Many players have come and gone in the 19-year history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, the departure of former veterans creates an opportunity for new, hungry players to dominate the tournament.
The IPL has seen many players retire from the tournament, leaving a lasting mark in the history of the world's greatest franchise tournament. These include some names like Lasith Malinga, Sachin Tendulkar, David Warner and Shane Warne.
However, it is worth noting that not every player who misses the 2026 IPL will never return. Sometimes players who went unsold in the auction may return to a certain franchise midway through the competition as injury replacements.
Here are 5 players who played in the 2025 IPL but are missing from the 2026 edition
5. Jonny Bairstow- England
jonny bairstow Has always been on the verge of missing out on the Indian Premier League (IPL). The England wicketkeeper went unsold during the 2025 auction but was later bought by Mumbai Indians as a replacement for Will Jacks in the latter stages of the tournament.
The explosive batsman went unsold in the recent mini-auction, which means it could be the end of his IPL career.
Bairstow scored 1,674 runs in 52 matches for three franchises – Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians – in the world's biggest franchise tournament. He scored two centuries, with his most recent being against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, where his unbeaten 108 off 48 balls helped Punjab Kings chase down 262.
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