Keeping a player in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is challenging. It requires careful planning, strategy, and sometimes hard decisions.
A wrong choice can hurt a team’s performance, turning a retained player into a liability if they don’t perform well. As teams prepare for IPL 2027, here are three players whose retention might not be wise.
1. Trent Boult (Mumbai Indians)
Trent Boult has been a key swing bowler for the Mumbai Indians, but his performance dipped in IPL 2026. In five matches, he only took two wickets and gave away 188 runs.
His economy rate of 11.62 was concerning, and his average of 94 runs per wicket shows his struggles. At 36, he may be past his peak, and without International play, his skills might not improve.
2. Matheesha Pathirana (Kolkata Knight Riders)
KKR’s decision to spend INR 18 crore on Matheesha Pathirana raised concerns, especially since Chennai Super Kings had released him due to injury issues. Unfortunately for KKR, this gamble didn’t pay off.
Pathirana bowled just eight balls before a hamstring injury ended his season. Keeping him would be risky, suggesting KKR hasn’t learned from previous mistakes.
3. Matt Short (Chennai Super Kings)
CSK’s interest in Matt Short during the IPL 2026 auction was surprising. With Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, and Ayush Mhatre already in the lineup, there was no need for more openers.
His addition upset the team balance and produced little benefit: three matches, 60 runs, an average of 20, and a strike rate of 117.64. While he could be useful for another team needing an opener, he doesn’t fit well with CSK’s current squad.