IPL 2026 Trade Window Heats Up as Top Teams Swap Big Stars: Full List of Major Moves
The IPL 2026 trade window has turned into one of the most dramatic pre-auction periods in recent years. With the mini-auction approaching and the player-retention deadline of 15 November drawing closer, franchises are working aggressively to plug gaps, strengthen their squads, and release surplus players. Among all teams, Mumbai Indians (MI), Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have emerged as the most active participants in this year’s trading cycle.

CSK–RR Trade Stuns the Cricket World
According to multiple media reports, the biggest headline of this trade window involves a stunning swap between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. In one of the most unexpected moves, CSK have acquired star wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson. In return, Chennai have parted ways with two key players—Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran—both of whom will now join Rajasthan Royals.

Jadeja’s departure, in particular, has sent shockwaves across the fanbase. He has been one of CSK’s most successful and dependable match-winners for years. Meanwhile, Sam Curran, known for his all-round capabilities, adds significant depth to Rajasthan’s balance. Though the trade may boost CSK’s leadership and brand value, former India cricketer R. Ashwin has expressed doubts about whether the move addresses the team’s core on-field needs.

Arjun Tendulkar Heads to a New Franchise
Mumbai Indians, known for their sharp decision-making during transfer windows, have also been extremely busy. They have brought in Sherfane Rutherford from Gujarat Titans and Shardul Thakur from Lucknow Super Giants. At the same time, MI have traded Arjun Tendulkar to LSG for ₹30 lakh, marking a new chapter in the young all-rounder’s IPL career.

Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami, who played for Sunrisers Hyderabad last season, is also on the move after being traded to a new team, though the final destination has yet to be officially announced.

Key Players Likely to Be Released Before Auction
As speculation intensifies, several high-profile players face the possibility of being released ahead of the mini-auction. Big names such as Venkatesh Iyer—who fetched ₹23.75 crore in a previous mega auction—Liam Livingstone, and Devon Conway are reportedly on the potential release radar. Since teams have been given full freedom to retain any number of players this season, the list of releases is expected to vary widely across franchises.

Despite that flexibility, every franchise must adhere to two fixed rules:

• Each squad must include a minimum of 18 and a maximum of 25 players.
• The overall squad purse cannot exceed ₹120 crore.

As a result, several teams are preparing to offload players to streamline their budgets.

Probable Release List of All IPL Teams for 2026
Chennai Super Kings (CSK): Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Devon Conway, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Gopal, Nathan Ellis, Mukesh Choudhary, Sheikh Rasheed
Gujarat Titans (GT): Jayant Yadav, Dasun Shanaka, Karim Janat, Manav Suthar, Kulwant Khejroliya, Kumar Kushagra, Gurnoor Brar
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Quinton de Kock, Venkatesh Iyer, Anrich Nortje, Moeen Ali, Spencer Johnson, Manish Pandey, Chetan Sakariya
Mumbai Indians (MI): Reece Topley, Karn Sharma, Lizard Williams, Raghu Sharma, Satyanarayana Raju
Delhi Capitals (DC): T. Natarajan, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Harry Brook, Donavon Ferreira, Dushmantha Chameera
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Salam, Tim Seifert, Swapnil Singh, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): Mohammed Shami, Abhinav Manohar, Sachin Baby, Rahul Chahar, Wiaan Mulder
Rajasthan Royals (RR): Shimron Hetmyer, Tushar Deshpande, Nitish Rana, Kwena Maphaka, Akash Madhwal, Nandre Burger, Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Punjab Kings (PBKS): Glenn Maxwell, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aaron Hardie, Xavier Bartlett, Kyle Jamieson, Praveen Dubey, Harnur Pannu
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): Shamar Joseph, Arshin Kulkarni, Mohsin Khan, Aryan Juyal, Mayank Yadav, Matthew Breetzke

With trades intensifying and speculation at its peak, the coming days promise even more headline-making action. As IPL 2026 draws closer, fans are eagerly waiting to see how the final squads shape up—and which blockbuster moves are still yet to come.