The IPL 2026 season delivered unforgettable cricketing drama, capped off by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) cementing their legacy in franchise history.
By successfully defending their crown, RCB won back-to-back titles, which put them in the same exclusive club as MI and CSK, the only other teams to achieve consecutive championships.
While fans and analysts frequently obsess over batting combinations, the true reality of T20 cricket dictates a different priority. On the field, bowlers play an important role in carrying forward the team. When premium bowling assets fail to deliver crucial wickets or contain runs, management is forced to make ruthless auction decisions. Here is a detailed look at five high-profile bowlers who may be released ahead of the next auction, updated with the latest data from the official 2026 stats.
IPL 2026: 5 Bowlers Facing Potential Release in IPL 2027
Auqib Nabi (Delhi Capitals)
Delhi Capitals acquired the "Baramulla Express" for a massive ₹8.4 Crore following his historic 60-wicket Ranji Trophy campaign, hoping he would lead their domestic pace attack. Despite the heavy investment, Nabi endured a disastrous debut season. He went completely wicketless across his 5 matches for DC. Bowling 13 overs, he conceded 149 runs at an expensive economy rate of 11.46. Given this lack of penetration, the franchise is heavily expected to release him back into the auction pool.
Matheesha Pathirana (Kolkata Knight Riders)
KKR took an enormous financial gamble by signing the Sri Lankan slinger to bolster their death bowling, but the move quickly backfired due to physical fragility. Pathirana's season was completely derailed by fitness issues. He featured in just 1 match against the Gujarat Titans, where he bowled a mere 8 deliveries and conceded 9 runs (0/9) before walking off the field mid-over due to injury. With zero wickets in 2026 and a recurring injury history, KKR is unlikely to retain his expensive contract.
Trent Boult (Mumbai Indians)
Boult returned to the Mumbai Indians setup to provide early powerplay breakthroughs, but the team's overall rocky starts and collective bowling woes severely hampered his momentum. While the veteran Kiwi boasts an incredible all-time IPL record of 145 wickets in 125 matches, his 2026 impact was highly subdued. He failed to feature in the upper echelon of the Purple Cap standings, falling far behind tournament leaders. As MI looks to trigger a massive roster overhaul, the veteran speedster might be released to free up foreign player slots.
Mayank Yadav (Lucknow Super Giants)
LSG showed immense faith in their express pace sensation, officially retaining him for a massive ₹11 Crore ahead of the 2026 season based on his raw, unplayable speed. Despite his ability to clock over 150 kmph, physical strain and intense workload management restricted Yadav to just 4 appearances in the entire 2026 campaign. Meanwhile, his much cheaper teammates carried the bulk of the attack. To optimize their purse size and mitigate fitness risks, LSG will likely release Mayank to rebuild their budget.
Mukesh Kumar (Delhi Capitals)
Following a brilliant 2024 season, the Capitals used their Right to Match (RTM) card to bring Mukesh back for ₹8 Crore, retaining him as their frontline domestic death-overs specialist. Mukesh struggled heavily with consistency and run-leakage. Across 10 matches, he managed to take only 6 total wickets.
His economy rates were highly concerning in critical matches, yielding 18.33 against Punjab Kings, 13.75 against GT, and a staggering 21.00 against KKR. Due to this low wicket yield and high economy, DC is expected to look for alternative seam options.
