Top 10 Worst Release in IPL History – The Indian Premier League (IPL)  is a platform where players can showcase their potential. However, sometimes due to poor form or team combination, franchises release certain players before the auction. Later, when those players perform well for another team, it feels like a mistake. Today, we will talk about the worst release in IPL by the franchises over the years. We will see who those players are that the franchise has released and then go on to perform well for another team. So let’s begin.

Top 10 Worst Release in IPL History by the Franchises

• Chris Gayle Released by KKR

The first in this list is Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) releasing the ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle. Chris Gayle started his IPL career with KKR in 2009. He did a decent job of scoring 171 and 292 runs in the first two seasons. But, KKR released him before the IPL 2011 season and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) acquired him.

The funny thing is, that Chris Gayle went unsold in the IPL 2011 auction, but came in as a replacement for Dirk Nannes for RCB. From then, he didn’t look back. His best in the IPL came in RCB. He played for RCB since 2017 and scored 3163 runs with five hundred and 19 fifties. KKR not retaining Gayle is considered one of the worst release in IPL history.

• David Warner Released by SRH

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has only won one IPL title, and that too in the captaincy of David Warner. The Australian used to be a lone warrior sometimes for SRH in batting. He has the leadership skills and won the title in 2016 as captain of SRH. The franchise released him after a slight dip in his form in 2021. In 2022, Delhi Capitals (DC) acquired him and he did well with the bat in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

SRH releasing Warner did not just cost them on a batting front, but they lacked a leader until Pat Cummins took the reins in 2024. Warner also did well in the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup in Dubai. Australia won the tournament and David Warner became the Player of the Tournament.

• Shane Watson Released by RCB

Regarding Shane Watson, it is an interesting story. We can also say that Rajasthan Royals (RR) leaving out Watson after 2015 is one of the worst release in IPL history. But, he did not have a major impact with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the 2016-17 seasons. Rather, when RCB released him and he went to Chennai Super Kings (CSK), that’s where he has done well.

Shane Watson did well for RR for so many years, scoring runs and winning a title in 2008. But, when RCB released him and CSK acquired him in 2018, he did well to win a title for CSK. He scored a magnificent hundred in the IPL 2018 final to win the game against SRH. He also played well in the 2019 final, but unfortunately ended up on the losing side.

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• Yuzvendra Chahal Released by RCB

Yuzvendra Chahal is the highest wicket-taker in IPL history, as of April 13, 2025. His best in the tournament came when he started playing for RCB in 2014. He played for the franchise till 2021. In 2021, he took 18 wickets in the season but the franchise released him before the IPL 2022 auction.

Chahal used to be a match-winner for RCB with the ball over the years. In 2022, RR acquired him and he responded with 27, 21, and 18 wickets in the next three seasons. In an interview, Chahal also expressed him disappointment on RCB not retaining him.

As far as Yuzvendra Chahal is concerned, we can say that MI releasing Chahal and RCB getting him in 2014 is also one of the worst releases in the tournament’s history.

• Varun Chakravarthy Released by KXIP

Kings XI Punjab (now known as Punjab Kings) not retaining Varun Chakravarthy is one of the worst release in IPL history. Chakravarthy’s professional career is a roller coaster ride. He went on to play in the 2021 T20 WC but was not able to make an impact. In the last few seasons, he has done exceptionally well and even played for the Indian team in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Chakravarthy’s mystery in bowling has been vital for KKR over the years. Punjab released him after the 2019 IPL season and since 2020, he has been with the KKR. He won the title in 2024 with KKR and the Champions Trophy in 2025, playing an important role on both occasions.

• Jos Buttler Released by MI

In 2016, Mumbai Indians (MI) bought Jos Buttler for INR 3.8 crore. He was associated with the franchise for two years (till 2017). He has not performed well as per his standards in those two years. MI released him before the IPL 2018 auction and RR bought him for INR 4.4 crore.

Buttler was a big name in white-ball cricket already at that time, but his IPL numbers were not impressive. 2018 is the breakthrough IPL season for Jos Buttler and he becomes an IPL great while playing for RR. He played for the franchise till the 2024 season. Now, he is playing for Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2025. Maybe, in the future, we will say that RR releasing Buttler is one of the worst release in IPL history. But, MI could regret releasing Buttler in 2018.

• KL Rahul Released by RCB

KL Rahul started his IPL career with RCB in 2013. In 2014-15 seasons, he played for SRH and then again joined RCB in 2016. It was not that bad a season for KL Rahul for RCB in 2016. He scored 397 runs at an average of 44.11 and a strike rate of almost 147. But, RCB released him before the 2017 season.

KL Rahul missed the IPL 2017 due to injury, and Kings XI Punjab (now known as Punjab Kings) acquired him for INR 11 crore during the IPL 2018 auction. Rahul has been an outstanding performer for PBKS over the years. He scored runs consistently for Punjab from 2018 to 2021. In those four years with Punjab, he scored 659, 593, 670, and 626 runs in the seasons.

If RCB could have retained Rahul, he could have been a great performer for the franchise. Currently, he is playing for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025. In the last three seasons (2022-24), he played for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Just like Buttler’s case, we might say in the future that LSG releasing Rahul is one of the worst release in IPL history. But, it is too early. Let’s see how Rahul does for DC in the season.

• Andre Russell Released by DD

There was a time when Delhi Daredevils (now known as Delhi Capitals) used to have players like Andre Russell, AB de Villiers, etc. He started his IPL career with Delhi in 2012. He played for the franchise till 2013 before KKR acquired him for the IPL 2014 season.

Ever since he has played for KKR, he has won two IPL titles; in 2014 and 2024. He has created a huge impact for KKR, both with his bat and ball over the years. He has won so many crunch games for KKR over the years. DD will now regret releasing Andre Russell after 2013.

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• Suryakumar Yadav Released by KKR

Suryakumar Yadav started his IPL career with MI in 2012 and associated with the franchise for two years. He only played just one game in those two years and KKR acquired him before the IPL 2014 season. He used to bat lower down the order in KKR. Although he has played a few cameos in KKR, his utility was getting compromised. Eventually, KKR released Suryakumar Yadav before the 2018 season and MI bought him for the next season.

Suryakumar Yadav’s best in the IPL came for MI when he started batting higher up the order. He also went on to play for India and became a successful T20 batter over the years. KKR releasing Surya is one of the worst release in IPL history.

• AB de Villiers Released by DD

Last but not least, AB de Villiers released by Delhi Daredevils (DD) is one of the ‘WORST’ release in IPL history. AB de Villiers did well in the 2009 season for DD, scoring 465 runs at an average of 51.67 and a strike rate of almost 131. He scored three fifties and a hundred in that season. Still, DD could not recognize the potential of someone like AB de Villiers who became the legend of world cricket in the future.

AB de Villiers went to RCB and became an IPL great over the years. He has won so many games for RCB, even those that were not possible. He played his last IPL game in 2021.

CONCLUSION

So these are a few players that we think are the worst release in IPL history. There are a few more examples like Shikhar Dhawan released by SRH, Faf du Plessis released by CSK, etc, but these 10 are the worst as per our understanding of the game.

What’s your take? According to you, which one was the worst release in IPL history? Comment your opinion below. Thank you for reading. We hope you enjoyed it. Keep following us for the latest updates, news, analysis, stories, opinions, previews, insights, reviews, and more.