IPL 2026: All 10 Teams Best Predicted Retained Overseas Players

Explore the likely best retained overseas players for all 10 IPL teams ahead of the 2026 mini auction. Full team-wise breakdown and expert picks.

Overseas stars are an integral part of any team in the Indian Premier League. Since these players are available in huge supply, demand is less; only the best of the lot get to play in the tournament. With a total of 10 teams featuring in the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League, only a maximum of 80 Overseas players shall be allowed to participate. But will teams feature all 80 Overseas stars, and which ones will they retain?

Ideally, teams will retain a core of 3-4 Overseas players as those are the ones likely to feature in their playing 11, and form a part of their core of 8-10 players. If we observe the current squad of all 10 teams, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders are Overseas player-centric, and they also spend a lot on their Overseas contingent. So, expect them to retain their big-bang players. 

The IPL 2026 will witness some of the biggest Overseas players from across the globe. Not only the ones who are playing International cricket, but also the ones playing only Domestic T20 leagues. Some of the highest superstars include Nicholas Pooran, Heinrich Klaasen. Andre Russell, Jos Buttler, Sunil Narine, Travis Head, etc. But which of these players will be retained ahead of the IPL 2025 Mini Auction? Well, let’s look at the likely retained Overseas players list for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.   

IPL 2026: All 10 Teams Best Predicted Retained Overseas Players

IPL 2026 Predicted Retained Overseas Players List for Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

1. Dewald Brevis (o)
2. Rachin Ravindra (o)
3. Sam Curran (o)
4. Matheesha Pathirana (o)
5. Nathan Ellis (o)
6. Noor Ahmad (o)

Let’s start with the CSK team. They should retain 6 Overseas players for IPL 2026, and those are Dewald Brevis, Rachin Ravindra, Sam Curran, Matheesha Pathirana, Nathan Ellis, and Noor Ahmad. Batting Rachin and Ellis, the other three, Brevis, Pathirana, Noor, and Sam, are a part of the CSK core, and they will continue to be. However, Rachin and Nathan are good from the backup’s perspective, and should be retained as well.

IPL 2026 Predicted Retained Overseas Players List for Delhi Capitals (DC)

1. Jake Fraser-McGurk (o)
2. Donovan Ferreira (o)
3. Tristan Stubbs (o)
4. Mitchell Starc (o)

Coming to the Delhi Capitals team, they should release a lot of their non-performing Overseas players. But among the ones that they will retain are Jake Fraser-McGurk, Donovan Ferreira, Tristan Stubbs, and Mitchell Starc. Barring Donovan, the other three are crucial for the Delhi Team. The team may also think of retaining Faf du Plessis, but his age is a big concern, and that may go against him. The team is also likely to release Dushmantha Chameera.

IPL 2026 Predicted Retained Overseas Players List for Gujarat Titans (GT)

1. Sherfane Rutherford (o)
2. Jos Buttler (o)
3. Rashid Khan (o) 
4. Gerald Coetzee (o)

Coming to the Gujarat Titans, they don’t have many quality Overseas players that may get retained for IPL 2026. Among the confirmed ones, we should see Sherfane Rutherford, Jos Buttler, Rashid Khan, and Gerald Coetzee. Barring Cortzee, the other three proved their worth in IPL 2025, and should be retained without a doubt. However, the team may release the likes of Glenn Phillips, Karim Janat, Dasun Shanaka, and Kagiso Rabada, given his high price.

IPL 2026 Predicted Retained Overseas Players List for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

1. Quinton de Kock (o)
2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (o)
3. Andre Russell (o)
4. Moeen Ali (o)
5. Sunil Narine (o)
6. Anrich Nortje (o)

Talking about Kolkata Knight Riders, they are an Overseas player-centric team, and should retain a total of 6 Overseas players for IPL 2026. Among key players, they should retain Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock, and Anrich Nortje. Whereas among the backups, they should retain Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Moeen Ali. With these six there, they are likely to release the likes of Spencer Johnson and Rovman Powell as they don’t add much value on the side.

