IPL 2026 Fast Bowlers Best Retention List for All 10 Teams
From Jasprit Bumrah to Arshdeep Singh, discover the best predicted fast bowlers retention list for all 10 teams ahead of the IPL 2026 Mini Auction.
As we approach the IPL 2026 Mini Auction, we are witnessing a lot of clarity in teams about how teams must be strategizing with their retentions and releases ahead of the IPL 2026 Auction. Given this year, we will be witnessing a Mini Auction; teams will not make behemoth changes to their squad. Most teams will retain a core of players, and release only those players who don’t add much value to the squad, and are redundant.
Among the categories of players, Fast bowling is an area where teams often make the fewest changes. It’s very difficult to build a core of fast bowlers with many problems like form, International commitments, injuries, etc. But once a team overcomes these changes, and is able to build a fast bowling core, teams will rarely remove fast bowlers from their side. Hence, many big names will be retained by the teams for IPL 2026.
The IPL witnesses many quality fast bowlers in the tournament. Right from the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, etc., among Indian pacers, we see Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Trent Boult, etc., among Overseas pacers. So, with just a few months left for the Auction, let’s analyse the current squad for all 10 teams, and find out the best predicted fast bowlers retention list ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 Mini Auction.
IPL 2026 Fast Bowlers Best Retention List for All 10 Teams
IPL 2026 Best Fast Bowlers Retention List for Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
- Matheesha Pathirana (o)
- Nathan Ellis (o)
- Sam Curran (o)
- Anshul Kamboj
- Khaleel Ahmed
- Ramkrishna Ghosh
- Shivam Dube
The CSK team should retain a total of seven fast bowlers ahead of the IPL 2026 Auction. If there was one area where CSK excelled in IPL 2025, it was their bowling attack. Along with their world-class spinners, CSK also had a strong pool of pace bowlers, and many of them are likely to be retained for the next season. Among Indian pacers, CSK are expected to back Khaleel Ahmed and Anshul Kamboj, both of whom bring variety and depth to the attack. Meanwhile, on the overseas front, the franchise is likely to continue with Matheesha Pathirana, Nathan Ellis, and Sam Curran, all of whom were consistent performers in IPL 2025. With this balanced mix of Indian and overseas pacers, CSK’s pace attack looks well-rounded for IPL 2026, allowing them to once again build their bowling strength around a solid core.
IPL 2026 Best Fast Retention Bowlers List for Delhi Capitals (DC)
- Mitchell Starc (o)
- Mukesh Kumar
- T Natarajan
The Delhi Capitals team is expected to retain only three fast bowlers ahead of the IPL 2026 Auction. The franchise already looked thin on experienced pacers in IPL 2025, and given the lack of quality among their other inexperienced options, DC are likely to finalise just three key names. The pacers expected to be retained are Mitchell Starc, Mukesh Kumar, and T Natarajan. While there may be some doubts over T Natarajan, who was hardly utilised in IPL 2025, his left-arm variation and death-bowling ability make it unlikely that the Delhi Capitals will release him. Given the lack of more pacers, the Delhi Capitals team management is likely to focus on adding more quality pacers to their side.
IPL 2026 Best Fast Bowlers Retention List for Gujarat Titans (GT)
- Kagiso Rabada (o)
- Gerald Coetzee (o)
- Arshad Khan
- Kulwant Kejroliya
- Mohammed Siraj
- Prasidh Krishna
The Gujarat Titans team should retain a total of six fast bowlers ahead of the IPL 2026 Auction. Over the years, GT have built a solid pace attack, and going into the new season, they are expected to continue backing their proven performers as well as upcoming talents. Leading the Indian pace department will be Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, two bowlers who bring both new-ball and death-over skills. Alongside them, the team is likely to retain Kulwant Kejroliya and Arshad Khan, who showed promise as emerging pacers in IPL 2025.
From the overseas contingent, Kagiso Rabada missed IPL 2025 due to unavailability, but given his stature as a world-class fast bowler, GT will find it hard to release him. In addition, Gerald Coetzee is another name the franchise should back as a valuable backup pacer. With this strong core of Indian and overseas fast bowlers, the Gujarat Titans’ pace attack looks balanced and ready for IPL 2026, giving them plenty of options for different match conditions.
IPL 2026 Best Fast Bowlers Retention List for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
- Andre Russell (o)
- Anrich Nortje (o)
- Harshit Rana
- Umran Malik
- Vaibhav Arora
The KKR team should retain only five fast bowlers ahead of the IPL 2026 Auction. In IPL 2025, KKR placed their trust in the young pace duo of Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora, and both are expected to remain key figures for the upcoming season. Another important name in the Indian pace unit is Umran Malik, who unfortunately missed IPL 2025 due to injury. With his return, KKR will get an extra edge in the speed department going into IPL 2026.
From the overseas contingent, Andre Russell continues to be a vital all-rounder option who can also contribute with the ball, while Anrich Nortje remains one of the most reliable overseas fast bowlers in the squad. With this mix of youth, pace, and overseas experience, the KKR pace attack for IPL 2026 looks compact but effective, though the team may still need to invest in additional backups during the auction.
