Abu Dhabi prepares for the IPL 2026 auction on December 16. But something feels different this time. Five big names won’t be there at all.
Fans expected to see Glenn Maxwell, Andre Russell, and others. Those expectations just crashed. These superstars chose different paths instead of playing another IPL season.
The shortlist has 350 players total. Yet these five familiar faces are nowhere in that list. IPL won’t feel quite the same without them around.
- Glenn Maxwell
Maxwell decided not to register for IPL 2026. His journey with the league ends here, at least for now. Nobody saw this coming from the Australian all-rounder.
- Andre Russell
Russell played 12 amazing seasons in the IPL. He announced his retirement from the league recently. West Indies lost their biggest IPL star with this decision. His power-hitting thrilled fans for over a decade straight.
- Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali joins the Pakistan Super League instead. This choice automatically blocks his IPL 2026 entry. He has played for RCB, CSK, and KKR since 2018. His 73 IPL matches brought 1,167 runs and 41 wickets.
- Faf du Plessis
Faf du Plessis follows the same route to the PSL. The former South African captain skips the IPL auction completely. He led teams brilliantly during his IPL stint.
PSL gained two world-class players while IPL lost them. Both leagues run during similar timeframes. Players must pick one tournament over the other now.
- R Ashwin
Ashwin retired from IPL back in August. He quit international cricket earlier that year too. The master spinner won two IPL titles with Chennai Super Kings.
His last season was with CSK only. Ashwin’s off-spin troubled batsmen for years. Indian cricket loses another legend from IPL action.
These five departures change IPL’s competitive balance significantly. These players gave IPL some unforgettable moments. Maxwell’s reverse sweeps and Russell’s final-over heroics became legendary. Franchises will miss their match-winning abilities badly.
New players get chances, but filling these shoes won’t be easy. December 16 auction looks very different without these superstars around.
