IPL 2026 Trade News: Top 5 Big Players Who Could Be Heading to New Franchises Ahead of the Mini-Auction

With the IPL 2026 mini-auction just days away, teams are in the final stretch to decide their retention lists before the November 15 deadline. As franchises evaluate their squads, several high-profile trade discussions have surfaced — and some of them could reshape team combinations for the upcoming season.

Here are the Top 5 potential player swaps dominating IPL 2026 trade news:

✅ 1. Sanju Samson — RR to Delhi Capitals?

• The biggest headline this trade window involves Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson.
• DC are reportedly pushing for a trade, offering South African power-hitter Tristan Stubbs in exchange.
• Samson played only 9 matches in IPL 2025, scoring 285 runs, a dip from his usual consistency.
• CSK were also interested, but RR demanded either Ravindra Jadeja or Ruturaj Gaikwad, which Chennai declined.
• If finalized, this would be one of the biggest transfers ahead of IPL 2026.

✅ 2. KL Rahul — KKR’s Top Target

• Kolkata Knight Riders are keen to acquire KL Rahul from Delhi Capitals.
• But there’s a catch:
• KKR lacks a strong trade offering that DC would accept.
• Stars like Rinku Singh and Angkrish Raghuvanshi are too valuable to trade.
• Andre Russell and Sunil Narine are long-serving icons.
• Venkatesh Iyer had a poor season and is unlikely to attract DC’s interest.
• As of now, KKR’s chances look slim unless they revise their offer.

✅ 3. Washington Sundar — Set for CSK Return?

• Chennai Super Kings are reportedly set to bring back Washington Sundar from Gujarat Titans.
• Trade value estimated at ₹3.2 crore, matching his GT contract.
• At GT, Sundar scored 133 runs and took 2 wickets — a decent but underwhelming season.
• CSK management believes Sundar will flourish back in his home franchise.
• Swap possibilities include Shivam Dube or Sam Curran.
• This could be one of the most tactically smart trades this season.

✅ 4. Kuldeep Yadav — SRH Want Him Badly

• Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins is reportedly pushing to add Kuldeep Yadav to strengthen their spin department.
• But here’s the hurdle:
• DC retained Kuldeep for ₹13.25 crore, signaling huge trust.
• He picked 15 wickets in IPL 2025 and remains one of India’s top spinners.
• DC are unlikely to trade him, despite SRH’s strong interest.
• Still, SRH’s aggressive pursuit keeps this rumour alive.

✅ 5. Fazalhaq Farooqi — RR Likely to Release Afghan Pacer

The Afghan left-arm pacer had a tough IPL 2025:

• 0 wickets in 5 matches
• Economy rate: 10.00

With RR already having Jofra Archer, retaining another overseas pacer is difficult. Farooqi’s form dip almost ensures a pre-auction trade or release.

🔥 Trade Window Buzz at Its Peak

With the deadline approaching, trade talks are heating up across franchises. Major stars are in the spotlight, and the coming days could bring multiple high-impact swaps as teams finalize strategies for IPL 2026.

Stay tuned — more blockbuster trades may be just around the corner.