IPL 2026: Focus on Sanju Samson, CSK and KKR as franchises start internal planning ahead of player retention

IPL 2026: Franchises have to start internal planning ahead of player retention. (Photo: IPL)

Come November, and the buzz will start around the 2026 IPL. India will play a two-Test series against South Africa at home, but the IPL retentions will still grab significant column inches. The BCCI hasn't yet set the deadline for the franchises to put out the list of their retained players. Once that is done, the cricket board will also confirm the dates for the mini-auction, which is expected sometime in December. What lies in store going ahead…

Sanju Samson's future

Sanju Samson’s future is the biggest talking point at this moment. After the 2025 IPL, the RR skipper reportedly had expressed his desire to quit the franchise in search for a new challenge. The rumours of him moving to Chennai Super Kings via player transfer have been quashed by the CSK officials. It is learnt that Manoj Badale, Royals’ principal owner, will decide Sanju’s future. The franchise has the licence to keep him for two more years. But will they be keen to retain a player who wants out? Time will tell.

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Also, it would be interesting to see if Sanju stays as captain if he is retained. Riyan Parag stood in for him in a few games last season, when the wicketkeeper-batsman was nursing an injury. Sources said, Yashasvi Jaiswal, too, is considered to be a strong captaincy candidate.

Heavy reset for CSK?

A story was doing the rounds that the five-time IPL champions have decided to release Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Devon Conway and Sam Curran. A top CSK official, however, told RevSportz that a meeting between head coach Stephen Fleming, former captain MS Dhoni and current captain Ruturaj Gaikwad would finalise the list. “See, we haven't discussed it in-house yet,” the official told this correspondent a few weeks ago. “MS has just returned from the US. Fleming is in New Zealand, and the IPL hasn't even given the date as regards the submission of the list of the retained players. Fleming, MS and Ruturaj will have a meeting to draw up the list. Then it will be taken to Mr Srinivasan for his approval.”

There would be some alterations for sure. Also, the challenge for CSK would be to find a replacement off-spinner for Ravichandran Ashwin. The latter’s retirement, however, would free up Rs 9.75 crore as regards the franchise’s auction purse.

KKR's head coach

Having parted ways with Chandrakant Pandit, Kolkata Knight Riders will have to appoint a new head coach. There have been reports about the Kolkata-based franchise choosing Abhishek Nayar to take up the role. KKR wasted little time to bring Nayar back to the fold after he was sacked as the Indian team's assistant coach. The franchise, however, hasn't yet come up with an official announcement in terms of picking Pandit’s successor.