IPL 2026 Player Trade Updates

Summary: Buzz builds around IPL 2026 trades as early deals hint at a highly competitive season ahead.

With the upcoming IPL 2026 auction, the trading window has begun with excitement. Some teams have subtly changed their core, while others appear to be planning something significant out of sight. Here’s a quick look at how the early trade action is shaping the next season.

The Mumbai Indians have kicked things off with a couple of strong, strategic picks. Shardul Thakur is officially moving from Lucknow Super Giants to Mumbai, giving MI some much-needed depth in the middle overs and a handy lower-order bat. Along with him, Sherfane Rutherford has joined the squad from the Gujarat Titans, adding that explosive finishing ability MI often relies on.

The biggest buzz, though, is around a possible blockbuster swap. There’s chatter about Sanju Samson potentially joining Chennai Super Kings, while Ravindra Jadeja could make his way to Rajasthan Royals—a move that would completely shift the dynamics of both sides. Some reports even claim Sam Curran might be part of that mega deal, though nothing is confirmed yet.

Several other names are floating around, too. Mohammad Shami, Arjun Tendulkar, Nitish Rana, and Donovan Ferreira are reportedly being discussed in trades involving Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals. These aren’t confirmed moves, but they’ve definitely added fuel to the pre-auction buzz.

The IPL has also updated its trade rules for the season: only retained players can be traded, and no deal can go through without the player agreeing to it. So whatever happens next—especially in those rumoured swap deals—will depend on both the franchise strategy and the players’ comfort.

The trade window is still open, which means more surprises are definitely on the way. For now, the early moves hint at one thing: IPL 2026 is gearing up to be anything but predictable.