IPL 2026 Best Fast Bowlers Retention List for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
- Mitchell Marsh (o)
- Will O’Rourke (o)
- Akash Deep
- Akash Singh
- Avesh Khan
- Prince Yadav
- Shardul Thakur
The LSG team is expected to retain a total of seven fast bowlers ahead of the IPL 2026 Auction. Over the past few seasons, LSG have invested heavily in Indian pacers, with almost 8-10 names in the squad. However, not all are likely to continue for IPL 2026, as the team is expected to release two injury-prone pacers – Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan. With these releases, the LSG team is likely to retain a strong Indian core of fast bowlers, including Akash Deep, Avesh Khan, and Prince Yadav. Meanwhile, among overseas names, Mitchell Marsh and Will O’Rourke are expected to continue as retained pacers for IPL 2026. This blend of reliable Indian pacers and experienced overseas quicks gives Lucknow Super Giants a well-rounded pace attack heading into IPL 2026.
IPL 2026 Best Fast Bowlers Retention List for Mumbai Indians (MI)
- Corbin Bosch (o)
- Trent Boult (o)
- Arjun Tendulkar
- Ashwani Kumar
- Deepak Chahar
- Hardik Pandya
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Raj Bawa
The Mumbai Indians team is expected to retain a total of eight fast bowlers ahead of the IPL 2026 Auction. While MI have several pace options in their squad, only a few of them are specialist fast bowlers. Among the frontline pacers, MI are likely to retain Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Aashwani Kumar, and Deepak Chahar – a mix of international quality and proven Indian talent. Alongside them, the Mumbai Indians team is also set to retain four pace-bowling all-rounders – Corbin Bosch, Arjun Tendulkar, Hardik Pandya, and Raj Bawa – who provide balance to both the batting and bowling departments. With this blend of world-class pacers and pace-bowling all-rounders, the Mumbai Indians are building a strong pace unit that could once again dominate in IPL 2026.
IPL 2026 Best Fast Bowlers Retention List for Punjab Kings (PBKS)
- Azmatullah Omarzai (o)
- Lockie Ferguson (o)
- Marco Jansen (o)
- Marcus Stoinis (o)
- Arshdeep Singh
- Kuldeep Sen
- Vyshak Vijaykumar
- Yash Thakur
The Punjab Kings team is expected to retain a total of eight fast bowlers ahead of the IPL 2026 Auction. The franchise has built a solid mix of overseas and Indian pacers who can provide both variety and depth in their pace attack. Among the overseas pacers, PBKS are likely to retain Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Marcus Stoinis, and Azmatullah Omarzai – four strong names who bring experience and versatility. On the Indian front, PBKS have reliable fast bowlers in Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Sen, Vyshak Vijaykumar, and Yash Thakur. With this balanced combination of overseas firepower and Indian talent, the Punjab Kings look set to maintain a strong fast-bowling unit for IPL 2026.
IPL 2026 Best Retained Fast Bowlers Retention List for Rajasthan Royals (RR)
- Jofra Archer (o)
- Kwena Maphaka (o)
- Nandre Burger (o)
- Akash Madhwal
- Sandeep Sharma
- Tushar Deshpande
- Yudhvir Charak
The Rajasthan Royals team is likely to retain seven fast bowlers ahead of the IPL 2026 Auction. The franchise invested heavily in overseas pacers during IPL 2025, but may release Fazalhaq Farooqi before the auction. However, they are expected to continue with three strong overseas options – Jofra Archer, Kwena Maphaka, and Nandre Burger. Among Indian fast bowlers, RR have reliable names such as Akash Madhwal, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, and Yudhvir Charak. This combination of overseas firepower and consistent Indian pacers gives RR a balanced and versatile pace attack for IPL 2026.
IPL 2026 Best Fast Bowlers Retention List for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
- Josh Hazlewood (o)
- Lungi Ngidi (o)
- Nuwan Thushara (o)
- Romario Shephard (o)
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Rasikh Dar
- Yash Dayal
The defending champions, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team, is expected to retain seven fast bowlers ahead of the IPL 2026 Auction. Among the most notable retentions, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Yash Dayal stand out, as they formed the backbone of RCB’s pace attack, and featured in most matches whenever they were fit. Along with these three frontline pacers, the franchise should also look to retain Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Rasikh Dar, and Romario Shepherd as reliable backup options. With this mix of overseas experience and Indian domestic talent, RCB can ensure strong bowling depth and balance in their squad for IPL 2026.
IPL 2026 Best Fast Bowlers Retention List for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
- Ehsan Malinga (o)
- Pat Cummins (o)
- Harshal Patel
- Jaydev Unadkat
- Nitish Reddy
- Simarjeet Singh
The SRH team is expected to retain six fast bowlers ahead of the IPL 2026 Auction. The biggest challenge for the franchise is deciding whether to continue with Mohammed Shami or not. Since his comeback, Shami has looked ordinary with the ball, raising doubts about his effectiveness. Considering his high price tag, it seems practical for SRH to release him before the mini auction. Fortunately, SRH already have strong backups in the squad, making this decision slightly easier for management. Among retentions, SRH have two solid overseas pacers, Pat Cummins and Ehsan Malinga. They also have four Indian fast bowlers, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Simarjeet Singh, and Nitish Reddy. These bowlers bring balance and depth to the SRH pace attack for IPL 2026.
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