By Moneycontrol Sports Desk | November 17, 2025
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The Chennai Super Kings let go of a large group of players, and among the most unexpected names was their premier pacer, Matheesha Pathirana. The Sri Lankan quick endured a modest IPL 2025 campaign, leading the franchise to release him ahead of the mini-auction.
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In a move that raised fewer eyebrows, the Kolkata Knight Riders released Venkatesh Iyer, who had been bought for a massive 23.75 crore. The all-rounder endured an underwhelming season and was unable to perform in accordance with his hefty valuation.
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Royal Challengers Bangalore also released wicketkeeper Tim Seifert, despite his solid performances. His departure was less about form and more about team composition, as RCB had limited overseas slots and already possessed Jitesh Sharma as their primary keeper.
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The Lucknow Super Giants made another notable decision by releasing Ravi Bishnoi, their long-time spin spearhead who had been with the franchise since its debut season. After experiencing just one below-par IPL campaign in 2025, the team chose to move on from him.
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The real surprise on retention day came when KKR chose to part ways with Andre Russell. The explosive all-rounder, who had been a part of the franchise since 2013 and was retained for 12 crores during the mega auction, was unexpectedly released—possibly because the team felt a 37-year-old no longer justified the high payout.