The IPL 2026 auction is around the corner. While everyone’s aware of the drama the player auction guarantees, the trade window has created more buzz this time around.
So, here’s the list of all confirmed player trades ahead of IPL 2026.
Sanju Samson to CSK, Ravindra Jadeja & Sam Curran to RR
The biggest trade of IPL 2026 has happened between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). CSK and RR have swapped Ravindra Jadeja-Sam Curran and Sanju Samson.
Samson will now don CSK’s yellow jersey, joining the five-time champions at INR 18 crore. He might be a perfect replacement for MS Dhoni in the upcoming seasons.
The keeper-batter played for RR in 12 seasons and even led them for five seasons. In between, he turned up for Delhi Capitals (DC) in 2016 and 2017.
Long-time CSK associate Jadeja will be back in the pink jersey. He joins his first IPL franchise, RR, at a revised fee of INR 14 crore.
Jadeja, too, was with CSK for 12 editions and led them briefly in 2022. He also represented Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011 and Gujarat Lions in 2016 and 2017.
Curran, who had a homecoming of sorts last season, also moves to RR along with Jadeja. The England all-rounder turned up for CSK and Punjab Kings in three seasons each. He joins his third franchise at INR 2.4 crore.
Mohammed Shami to LSG
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have traded Mohammed Shami to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). SRH had bought the out-of-favour Indian pacer ahead of the last season. Now he moves to LSG for INR 10 crore.
Before his stint with SRH, Shami represented Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2013, DC for four seasons (2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018), PBKS for three seasons (2019, 2020, and 2021), and GT for two seasons (2022 and 2023). Shami even won the purple cap for GT in their run to the 2023 final with 28 wickets.
Mayank Markande to MI
Mayank Markande will have a homecoming of sorts as he returns to Mumbai Indians (MI). KKR have traded the leg spinner to MI for INR 30 lakh.
Markande made his IPL debut with MI in 2018 and turned up for them in 2019 and 2022. In between, he played for RR in 2021. He represented SRH in 2023 and 2024 before KKR picked him up in 2025, though they didn’t give him a game.
Must Read | How Player Trade Works in IPL?
Shardul Thakur to MI
Shardul Thakur is another name that returns to MI. He was among the net bowlers for them between 2010 and 2012.
This is overall the third time Thakur has been traded from one team to another in the IPL. Back in 2017, PBKS traded him to Rising Pune Supergiant before he moved from DC to KKR in 2023. And now he moves from LSG to MI at INR 2 crore.
LSG had brought Thakur in as a replacement last season, and he played 10 matches, taking 13 scalps. Before that, he turned up for CSK in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024.
Sherfane Rutherford to MI
MI have traded in Sherafane Rutherford from GT for INR 2.6 crore. This will be his second stint with MI, although he didn’t play for them back in 2020.
The Caribbean batter started his IPL career with DC in 2019 before moving to MI in 2020. In 2022, Rutherford turned up for RCB, while he warmed the bench for KKR in 2024. Last season, he had a decent outing for GT with 291 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 157.29.
Arjun Tendulkar to LSG
The Tendulkars have long been associated with MI. But IPL 2026 will see Arjun Tendulkar, son of Sachin Tendulkar, turn up for LSG.
Arjun was in the MI camp from 2021 to 2025, though he made his debut only in 2023. The left-arm pacer played just five games for MI across 2023 and 2024. He now joins LSG at INR 30 lakh.
Read Next | 5 Reasons Why Sachin Tendulkar is the GOAT
Nitish Rana to DC
In another deal, RR have traded Nitish Rana to DC. He moves to his home franchise at INR 4.2 crore.
Rana started his IPL career with MI in 2016. After two seasons with MI, he moved to KKR, where he spent the next seven seasons. He even captained KKR in 2023 in the absence of Shreyas Iyer.
Donovan Ferreira to RR
DC and RR worked out another trade involving Donovan Ferreira. The South African all-rounder returns to RR after spending a season with DC.
Ferreira made his IPL debut for RR in 2024 and added one more cap that season. In the 2025 auction, DC bought him at INR 75 lakh, with his fee now increased to INR 1 crore.
Read Next | Why Were CSK and RR Banned for Two Years from IPL?
