The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is going to see plenty of farewells of several legendary names who have given a lot to this league for more than a decade. But the rise of young talents will replace these legends, and this cycle is necessary for changing team strategies as the league is on the verge of a new brand of T20 cricket, with some of the glimpses we saw in the last edition.
Some of the retirements have already been confirmed, like Ravichandran Ashwin, who announced his IPL retirement in August 2025 after a 17-season-long franchise cricket career. But some of the big names we will see in this article are expected to retire after the upcoming IPL 2026 season.
Players Most Likely to Retire After IPL 2026:
MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings)
It’s been multiple seasons since then, and we have been hearing “will he, won’t he”, but IPL 2026 is expected to be his last season in the Indian Premier League. Dhoni has mentioned multiple times that it’s all about how his body is responding, and we saw him having a problem in his knee in the last season, and it is still there.
So, it is bad news for CSK fans, but the day has to come when MS Dhoni will not be seen playing in the yellow jersey. He may transition to a mentor or managing role within the franchise, but it is going to be his last season as a player.
Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Andre Russell has been one of the most explosive all-rounders in IPL history. He joined Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2014, and since then, he has made a huge impact with both bat and ball. The Upcoming season of the Indian Premier League might be the last season of Andre Russell in this wonderful league.
Players like Keiron Rollard and DJ Bravo, who have started their careers on the same note as Andre Russell, have already retired. So, we might see him for the last time in IPL 2026.
Faf du Plessis (Delhi Capitals)
South Africa’s star player, Faf du Plessis, has been a phenomenal player in the Indian Premier League. He has been a part of many franchises, but is mostly known for RCB and CSK. However, currently, he is with the Delhi Capitals, and 2026 could be his last edition in the league.
Other Senior Players Who Could Retire:
- Trent Boult (Mumbai Indians)
- Mohit Sharma (Delhi Capitals)
- Ishant Sharma (Gujarat Titans)
Read More: MI’s Strategy for IPL 2026: Can They Bounce Back Strong?