IPL 2026 Predicted Retained Overseas Players List for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

1. Aiden Markram (o)
2. David Miller (o)
3. Nicholas Pooran (o)
4. Mitchell Marsh (o)
5. Will O’Rourke (o)

Moving to Lucknow Super Giants, they are an Overseas batters-heavy team, and should retain all four Overseas batters along with an Overseas pacer. Among the batters, we should see Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, and David Miller as retainees. Whereas among the bowlers, we should see Will O’Rourke as the retained pacer. With these five, they are likely to release Shamar Joseph and Matthew Breetzke.

IPL 2026 Predicted Retained Overseas Players List for Mumbai Indians (MI)

1. Bevon Jacobs (o)
2. Ryan Rickelton (o)
3. Corbin Bosch (o)
4. Mitchell Santner (o)
5. Will Jacks (o)
6. Allah Ghazanfar (o)
7. Trent Boult (o)

Talking about the Mumbai Indians team, they should retain the maximum number of Overseas players with 7 solid names in the retained players list. It could have been 8 too, had BCCI allowed Jonny Bairstow to get retained. But barring from him, the team should retain the likes of Bevon Jacobs, Ryan Rickelton, Will Jacks, Mitchell Santner, Allah Ghazanfar, Corbin Bosch, and Trent Boult. With 7 solid names there, they are likely to release Lizaad Williams, Reece Topley, and Mujeeb ur Rahman.

IPL 2026 Predicted Retained Overseas Players List for Punjab Kings (PBKS)

1. Josh Inglis (o)
2. Azmatullah Omarzai (o)
3. Marco Jansen (o)
4. Marcus Stoinis (o)
5. Lockie Ferguson (o)

The IPL 2025 Runner-up, Punjab Kings, should retain a total of 5 Overseas players, and this sadly doesn’t include big show Glenn Maxwell. Maxwell has been a disaster in IPL 2025, and it would be foolish for teams to have another bet on him. So, excluding Maxwell, the team should retain the likes of Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis, Marco Jansen, and Azmatullah Omarzai as these players did well for them last year, and as a backup, the team should continue with Lockie Ferguson.

IPL 2026 Predicted Retained Overseas Players List for Rajasthan Royals (RR)

1. Shimron Hetmyer (o)
2. Wanindu Hasaranga (o)
3. Jofra Archer (o)
4. Maheesh Theekshana (o)
5. Nandre Burger (o)

The Pink Army, Rajasthan Royals, should retain a total of 5 Overseas players for IPL 2026. Jofra Archer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shimron Hetmyer, and Maheesh Theekshana are a part of their IPL 2025 core, and they should continue to remain with the team. However, the team may release the likes of Fazalhaq Farooqi and Kwena Maphaka, and instead retain only Nandre Burger. Nandre is a more potent bowler as compared to the other two left-arm pacers, and hence should get the edge.

IPL 2026 Predicted Retained Overseas Players List for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

1. Tim David (o)
2. Phil Salt (o)
3. Jacob Bethell (o)
4. Romario Shephard (o)
5. Josh Hazlewood (o)
6. Lungi Ngidi (o)
7. Nuwan Thushara (o)

Now is the time for the IPL 2025 Champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and they should retain a total of 7 Overseas players for IPL 2026. Their biggest headache will be the decision they take on Liam Livingstone. Livingstone was an utter flop in IPL 2025, and he doesn’t seem to have that desire to do well. Hence, retaining the other 7 solid names, the team may release Liam Livingstone among the Overseas players.

IPL 2026 Predicted Retained Overseas Players List for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

1. Travis Head (o)
2. Heinrich Klaasen (o)
3. Kamindu Mendis (o)
4. Ehsan Malinga (o)
5. Pat Cummins (o)

Finally, talking about Sunrisers Hyderabad, the team should retain only 5 Overseas players for IPL 2026, and those are Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, Ehsan Malinga, and Kamindu Mendis. These five players played an important role in IPL 2025, and they will continue to play an important role in IPL 2026 too. But aside from these five players, SRH may release the likes of Adam Zampa and Wiaan Mulder as they don’t add much value to the side.

So, that’s about best retained Overseas players list for all 10 Teams for IPL 2026. Expect teams to retain a total of 54 Overseas players, which isn’t bad. Teams generally retain those core 3-4-5 players, and then look for fresh names in the Auction, or release some expensive ones. Which Overseas players do you think the teams will release? Please share your thoughts on ipladdafounder@gmail.com.

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