As IPL 2021 mini-auction nears, here's a list of players retained & released by franchises

With much-anticipated IPL 2021 inching closer, all eight franchises set to feature in action-packed league anunced ir list of players retained and released on Wednesday. franchises had been given a deadline of January 20 to submit ir list of players retained as mini-auction is expected to be held in February. Based on number of players released and retained, teams will gain a certain amount in ir purse allowing m to buy players in IPL 2021 auction. 

Here is comprehensive list of all players released and retained by franchises: 

1. Mumbai 

Defending champions Mumbai have retained most of ir players as ir squad outclassed every or team to lift IPL trophy for fourth time in 2020. However, Rohit Sharma-led squad decided to part ways with veteran Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga along with Kiwi quick Mitchell McClenaghan and have retained 18 players. Australian speedster Nathan Coulter-Nile and James Pattison - who had a terrific IPL 2020 - have been released as well. 

• Players Retained: 

Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (WK), Chris Lynn, Anmolpreet Singh, Saurabh Tiwary, Aditya Tare (WK), Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Anukul Roy, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Rahul Chahar, Jayant Yadav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Mohsin Khan

• Players Released: 

Lasith Malinga, Mitch McClenaghan, James Pattinson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Sherfane Rurford, Prince Balwant Rai, Digivijay Deshmukh

• Remaining Purse: 15.35 crores

2. Chennai 

Despite having a dismal IPL 2020, MS Dhoni-led Chennai defied expectations and has retained most of its squad. After a poor show by three-time champions in 2020, squad was expected to head for a complete revamp this year. franchise has retained most of its players including Ambati Rayadu, Karn Sharma, Imran Tahir, Dwayne Bravo and Deepak Chahar. squad will be led by MS Dhoni as in previous editions of IPL so far. Chennai has also retained young Ruturaj Gaikwad, who made an impact in last leg of tournament in 2020, with some brilliant innings as he opened batting for team. Ace all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran along with Mitchel Santner have also been retained by franchise. On or hand, Kedar Jadhav, Piyush Chawla and Murali Vijay have been released in a bid to increase franchise's purse amount for mini-auction. 

• Players Retained: 

N Jagadeesan, R Gaikwad, KM Asif, R Jadeja, MS Dhoni, J Hazlewood, K Sharma, A Rayudu, S Raina, I Tahir, D Chahar, Faf du Plessis, S Thakur, M Santner, D Bravo, L Ngidi, S Curran, S Kishore.

• Players Released: 

Kedar Jadhav, Piyush Chawla, Murali Vijay, Harbhajan Singh, S Watson, M Singh

• Remaining purse: Rs 22.9 crores

READ | IPL 2021: Glenn Maxwell Released By Punjab; Hyderabad Retains Most Of Its Squad

3. Bangalore 

After reaching semi-finals for first time in three years in 2020, Bangalore will eyeing a repeat of ir brilliant performances this year as well. squad has retained its core group comprising of skipper Virat Kohli, spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and explosive Proteas batsman AB de Villiers. Simon Katich and manment have also decided to keep youngster Devdutt Padikkal, who had a phemen IPL 2020, providing squad with great starts at top of order. 

Moreover, Bangalore has also decided to retain services of Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini as y eye ir maiden IPL title in 2021. table overseas players that have been retained include Adam Zampa, Josh Philippe and Kane Richardson. franchise has also acquired services of Daniel Sams as a trade from Delhi. 

• Players Retained: 

Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Yuzvendra Chahal, Adam Zampa, Josh Philippe, Kane Richardson, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Shahbaz Ahmed and Pawan Deshpande 

• Players Released: 

Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Aaron Finch, Chris Morris, Pavan Negi, Parthiv Patel, Isuru Udana & Umesh Yadav

• Remaining purse: Rs 35.7 crores

READ | Sanju Samson To Lead Rajasthan In IPL 2021, Sangakkara Roped In As Director Of Cricket

4. Punjab

Punjab franchise has anunced that y will release Australian hard-hitter Glenn Maxwell, releasing a list of 16 cricketers who have made cut for 2021 Dream11 Indian Premier League. Apart from Maxwell, West Indies’ speed merchant Sheldon Cottrell, ar big biggest star attraction has also been released owing to his below-par performance. 

