5 players who retired after going unsold or not being retained in IPL (Source: Getty Images)

The IPL auction is just around the corner, and every franchise is analysing its squad to form a formidable team for the next season. Ahead of the auction, the teams announced their retentions list, and some players, who have been the faces of the franchise for decades, were shockingly not retained. 

Over the years, several big names, almost synonymous to the franchise, have been released or gone unsold at the auction later.

However, some players chose to retire after not being retained or failing to find any takers at the table. Here, let us have a look at five notable cricketers who retired under such circumstances.

Here are 5 players who retired from IPL after going unsold or not being retained Mohit Sharma Mohit Sharma. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

Mohit Sharma announced his retirement from all formats of cricket on December 3, 2025. He was released by Delhi Capitals ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction after a quiet IPL 2025 season in which he took only two wickets in eight games.

Mohit’s professional career spanned nearly 14 years. He made his T20 debut in the IPL with Chennai Super Kings and represented India in 26 ODIs and eight T20Is between 2013 and 2015, picking up 37 wickets across limited-overs cricket.

Mohit initially started as a new-ball bowler for CSK, but later reinvented himself as a death-overs specialist. His late-career resurgence came with Gujarat Titans in 2023, where he picked up 27 wickets. After a relatively average IPL 2025 season, he was not retained by DC and decided to call time on his playing career across different formats of the game.

Kane Williamson Kane Williamson. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

Kane Williamson announced his retirement from T20 internationals on November 1, 2025, ending months of speculation about his playing future. The 35-year-old featured in 93 T20Is for New Zealand since his debut in October 2011. In the IPL, Williamson scored 2,128 runs, with his best season coming in 2018 when he amassed 735 runs in 17 games.

He was not picked in the IPL 2025 mega-auction and has now been appointed as Lucknow Super Giants’ strategic advisor. Williamson opted not to register for the mini-auction, marking the end of his IPL playing days.

Andre Russell

Andre Russell, a Kolkata Knight Riders legend, decided to retire from the cash-rich tournament after not being retained ahead of the 2026 season on November 30, 2025. Russell announced he would be joining KKR’s support staff as a power coach, citing that he does not wish to see himself donning any other team's jersey in the mega tournament.

Russell was part of KKR’s title-winning teams in 2014 and 2024 and was the IPL’s Most Valuable Player in 2019. Earlier, he retired from international cricket in July 2025, focusing on T20s after the 2019 World Cup. He was retained by KKR ahead of the 2025 mega-auction for INR 12 crore and in 133 IPL appearances for KKR, the right-handed batter scored 2,593 runs with 12 fifties at a strike rate of 174.96. The veteran now plans to channel his expertise off the field.

Kieron Pollard Kieron Pollard (Photo Source: Twitter)

Kieron Pollard, one of IPL’s most iconic players, announced his retirement from the league after an illustrious career on November 15, 2022. The all-rounder was acquired by Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2009 auction. While he has been Mumbai Indians’ batting coach, and has been leading the team in ILT20 for MI Emirates.

Pollard is the only West Indies cricketer to have played 100 T20Is and is second on the list for most sixes in T20 cricket (234). He has been Mumbai Indians’ batting coach since 2023, helping nurture young talent while transitioning away from active play.

Suresh Raina Suresh Raina. (Source - Getty Images)

Suresh Raina, the former India and Uttar Pradesh batter, announced his retirement from all formats on September 6, 2022 ending both his IPL and domestic career. Raina was a key figure for Chennai Super Kings, representing them for 11 seasons between 2008 and 2021. He won four IPL titles with CSK (2010, 2011, 2018, 2021) and remains their top scorer with 4,687 runs from 176 matches.

Raina was released by Chennai Super Kings ahead of the 2022 auction, after which no franchise picked him. Notably, he was the first Indian batter to score a century in all three international formats.