving a high-profile India player, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have agreed to trade Mohammed Shami to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

ESPNcricinfo has learned that it is likely to be an all-cash deal, with LSG paying SRH INR 10 crore (US$1.12 million approx.), the price Shami was bought for at the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Full story here.

Shardul Thakur is coming home. He is Mumbai's Ranji Trophy captain in the ongoing season. He was a replacement player for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) last year at his base price of INR 2 crore. Mumbai Indians (MI) made an in-principle agreement with LSG to get Thakur on an all-cash deal.

MI also brought in West Indies allrounder Sherfane Rutherford for INR 2.6crore, the price which Gujarat Titans paid to get him on board at the last auction.

In a separate deal, MI decided to release Arjun Tendulkar to LSG so that he could get more playing opportunities. He was selected at INR 30 lakh by INR, and is a deal that is separate from Thakur's.

Read all about it here.