According to Head Coach Anil Kumble, plan was to retain ' core of team'. “ plan was to keep core of team, and make sure players who were part of team last season will continue this year as well. We believe that this group along with whoever we pick at auctions to fill those gaps will be able to turn things around for Kings XI Punjab,” said Kumble.  

• Players Retained:  

KL Rahul, Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Nicholas Pooran, Mandeep Singh, Sarfaraz Khan, Deepak Hooda, Prabhsimran Singh, Mohammed Shami, Chris Jordan, Darshan Nalkande, Ravi Bishi, Murugan Ashwin, Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Ishan Porel

• Players Released:

Glenn Maxwell, Karun Nair, Hardus Viljoen, Jagadeesha Suchith, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Sheldon Cottrell, Jimmy Neesham, Krishnappa Gowtham, Tajinder Singh. 

• Remaining Purse: Rs 53.2 crores

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5. Hyderabad 

Hyderabad has also retained most of its players from 2020 squad and only five players have been released. Seen as most consistent squad in IPL, Hyderabad will be setting its eyes on silverware this year without having to worry much about auction. franchise which lifted cup in 2016 had a medicore outing in last edition and will be looking to boost ir batting in a bid to lift pressure off top order. 

• Players Retained: 

David Warner, Manish Pandey, Kane Williamson, Jonny Bairstow, Wriddhiman Saha, Shreevats Goswami, Priyam Garg, Virat Singh, Rashid Khan, Vijay Shankar, Mohammad Nabi, Abhishek Sharma, Mitchell Marsh, Jason Holder, Abdul Samad, T Natarajan, Khaleel Ahmed, Sandeep Sharma, Basil Thampi, Shahbaz Nadeem, Siddharth Kaul, Bhuvneshwar Kumar. 

• Players Released:

Billy Stanlake, Fabian Allen, Sanjay Yadav, B Sandeep, and Y Prithvi Raj

• Remaining Purse: Rs 10.75 crores

6. Rajasthan 

Rajasthan seem to have made most significant change in its squad ahead of auction as it anunced that it has released captain Steve Smith. While reason is unkwn yet, it has been speculated that ouster might be due to Australian's poor performance in previous edition where team finished last on points table. franchise anunced that Sanju Samson would lead side in 2021 and also roped in former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara as team's Director of cricket. 

• Players Retained: 

Sanju Samson (Captain), Manan Vohra, David Miller, Jos Buttler, 
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Robin Uthappa, Anuj Rawat, Ben Stokes, Rahul Tewatia, Mahipal Lomror, Riyan Parag, Jofra Archer, Jaydev Unadkat, Karik Tyagi, Shreyas Gopal, Mayank Markande, Andrew Tye

• Players Released:

Steve Smith 

• Remaining Purse: Rs 34.85 crores

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7. Delhi 

Having had ir best season last year, Delhi will ride onto ir confidence from IPL 2020 as y head into competition this year. comparatively young squad led by Shreyas Iyer hasn't seen many changes since last two reflecting faith of manment in players. Going into mini-auction, Delhi have released only 6 players and retained 19. 

• Players Retained: 

Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Lalit Yadav, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Pravin Dubey, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich rtje, Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer, Chris Woakes, Daniel Sams

• Players Released:

Mohit Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Keemo Paul, Sandeep Lamichhane, Alex Carey and Jason Roy 

• Remaining Purse: Rs 9 crores

8. Kolkata

Similar to most of franchises, Kolkata has also opted to t hinder most of its squad. However, franchise has persisted with captaincy change introduced midway during IPL 2020 as Eoin Morgan will continue to lead side in 2021. Incidentally, Kolkata has decided to let go of Tom Banton - a player y onlu acquired last year, who has been projected as a power hitter. franchise has also reposed its faith in Andre Russell, who failed to make an impact with bat during IPL 2020

• Players Retained: 

Eoin Morgan, Dinesh Karthik, Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Rahul Tripathi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Pat Cummins, Prasidh Krishna, Sandeep Warrier, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Tim Seifert

• Players Released: Tom Banton, Chris Green, Nikhil Naik, Siddharth M, Siddhesh Lad (and Harry Gurney, Ali Khan)
• Remaining Purse: Rs 10.85 crores