The Indian Premier League has brought many overseas and Indian players under the same umbrella. While many got lost with time, many stayed and made legacies. With IPL turning 19 next year, its is not new for a tournament to lose legends with time due to retirements and other reasons. But they are missed. The tournament gave the platform and gave the love to the players, as they often say themselves, and the players returned with their batting and bowling talents, winning matches for the fans. With the 2026 IPL mini auction starting, here is a list of five players IPL will miss on the ground playing. 1 | Andre Russell The Carribean all rounder Andre Russell has started his journey with Kolkata Knight Riders on 2014, after a short stint with Delhi Daredevils. Since then he has been a loyal knight to the franchise, winning matches, guiding youngsters, and sometimes being the only hope for the team with both the ball and the bat. The "Russell mania" continued for 12 years. In the IPL he scored 2,651 runs at a strike rate of ~174 and took 123 wickets in 139 matches. Notably, he is one of the rare all-rounders of the league with 1000+ runs and 100+ wickets. Russell was released by the franchise before the IPL mini auction 2026, after which his retirement announcement came, on November 30. Soon after that, KKR hired him as the power coach of the team. 2 | Faf du Plessis Faf du Plessis has opted out of the upcoming 2026 IPL mini-auction, officially ending his 14-season run in the tournament. On 29 November 2025, he announced he’ll instead play in Pakistan Super League (PSL). Over 14 seasons, he represented multiple franchises — including Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Rising Pune Supergiants, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), and most recently Delhi Capitals. The 41-year-old opening batter has 4773 runs in 154 matches, including 39 half centuries. In IPL 2025, playing for Delhi Capitals, he scored 202 runs in 9 matches (strike rate -123.9) before being released ahead of the auction. He said after 14 seasons, he wants a “new challenge,” choosing PSL for 2026 over IPL. While he didn’t explicitly say “retirement,” his withdrawal marks a pause (at least) in his IPL journey. 3 | Ravichandran Ashwin R. Ashwin announced his retirement from the IPL on 27 August 2025, ending a 16-season long chapter in the league. In his IPL career, Ashwin played 221 matches, picked up 187 wickets (making him among the top wicket-takers in league history), and scored 833 runs with the bat, including a half-century. He started with Chennai Super Kings (2009), and over the years also played for Rising Pune Supergiants, Punjab Kings (captained them once), Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals—his final season (2025) again with CSK. Ashwin has been one of the most consistent bowlers for any of the teams, except for a few seasons of being offbeat. His 2011 season with CSL has been his best, taking 20 wickets. Ashwin was one of the most cerebral spinners in T20 — his carrom-balls, variations, and tactical spin brought consistency and wicket-taking depth to whichever team he played for. His 2 IPL titles with CSK (2010, 2011) remain memorable. He is currently enrolled in the Big Bash League but had to leave midway due to injuries. Read also: 3 Big Areas Yashasvi Jaiswal Must Improve to Succeed in ODI Cricket 4 | Moeen Ali Moeen Ali — once a regular all-rounder in IPL — is also expected to be absent in 2026, as reports suggest he’s shifted focus to leagues outside IPL. Over several seasons, Moeen played for franchises including Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), among others. As a left-handed batsman and off-spinner, he offered balance — batting in the middle-order and spinning in middle overs. Moeen Ali so far scored 1167 runs and taken 41 wickets in 73 matches. While not an official “retired from IPL” statement like others, Moeen has reportedly decided to skip IPL 2026 and pursue opportunities in other T20 leagues. 5 | Glenn Maxwell Glenn Maxwell’s IPL career has been one of the most explosive and unpredictable in tournament history. Since debuting in 2012, he has scored 2,819 runs at a strike rate of 155+, with 161 sixes, 237 fours, 18 fifties and a highest of 95—numbers that define his aura as a pure impact player. is breakout came with PBKS in 2014, a season where he smashed 552 runs at an outrageous 187 strike rate, dominating spin and pace alike and finishing as one of the tournament’s top performers. He revived his IPL legacy again with RCB, becoming their middle-order backbone with iconic seasons in 2021 (513 runs, SR 144) and 2023 (400 runs, SR 183), often turning games within a few overs. Even as a part-time off-spinner, he provided balance and crucial breakthroughs. In 141 matches, he has 41 wickets. Well, he has not mentioned retirement from the league, but he won't be participating in the 2026 IPL Mini auction, after PBKS released him. 6 | Mohit Sharma On 3 December 2025, Mohit Sharma announced his retirement from all formats of cricket, ending a nearly 14‑year journey. Over his IPL career spanning 120 matches, he picked up 134 wickets, with his best figures being 5/10. After going unsold in 2021 and 2022 and even serving as a net bowler, he made a stunning return in 2023 with Gujarat Titans, claiming 27 wickets (just one short of the Purple Cap) and re‑establishing himself as a premier death‑overs specialist. His 5 for 10 against Mumbai Indians in 2023 Qualifier 2 — the first fifer for Gujarat Titans — remains one of his most memorable spells after his comeback. From being a Purple Cap winner with Chennai Super Kings in 2014 to reinventing himself in his mid‑30s — Mohit’s journey stands out as a rare tale of grit, resilience, and reinvention.