3 teams who can pick Andre Russell in the IPL 2026 auction
On November 15, all 10 IPL franchises officially submitted their retained and released players lists. This list included some shocking names, who will now be involved in bidding wars during the IPL Auction 2026, set to be held in Saudi Arabia on December 16, 2025.
Among the release players, one of the biggest surprises was Andre Russell, who had been playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders from 2014 to 2025. He joined the 3-time IPL champions in 2014 for just 60 lakh, while he was retained last time for IPL 2025 worth Rs 12 crore. It was very hard to digest his release from KKR. Well, Russell might be the hot pick of the IPL 2026 Auction, where several franchises are eyeing getting him in their squad. In this article, we’re going to learn about the top 3 franchises that will pick Andre Russell in the IPL Auction 2026.
1. Chennai Super Kings
The Chennai Super Kings could opt for Andre Russell in the auction. Russell has every quality CSK looks for in a big hitter and seasoned finisher. The CSK team has consistently chosen experience over the years, and they will pursue this seasoned all-rounder once more.
After Jadeja’s exclusion, Russell could become the franchise's first pick as they search for the perfect all-around player. This team’s batting order looks good with players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ayush Mhatre, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis, and MS Dhoni, and if Russell joins them, CSK’s combination could look complete. Remember, CSK has the second-highest purse (INR 43.4 cr) during the auction.
2. Kolkata Knight Riders
The Kolkata Knight Riders will have the highest purse (INR 64.3 cr) in the IPL auction 2026, and they might go for Andre Russell once again. Russell has been an important part of KKR’s two major IPL victories (IPL 2014 and IPL 2023). Apart from these 2 title victories, thanks to Russell, KKR claimed many matches. For KKR, Russell scored 2593 runs and took 122 wickets. KKR already knows Andre Russell’s value, and they will go all in for him in the auction.
It is possible that Andre Russell’s release was a strategic move to increase purse value for the mini-auction? However, it will not be easy for CSK to reclaim Andre Russell in the IPL Auction 2026. They are likely to face strong competition in a bidding war for Russell from Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and possibly Lucknow Super Giants.
3. Sunrisers Hyderabad
Sunrisers Hyderabad, the winner of the 2016 IPL and the runners-up of the IPL 2018 & 2024, is looking like one of the best teams ahead of the IPL 2025. However, teams were suddenly outclassed after the promising start in the last edition. They finished in 6th position and didn’t qualify for the playoffs. The team has star players like Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Pat Cummins.
Despite this strong core, the team lacked a reliable finisher throughout the season, which cost them crucial matches. Russell could be the answer to that problem. If SRH manages to pick Russell in the auction, they would become one of the hot contenders for the upcoming IPL 2026 title.
