Following the high-stakes auctions and major player retentions, several blockbuster signings have severely underperformed during the IPL 2026 season. To free up massive purse amounts ahead of the next
cycle, franchises are heavily tipped to part ways with these expensive assets.
Here are 5 big IPL signings who are at serious risk of being released after this season due to a mix of poor form, massive price tags, or injuries:
1. Cameron Green (Kolkata Knight Riders)
Price Tag: ₹25.20 crore
KKR shattered historical benchmarks to secure the Australian all-rounder to stabilize their post-powerplay batting and lock down four overs of hard-length seam bowling.Cameron Green failed to find a fixed role in the batting order, leading to a modest return of just 232 runs. More critically, an ongoing physical setback severely restricted his bowling workload, resulting in just 4 wickets all season. For a squad needing depth, blocking over 20% of their salary cap on an unstable option is unsustainable.
https://x.com/i/status/2042274261017207275
2. Nicholas Pooran (Lucknow Super Giants):
Price Tag: ₹21.00 crore
Retained as LSG's primary middle-order destroyer, Nicholas Pooran was expected to replicate his blistering strike rates at the death.Instead, he experienced a catastrophic form slump, averaging an abysmal 16.73. Opposing teams exploited his well-documented struggles against hard spin early in his innings, choking LSG's momentum during the middle overs. At a ₹21 crore valuation, a team cannot afford a pure anchor role from an international specialist.
https://x.com/i/status/2044703628813115896
3. Prashant Veer & Kartik Sharma (Chennai Super Kings)
Price Tag: ₹14.20 crore each (₹28.40 crore combined uncapped record).
CSK drastically altered their typical low-risk auction strategy by engaging in fierce bidding wars for these domestic players, hoping to solidify their uncapped core.The pressure of their massive price tags took an immediate toll. Prashant Veer struggled heavily with line and length in the Powerplay, going entirely wicketless in his starting games. Meanwhile, Kartik Sharma's 112 runs across 6 appearances proved highly inefficient due to a low strike rate. Releasing them allows CSK to claw back nearly ₹30 crore to rebuild their traditional domestic depth.
4. Liam Livingstone (Sunrisers Hyderabad):
Price Tag: ₹13.00 crore.
SRH bought Liam Livingstone to act as an explosive finish-enforcer and a luxury spin-bowling option.Due to the extraordinary, high-scoring form of SRH's set overseas combinations, Livingstone was relegated to the bench for most of the season. He featured in only two games, scratching together a mere 15 runs. Keeping a ₹13 crore international asset on the bench is a massive financial luxury that SRH will likely look to correct.
https://x.com/i/status/2000174871524032670
5. Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants):
Price Tag: ₹27.00 crore (Joint-highest contract in IPL history).
https://x.com/i/status/2047293353533059238
LSG broke the bank at the mega auction to secure Rishabh Pant as their captain, premier wicketkeeper, and the definitive face of the franchise. He was fully expected to orchestrate high-tempo middle-order counterattacks and anchor an explosive batting unit. Pant's statistical impact has completely flatlined during the IPL 2026 season. Across 11 games, he managed only 251 runs at an underwhelming average of 27.89. His strike rate hovered at a sluggish 138.67, preventing him from providing his signature match-winning cameos at the death.
