Irfan Pathan picks retentions ahead of IPL 2027 auction; releases former CSK star worth ₹18 crore

Former Team India all-rounder Irfan Pathan made a retain-or-release call on 23 players across the 10 franchises ahead of the 2027 mini-auction (via ESPN Cricinfo). His release list included Rahul Chahar, Auqib Nabi, Mangesh Yadav, Trent Boult, Shahrukh Khan, Matheesha Pathirana and Avesh Khan, with the other 16 staying where they are.

Pathirana is the headline. The Sri Lankan slinger won the 2023 title with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and was retained by them for ₹13 crore before the 2025 season, but 13 wickets at an economy of 10.13 in that campaign, and the injuries around it, led CSK to release him.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) then paid ₹18 crore for him at the 2026 auction, the second-highest price of the day behind Cameron Green’s ₹25.20 crore. Pathirana’s first season at KKR was disrupted before it began: a calf strain at the T20 World Cup in February ruled him out of the tournament.

Auqib Nabi is the other eyebrow-raiser. Delhi Capitals paid ₹8.40 crore for him after he took 60 wickets at 12.56 in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, finishing as the competition’s leading wicket-taker and driving Jammu and Kashmir to their first title.

Franchises must file their retained and released lists with the IPL by November 17. The IPL 2027 mini-auction follows on December 16 in Goa, the last mini-auction before the mega-auction that precedes the 2028 season.

The 16 players Irfan Pathan backed to be retained

KKR all-rounder Cameron Green leads the keep column and the money list. KKR’s ₹25.20 crore all-rounder was the most expensive buy of the 2026 auction, and Pathan would not touch a player who gives a side a top-order option and a fourth seamer in the same XI.

Suryakumar Yadav, Glenn Phillips and Rahul Tewatia cover three different middle-order jobs: the 360-degree batter who manipulates fields, the wicketkeeper-batter who can slot in anywhere from four to six, and the finisher who has built a career on closing tight chases. Mitchell Santner and Washington Sundar sit in the spin all-rounder bracket, offering left-arm and off-spin control through the middle overs, while Ravi Bishnoi remains the specialist wrist-spinner in the group.

The pace contingent is the longest part of the list: Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur and Mukesh Kumar, seven Indian bowlers covering new-ball swing, left-arm angle, hard lengths, cutters at the death and lower-order runs.

Marcus Stoinis, who cost ₹11 crore at the 2025 mega auction, and Prashant Veer, whom CSK signed for ₹14.20 crores in the 2026 auction, round out the 16 Pathan believes should be retained.

Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran