Rishabh Pant released, Ajinkya Rahane retained! 27 players receive clear verdict
The IPL 2026 Landscape: Underperforming Stars and Strategic Shuffles
The ongoing IPL 2026 season has entered its business end, with only a few crucial matches left before a champion is crowned. For the majority of the teams, the tournament has already concluded; out of the 10 franchises, 6 are officially out of the title race and must now look toward the future. This season has been a roller coaster of emotions, marked by hot and cold performances from some of the biggest names in world cricket.
Stars like Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Ajinkya Rahane, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and several others struggled to find consistent rhythm on most occasions. With the IPL heading toward a fresh cycle for the 2027 season, massive shuffles, retentions, and releases are inevitable. Front offices will have to make ruthless decisions to balance their purse and construct competitive squads. To provide some clarity on these upcoming franchise decisions, former Chennai Super Kings and Team India batter Ambati Rayudu has offered his expert predictions on where these players stand.
Ambati Rayudu’s Verdict: The ESPNCricinfo Breakdown
Ahead of the highly anticipated Qualifier 1 of IPL 2026, ESPNCricinfo shared an engaging video on their social media platforms featuring Ambati Rayudu. In the video, Rayudu was presented with a rapid-fire list of high-profile players. For each name, the former cricketer had to make a definitive call: “released” or “retained.”
The list featured a total of 27 prominent players, primarily consisting of international superstars. While Rayudu generally leaned toward recommending that teams retain their core players, he did not hesitate to make some incredibly bold calls on marquee names whose performances did not match their hefty price tags.
The Big Call: Rishabh Pant Released
The most shocking prediction from Rayudu involved the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain, Rishabh Pant. Acquired for a staggering INR 27 crore, Pant carried immense expectations on his shoulders. However, he failed to produce any significant or match-winning results in back-to-back seasons.
According to Rayudu, carrying such a massive price tag without delivering corresponding performances makes Pant a prime candidate to be released ahead of the IPL 2027 players’ auction. Moving on from Pant would allow LSG to reclaim a massive portion of their salary cap, giving them the flexibility to rebuild their squad from scratch.
The Surprise Call: Ajinkya Rahane and KKR’s Skipper Retained
While Pant faced the chopping block in Rayudu’s assessment, veteran batsman Ajinkya Rahane received a vote of confidence to be retained. Despite experiencing his own share of struggles with form, Rahane’s experience and tactical utility apparently keep him in favor for retention.
Similarly, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper, who also endured a difficult run of form over two consecutive seasons, received a “retain” verdict from Rayudu. This indicates that franchises might still value leadership stability and past contributions over short-term dips in batting form when mapping out their long-term retention strategies.
Other Marquee Names in the Spotlight
The list of 27 players analyzed by Rayudu was filled with elite cricketing talent. Beyond the headline-grabbing decisions on Pant and Rahane, the former India batsman also weighed in on several other iconic players, including:
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- MS Dhoni
- Rohit Sharma
- Matheesha Pathirana
For these marquee players, the decisions represent a delicate balance between brand value, on-field execution, and long-term planning. Rayudu also hinted at “release and buy back” strategies for specific players, a tactical maneuver that allows franchises to potentially re-acquire valuable assets at a more reasonable price point in the open auction.
Conclusion: The Road to the IPL 2027 Auction
While Ambati Rayudu’s verdicts are predictions rather than official team announcements, they reflect the harsh realities of IPL squad management. High price tags demand high-impact performances, and franchises can no longer afford to carry underperforming assets, regardless of their star status. As the focus shifts from the final matches of IPL 2026 to the drawing boards of the team owners, Rayudu’s insights offer a fascinating preview of the tactical drama that will unfold before the next season begins.
