Two top Indian players reportedly seek INR 40 crore retention ahead of IPL mini-auction
Two high-profile Indian players have reportedly asked for INR 40 crore as retention fees from Indian Premier League franchises ahead of the IPL 2027 mini-auction in Goa on December 16, 2026, Cricbuzz reported. The report said the demands were communicated to the players’ management and could influence negotiations ahead of the 2028 mega auction.
The story follows precedent from 2025 when Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer were not retained and entered the auction; Pant and Iyer secured contracts of INR 27 crore and INR 26.75 crore with Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings respectively, and that auction was the first time a bid crossed INR 25 crore. The report notes that the IPL’s financial landscape has shifted, with the total purse for franchises rising to INR 130 crore for the 2027 season and expected to reach INR 150 crore for the 2028 mega auction.
Cricbuzz identified the requests as coming from a couple of marquee players but did not disclose names, saying the individuals had already spoken to their management teams and had conveyed their expectations to their franchises. The coverage adds that at least one of the reported requests includes a potential demand for captaincy alongside the retention fee.
The outlet framed the INR 40 crore figure as part of ongoing salary negotiations rather than as completed agreements, and emphasised that the amounts remain demands rather than confirmed deals. The report warned these moves could prompt other leading players to set higher price expectations before the next auction cycle.
Franchises face the practical challenge of balancing large retention demands with squad composition and leadership roles, the report said, noting pressure would increase if teams are asked to retain high-fee players with captaincy or specific positional guarantees. That pressure ties directly to the expanding purse and the approaching auction calendar outlined by the league.
The IPL 2027 mini-auction is scheduled to take place in Goa on December 16, 2026, and the report places these demands in the run-up to that event and the larger 2028 mega auction.
