IPL 2027 Trades: The Confirmed Swap and Every Major Rumour
Lucknow Super Giants have not announced their final IPL 2027 squad or next captain. Rishabh Pant stepped down after IPL 2026 and moved to Delhi Capitals in June, while left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav joined LSG. Justin Langer remains the current head coach, and the post-trade player list contains 25 names before releases and the December mini auction.
The Rishabh Pant and Kuldeep Yadav exchange is the only completed IPL 2027 trade announced so far. Pant has moved from Lucknow Super Giants to Delhi Capitals for ₹15 crore, while Kuldeep has gone from Delhi to Lucknow for ₹13.5 crore. Reports involving Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul and Mohammed Shami have not produced another completed transfer.
This page separates signed moves from talks, denials and social media claims. The status table reflects public announcements and reliable reporting available on September 20, 2026.
IPL 2027 trade status at a glance
| Player | Current IPL 2027 team | Reported link or move | Status | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rishabh Pant | Delhi Capitals | Lucknow Super Giants to Delhi Capitals | Completed | ₹15 crore |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Lucknow Super Giants | Delhi Capitals to Lucknow Super Giants | Completed | ₹13.5 crore |
| Hardik Pandya | Mumbai Indians | Linked with Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings | Reported discussions, no agreement | Not applicable |
| Suryakumar Yadav | Mumbai Indians | Linked with Kolkata Knight Riders | Rumour only | Not applicable |
| KL Rahul | Delhi Capitals | Linked with Kolkata Knight Riders | Publicly rejected by Delhi Capitals | Not applicable |
| Mohammed Shami | Lucknow Super Giants | Linked with Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Unsupported rumour | Not applicable |
The two completed player movements belong to one direct exchange between Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants. They should not be counted as two unrelated deals.
Pant returns to Delhi as Kuldeep joins Lucknow
Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants have exchanged two senior Indian players with very different roles. The Lucknow Super Giants announcement confirms that Pant has returned to Delhi and Kuldeep has moved to Lucknow.
| Player | From | To | IPL 2027 fee | Primary role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rishabh Pant | Lucknow Super Giants | Delhi Capitals | ₹15 crore | Wicketkeeper batter |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Delhi Capitals | Lucknow Super Giants | ₹13.5 crore | Left arm wrist spinner |
Pant had joined LSG for ₹27 crore at the 2025 auction. His ₹15 crore Delhi value is ₹12 crore lower, a reduction of about 44.4 percent. The two IPL 2027 contracts in this exchange have a combined value of ₹28.5 crore.
For Delhi, Pant restores an Indian wicketkeeper batter who already understands the franchise. His return also adds a possible leadership option, although Delhi has not announced its IPL 2027 captain. It would be wrong to turn his homecoming into an automatic captaincy claim.
Lucknow receives an established Indian wicket taking spinner in Kuldeep. That strengthens the middle overs, but Pant’s departure creates separate questions around wicketkeeping, batting balance and captaincy. Those gaps may shape LSG’s decisions before the IPL 2027 mini auction.
What the exchange changes for both squads
The deal is not simply a swap of famous names. Delhi has traded spin strength for a wicketkeeper batter, while Lucknow has moved in the opposite direction.
| Squad issue | Delhi Capitals after the trade | Lucknow Super Giants after the trade |
|---|---|---|
| Wicketkeeping | Pant becomes the leading Indian option | A new first choice option may be needed |
| Spin attack | Kuldeep’s overs and wicket taking role must be replaced | Kuldeep can lead the wrist spin unit |
| Batting | Pant adds a left handed middle order option | Pant’s runs and finishing role must be covered |
| Leadership | Pant gives DC another experienced candidate | LSG still need to settle their captaincy plan |
| Auction planning | Spin becomes a clearer need | Wicketkeeping and batting depth become clearer needs |
The separate Delhi Capitals IPL 2027 page and Lucknow Super Giants IPL 2027 page track how each squad develops around the exchange.
Hardik Pandya trade: interest exists, but no deal exists
Hardik Pandya remains a Mumbai Indians player. Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings have both appeared in trade reporting, but no franchise has announced an agreement and no approved transfer has been completed.
The strongest recent update is more restrained than the headlines. Times of India reported that several franchises had shown interest, some dialogue with KKR had taken place, and Mumbai had not found a suitable trade asset. The same report said MI remained keen to keep Hardik as a player, even if the franchise later reviewed its captaincy.
