IPL Trades 2025.Every IPL season, we see the glitz and glamour of the mega auction. Players go under the hammer, franchises battle with their paddles, and records get broken. But there’s another way teams build their squads that doesn’t get as much attention – the trade window.
And trust me, some of the biggest moves in IPL history have happened not at the auction table, but through quiet negotiations between franchises.
So, What Exactly Is This Trade Window?
Think of it like this – if the auction is like shopping at a big mall where everyone’s competing for the same stuff, trading is like swapping things directly with your friend. Much simpler, much quieter.
The IPL opens the trade window twice. First, it opens a month after the season ends and stays open until a week before the auction. Then it opens again after the auction and runs until a month before the new season starts. This gives teams plenty of time to make their moves.
There are two ways to trade. You can do an all-cash deal where one team basically buys a player from another team by paying what that player cost at the auction. Or you can do a swap – exchange one player for another, with cash making up any difference in their prices.
The Trades That Changed Everything
When Hardik Went Back Home
Let’s talk about the biggest trade bomb in recent years. Before IPL 2024, Hardik Pandya left Gujarat Titans – the team he had just led to a championship – to go back to Mumbai Indians. It was an all-cash deal worth Rs 15 crore.
People were shocked. Here was a captain walking away from his title-winning team. But Gujarat’s cricket director Vikram Solanki later revealed that Hardik had asked to go back to Mumbai. Sometimes, home just calls you back.
Here’s the best part – no player can be traded without their permission. So if you’re happy where you are, you’re staying put. Simple as that.
The Cameron Green Domino Effect
To bring Hardik in, Mumbai had to let Cameron Green go. So they traded him to Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs 17.5 crore. That’s one of the priciest trades ever in IPL history.
And you know what? It worked out well for RCB. Green smashed 255 runs and picked up 10 wickets in IPL 2024. Sometimes the player you get in a trade becomes exactly what you needed.
What’s Happening Right Now
Just recently, Mumbai Indians got Shardul Thakur from Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 2 crore. Shardul brings that perfect mix – he can bowl in tough situations and whack a few sixes when you need them.
Mumbai also picked up Sherfane Rutherford from Gujarat Titans for Rs 2.6 crore. They’re clearly not messing around after a couple of disappointing seasons.
The Sanju Samson Mystery
Right now, everyone’s talking about one name – Sanju Samson. Word on the street is that Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings are both interested in getting Rajasthan’s captain. After he scored 539 runs at an average of 48.09 in IPL 2025, who can blame them?
The retention deadline is November 15, 2025, and the trade window is open until early December. So we might just see one of the biggest trades in IPL history if Samson moves. Keep your eyes peeled.
Trades That We Still Talk About
Over the years, some trades have literally changed the course of franchises:
Trent Boult to Mumbai (2020): Delhi traded Boult to Mumbai for Rs 3.2 crore. He took 25 wickets and helped them win the championship that very year. Talk about instant impact.
Harshal Patel to RCB (2021): RCB got Harshal from Delhi, and he went absolutely ballistic with 32 wickets in the 2021 season. That’s tied for the most wickets ever in a single IPL season.
Quinton de Kock to Mumbai (2019): After a forgettable time at RCB, de Kock was traded to Mumbai for Rs 2.8 crore. He formed a deadly opening partnership with Rohit Sharma and won two titles with them.
Why Do Teams Love Trading?
There are some real smart reasons why franchises use trades:
You save money: Instead of fighting with other teams at the auction and driving prices up, you can get a player at his original price. Much more budget-friendly.
You get exactly who you want: At an auction, you hope your target player is available. With trades, you go directly after who you need.
You keep relationships healthy: If a player wants to move, trading them shows respect. And in IPL, today’s traded player might come back to you in a future auction, so staying on good terms matters.
You plan better for auctions: By trading before the auction, you fill your obvious gaps early. Then you can focus your auction money on specific remaining needs.
The IPL has to approve every trade – they’re like the referees making sure everything’s fair. If two teams want the same player, the team that owns him gets to choose where he goes.
There’s also something called a “transfer fee” which is extra money beyond the player’s price. It’s negotiated between the franchises and kept secret. Players can get up to half of this fee, depending on their deal with the selling team.
What’s Coming Next?
With the retention deadline just around the corner on November 15, 2025, things are about to get interesting. Teams are looking at their squads and asking tough questions – do we stick with what we have, or do we shake things up?
Honestly, I think trades are still underused in the IPL. Most teams still prefer the drama of auctions. But as franchises get smarter and players get more say in their careers, we’re going to see more and more action in the trade window.
And you know what? I find trades even more interesting than auctions sometimes. Every trade tells a story – someone wanting to go home, a team taking a chance on a player who didn’t click elsewhere, or franchises making calculated bets on their championship dreams.
In cricket’s richest league, these behind-the-scenes moves often matter just as much as the blockbuster auction buys. They’re the chess moves that set up the checkmate.
IPL 2026 Trades: The Big Moves That Have Already Happened
While everyone’s waiting for the mega auction in December, some teams aren’t sitting idle. The trade window is buzzing with activity, and a few deals have already been sealed. Here’s what’s happened so far.
The Confirmed Trades
Shardul Thakur Joins Mumbai Indians
The first official trade of the season saw Shardul Thakur move from Lucknow Super Giants to Mumbai Indians for Rs 2 crore. Mumbai needed someone who could bowl in tough situations and chip in with the bat down the order. Shardul fits that bill perfectly.
After a couple of disappointing seasons, MI are clearly not taking any chances. They’re rebuilding aggressively, and Shardul gives them that experience and versatility they’ve been missing.
Sherfane Rutherford Switches to Mumbai
Mumbai didn’t stop at Shardul. They also brought in Sherfane Rutherford from Gujarat Titans for Rs 2.6 crore. The West Indian can smash it in the death overs and gives you an option with the ball too.
Gujarat letting him go is a bit surprising, but they probably have their own plans for the auction. For Mumbai, it’s another piece in their puzzle as they try to get back to winning ways.
The Blockbuster Deal Everyone’s Talking About
Sanju Samson to CSK – The Mega Swap
Now this is the big one. Reports suggest that Sanju Samson is moving from Rajasthan Royals to Chennai Super Kings in a massive three-player swap deal. Going the other way are Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to Rajasthan.
If this goes through, it’ll be the biggest trade in IPL history. We’re talking about a captain, one of India’s best all-rounders, and an England star all changing teams in one deal.
All three players have reportedly signed consent forms, and the BCCI has started the 48-hour formalization process. So this looks pretty much done, just waiting for the official stamp.
Why This Trade Makes Sense
For Chennai Super Kings: They get a young, explosive wicketkeeper-batter who can captain the side. With MS Dhoni confirmed to play IPL 2026, Samson could be groomed as the next leader while learning from the master himself.
For Rajasthan Royals: They get Jadeja, who brings that all-round balance and fielding brilliance. Plus Sam Curran adds depth to their overseas options. With Kumar Sangakkara returning as head coach, they’re clearly looking to rebuild.
The trade discussions went on for weeks. Delhi Capitals were also interested and offered Tristan Stubbs plus an uncapped Indian player, but negotiations stalled when RR demanded Samir Rizvi in return, which DC declined. That’s when CSK swooped back in.
What’s Still Brewing
The trade window is open until early December, and there are plenty of rumors flying around:
Glenn Maxwell to LSG? After three tough seasons with RCB and PBKS, Maxwell might be heading to Lucknow Super Giants. He’s the kind of match-winner LSG have been missing.
Arjun Tendulkar on the Move? Mumbai Indians and LSG are apparently discussing moving Arjun Tendulkar, likely as a separate all-cash deal. Talks are still ongoing.
Mohammed Shami Trade Talks: With Shami released by SRH, there’s chatter about him being traded before the auction. LSG and DC are both keeping an eye on this situation.
What to Watch Next
With the IPL 2026 auction scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, the next few weeks are crucial. Teams are making their final calculations, figuring out who stays and who goes.
The Samson-Jadeja-Curran trade, if it goes through, will set the tone for how aggressive other franchises get. Once that deal is official, expect more dominoes to fall.
Keep your eyes on the news because in IPL, things can change overnight. One day a player is settled with his team, the next day he’s packing his bags for a new franchise. That’s the beauty and drama of the trade window.
