The IPL 2026 season concluded with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) creating history by securing back-to-back championship titles. This monumental achievement firmly places them in the same elite club as the Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the only other franchises to have successfully defended their crowns in tournament history.
While RCB celebrated ultimate glory, the remaining teams in the league fared with highly mixed fortunes throughout the campaign. In the high-pressure ecosystem of the Indian Premier League, batsmen play an important role in carrying forward the team. When underperformance, injuries, or changing tactical dynamics disrupt a franchise's balance, team management is often forced to make ruthless decisions.
Here is a detailed look at five prominent batters who may be released by their respective teams ahead of the next auction, backed by their latest IPL 2026 statistics.
IPL 2027: 5 Batters Facing Potential Release
Ajinkya Rahane (Kolkata Knight Riders)
He is most likely to be released. Despite taking over the captaincy for Kolkata Knight Riders, Rahane faced a highly uneven campaign where KKR finished a disappointing seventh and missed out on the playoffs. Although the veteran produced a few stellar knocks, his overall consistency waned as the season progressed. Throughout the 2026 season, Rahane scored 335 runs across 14 matches. He averaged 25.77 and managed a strike rate of 135.08. Following KKR's early 2026 exit, the franchise is heavily expected to execute a massive tactical reset and release older players to rebuild for the future.
Shimron Hetmyer (Rajasthan Royals)
He is very likely to be released from the squad. Hetmyer was retained by Rajasthan Royals for a substantial price tag of ₹11 Crore to serve as a staple of the RR finishing order. While RR and their performance coaches continuously back his explosive strike rate even during quiet IPL patches, his massive price tag creates high-probability release speculation if the franchise decides to optimize its purse size. Hetmyer suffered a steep decline in form during the 2026 campaign, managing to score just 78 runs in 8 matches with an underwhelming strike rate of 113.
Aiden Markram (Lucknow Super Giants)
Markram was an incredible asset for LSG during the 2025 season where he accumulated 445 runs, leading to his retention for ₹2 Crore. However, his 2026 campaign faced major disruption when he left the camp midway through the season due to personal reasons. Before his early departure, Markram played 12 matches, scoring 231 runs at an average of 25.67 and a strike rate of 138.32. While his top-order consistency and leadership skills make him an incredibly valuable asset, his sudden mid-season exit has fuelled rumours regarding his long-term retention status.
Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians)
Rohit remains the ultimate titan and the historical heartbeat of the Mumbai Indians franchise who may be released in the upcoming season. However, the 2026 season was plagued by injuries and sudden changes in captaincy leadership.
Even though he remains fully capable of striking impactful, game-winning innings, MI's recent lacklustre team cycles might prompt the management to explore a complete roster overhaul. Rohit featured in 9 matches during the 2026 season, accumulating 283 runs. He maintained a strong average of 35.38 and an impressive strike rate of 157.22, showcasing glimpses of his lethal hitting ability despite the team's struggles.
Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants)
Following back-to-back underwhelming seasons where he averaged relatively modest returns with the bat, speculation is rapidly surrounding Pant's future. Observers indicate that the franchise might possibly look to move on from the explosive keeper-batsman to free up significant auction capital for other departments. Facing a highly challenging season, Pant could only muster 312 runs across 14 matches. His struggles were reflected in his average of 28.36 and a remarkably strike rate of 138.00.
