The moment every IPL fan has been waiting for finally landed on Saturday, 15 November! This day is super important because all ten IPL teams had to submit their final lists of players they want to keep or release for the IPL 2026 season. Think of it as a huge player game-changer where stars will either shine with their teams or hit the high-pressure auction pool. Before the big day, excitement already bubbled over with trades shaking up the IPL world! Shardul Thakur flew to Mumbai Indians from Lucknow Super Giants, adding his all-round skills. Sherfane Rutherford also joined Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans, bringing powerful finishing to the squad. But wait, there's juicy gossip too! Rumors whisper about a blockbuster player swap between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings — Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja might be swapping their jerseys! Fans can only wait for the official word. So why is this retention deadline such a big deal? At exactly 5 PM IST on 15 November, teams had to decide the fate of their players. No limits on how many stars they can keep means teams can carefully build strong and steady squads. This is different from other years with mega auctions where teams had to start fresh. Here, the Rs 120 crore salary cap challenges teams to balance budgets while grabbing the best talents. The trading window threw in more drama, opening right after the IPL 2025 final on 4 June. Mumbai Indians acted fast, securing Shardul Thakur and Sherfane Rutherford. Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders are likely to release Venkatesh Iyer, who was once bought for a whopping Rs 23.75 crore! But the fun isn’t over yet—the trading game stays open till 9 December, giving teams a last chance to swap players before the mini auction in Abu Dhabi on 16 December. Wondering how to catch all this heart-racing action live? The IPL Retention event kicks off at 5 PM IST on 15 November, right after the India vs South Africa Test match day 2 ends. Fans can watch on the Star Sports Network or stream online via the JioHotstar app and website. So whether on a TV, laptop, or phone, you won’t miss a single moment! With no player limits to retain and huge money on the table, expect bold moves and shocking releases that could change IPL 2026 completely. This day sets the tone for the entire season ahead—a thrilling mix of strategy, surprises, and cinematic cricket drama. So gear up! The IPL 2026 saga is just getting started, and the cricketing stage is ready for some fiery battles and blockbuster stories.