Cricket lovers, get ready! The IPL 2026 trade actions are going crazy, Jadeja is heading to RR, and Samson is joining CSK in huge deals that change everything! Check out the big confirmed trades, team changes (SRH’s ₹25.5 Cr budget leads the way), squad updates for MI, CSK, and RCB, and all 10 teams. Don’t miss the Dec 16-17 Abu Dhabi auction madness with 350 players and a total of ₹237.55 Cr on the line! This guide covers everything from the RTM drama to fantasy cricket highlights, your go-to guide for all the excitement before the big season starts.
IPL 2026 Trade Window Rules and Timeline
In 2026, the IPL will have a period where teams will be allowed to trade players before they begin preparing for the next season. This timeframe will be referred to as the ‘Trade Period’ and will begin immediately following the month-long player retention period that ends on October 31, 2025.
Each IPL franchise will have a cap of six trades per franchise during the Trade Period; however, franchises cannot use cash in their trades with other competing franchises in order to ensure that all trades remain equitable.
All trades made during the Trade Period must adhere to the following guidelines regarding the monetary impact of trading players based on the players’ status and previous valuation by their current franchise (e.g., Uncapped players = Base Price ($), Capped players = Previous Sale Price ($). Each franchise may trade two (2) RTM cards.
Confirmed Trade: Full List of IPL 2026 Trade Players
| Player | Role | From Team | To Team | Fee |
| Ravindra Jadeja | Senior All-rounder | CSK | RR | Rs. 14 Cr (revised) |
| Sanju Samson | Wicketkeeper-Batter | RR | CSK | Rs. 18 Cr (existing) |
| Sam Curran | All-rounder | CSK | RR | Rs. 2.4 Cr (existing) |
| Mohd Shami | Veteran Fast Bowler | SRH | LSG | Rs. 10 Cr (existing) |
| Mayank Markande | Leg-spinner | KKR | MI | Rs. 0.30 Cr (existing) |
| Arjun Tendulkar | Bowling All-rounder | MI | LSG | Rs. 0.30 Cr (existing) |
| Nitish Rana | Left-handed Batter | RR | DC | Rs. 4.2 Cr (existing) |
| Donovan Ferreira | All-rounder | DC | RR | Rs. 1 Cr (revised) |
Team-by-Team Breakdown: Squad Overhauls
Mumbai Indians (MI)
Purse Available: Rs. 18.85 Cr
The Mumbai Indians acquired Mayank Markande from KKR. Other than that, the team retained Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, and Bumrah and released 9 players. The main focus of the team is on the spinners and finishers, and retaining their best players.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
Purse Available: Rs. 14 Cr
CSK acquired Sanju Samson from RR. They lost their most powerful player, Ravindra Jadeja & Sam Curran to RR. This is quite shocking for all the CSK’s fans. The team retained Ruturaj Gaikwad.
Royal Challenger Bengaluru (RCB)
Purse Available: Rs. 16.4 Cr
There was no major trade in RCB. The team retained their star player, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar and more. They have a good amount of purse left, which they can use for acquiring pacers.
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Purse Available: Rs. 18 Cr
RR acquired the most amazing player from CSK: Jadeja, and then gained Ferreira from DC. They lost Sanju Samson to CSK. The team retained their star player, Yashaswi Jaiswal.
Delhi Capitals (DC)
Purse Available: Rs. 12 Cr
DC gained Nitish Rana from RR and lost Ferreira to RR. The team retained Axar Patel, Starc.
Gujarat Titans (GT)
Purse Available: Rs. 24 Cr
GT lost, Washington Sundar and Rutherford. They retained their stars Shubman Gill & Rashid Khan.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Purse Available: Rs. 25.5 Cr
The team gained Sundar from GT. They lost Shami to LSG and retained their power Head & Cummins.
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Purse Available: Rs. 11.5 Cr
There were no big trades in the team. They retained Arshdeep and focused majorly on batsmen.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Purse Available: Rs. 22.95 Cr
The team gained Shami from SRH and Arjun Tendulkar from MI.
IPL 2026 Auction: Preview
The IPL 2026 auction will take place on December 16-17, 2025, in Abu Dhabi. Out of 1,390 players registered for the auction, 350 players (240 players from India) have been selected to participate. There will be a base price of ₹2 crore for each of the 40 players selected. Teams will be able to fill 77 positions with a total budget of ₹237.55 crore. The current number of players retained by each franchise is 173, including 49 overseas players. Franchises can retain a maximum of 25 players in their squad.
| Aspect | Details |
| Auction Dates | December 16-17, 2025 |
| Venue | Abu Dhabi |
| Players Registered | 1,390 |
| Shortlisted Players | 350 (240 Indians) |
| Top Base Price Players | 40 at ₹2 Cr each |
| Slots to Fill | 77 across 10 teams |
| Total Budget | ₹237.55 Cr |
| Retained Players | 173 (49 overseas) |
| Max Squad Size | 25 players per franchise |
Some of the top players that are likely to be highly sought after include Cameron Green, Liam Livingstone, Venkatesh Iyer, Matheesha Pathirana and Wanindu Hasaranga, all of whom have been included in the “top reserve” category. It is anticipated that franchises such as SRH and GT will aggressively bid on these players. Additionally, there may also be a great deal of competition for players who have yet to play in the league, and all-rounders such as Ravi Bishnoi.
There will also be a lot of excitement surrounding the auction due to the use of the Right To Match cards (RTM cards) that will allow franchises to bid on high-profile players such as Klaasen or Starc.
The two richest franchises going into the IPL 2026 auction are GT (₹24 crore plus) and SRH (₹25.5 crore). Conversely, franchises with less money, such as DC (₹21.8 crore), will likely target players who have the best value for their team. In summary, it is expected that a substantial number of bids will occur during…
Impact of Players’ Trade on IPL 2026 Season
Trades like the Jadeja-Samson-Currant group have made the competition more balanced, helping CSK improve their batting leadership while giving RR strong all-round options for controlling the middle overs. MI’s new signings, Markande and Thakur, add more spin and death bowling strength, putting them in a good position to do well on Wankhede pitches. However, LSG is missing the pace and bite that Shami brought without him.
LSG now has Shami’s experience to go with their kept fast bowlers, which is important for new-ball swing in the Ekana Stadium conditions. DC has Rana to provide stability after losing Shaw, which helps Axar Patel in leading the team, especially on spin-friendly Delhi pitches. RR might face some short-term issues without Samson, but the Jadeja-Curran combination could energise the younger players like Jaiswal for playoff chances.
Overall, the trades are making the teams more equal: MI and CSK are getting stronger, while RR and LSG are rebuilding quickly. Expect more runs as more all-rounders join the teams, and fantasy points could go up because of motivated players like Samson, who is now the CSK captain. Spin-focused auctions will also come into play, testing the newly traded fast bowlers in the powerplay overs.
Mark this moment and grab your snacks; the 2026 IPL is just around the corner. What do you think is going to happen? Let us know below in the comments!
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