One widely circulated report claimed CSK offered Shivam Dube, Dewald Brevis and ₹10 crore for Hardik. Another version said Mumbai wanted Ayush Mhatre included. Neither team confirmed those terms, so they cannot be treated as an accepted offer, a signed package or proof that Hardik is leaving Mumbai.
The practical status is simple: Hardik is still with Mumbai Indians, and reported interest has not become a trade. Until both teams agree, the player consents and the league approves the transaction, suggested packages remain discussion material.
Fans can follow Mumbai’s confirmed squad changes on the Mumbai Indians IPL 2027 page. The Chennai Super Kings IPL 2027 page and Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2027 page will list a move only after it is completed.
Suryakumar Yadav to KKR remains a rumour
Suryakumar Yadav has been linked with a return to Kolkata Knight Riders, where he played earlier in his IPL career. That history makes the story believable to supporters, but it does not make the transfer real.
Mumbai Indians have not announced his departure, KKR have not announced his arrival, and no agreed trade value has been made public. Current reporting points to MI retaining him. The correct status is therefore rumour only, not talks completed, deal agreed or announcement pending.
This distinction matters because repeated online claims can create the impression that a transfer is close even when no transaction has entered the public record. Suryakumar should remain listed in the IPL 2027 squads under Mumbai unless a confirmed move changes that position.
KL Rahul and Mohammed Shami reports need stronger evidence
KL Rahul was linked with KKR after Pant’s return to Delhi raised questions about DC’s batting and wicketkeeping order. Delhi Capitals co owner Parth Jindal publicly backed Rahul, and the player responded positively about the coming season. There is no completed KL Rahul trade, and the available public position supports him staying with Delhi.
Mohammed Shami has been linked with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in social media posts and low authority reports. No reliable announcement shows an agreement between RCB and LSG, a player fee or league approval. Shami therefore remains an LSG player for tracking purposes.
Neither claim belongs in a confirmed trades list. They remain useful to address because supporters are searching the players’ names, but the answer must be a clear status check rather than a repeated rumour.
Team by team IPL 2027 trade tracker
| Team | Players in | Players out | Current trade position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | None announced | None announced | Linked with Hardik Pandya, but no agreement |
| Delhi Capitals | Rishabh Pant | Kuldeep Yadav | Pant and Kuldeep exchange completed; KL Rahul exit claim rejected |
| Gujarat Titans | None announced | None announced | No completed IPL 2027 trade announced |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | None announced | None announced | Linked with Hardik, Suryakumar and KL Rahul; no deal completed |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Kuldeep Yadav | Rishabh Pant | Direct exchange with Delhi completed; Shami claim unconfirmed |
| Mumbai Indians | None announced | None announced | Hardik and Suryakumar remain MI players |
| Punjab Kings | None announced | None announced | No completed IPL 2027 trade announced |
| Rajasthan Royals | None announced | None announced | No completed IPL 2027 trade announced |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | None announced | None announced | Shami link lacks reliable confirmation |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | None announced | None announced | No completed IPL 2027 trade announced |
This table records completed player movements, not every enquiry that may take place privately. A team showing no announced trade can still be discussing players behind closed doors. Browse the IPL 2027 teams for franchise specific squad, captain and coaching information.
How an IPL player trade becomes valid
An IPL trade is a player transfer between franchises outside the auction. It can be an all cash transfer or a player for player exchange, but a media report alone does not complete it.
A valid transaction normally needs four things:
- The two franchises must agree to the trade terms.
- The player must give written consent.
- The required paperwork must reach the BCCI within the trading window.
- The IPL must approve the transaction before it is treated as completed.
The player’s league salary and any separately negotiated franchise payment are not necessarily the same figure. The salary affects squad spending and auction planning. A private transfer fee, where applicable, is a payment between franchises and should not be invented when teams have not disclosed it.
The trading window usually opens after the season, closes shortly before the auction, reopens after the auction and shuts again before the next season. The exact IPL 2027 deadlines depend on the auction and league calendar, so an unannounced closing date should not be presented as fixed.
Trade, release and auction are different actions
| Action | Where the player goes | Who decides the next team | Effect on auction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade | Directly to another franchise | Current team, receiving team and player | Player does not enter the auction |
| Release | Out of the current squad | Current franchise releases the player | Player may register for the auction |
| Auction purchase | From the auction pool to the winning bidder | Eligible franchises bid | Winning bid becomes the player’s IPL fee |
This explains why a rumoured release is not a trade and why a traded player should not also appear in projected auction lists.
How the completed trade affects the mini auction
The IPL 2027 mini auction is planned for India in December 2026, but its exact date and city have not been announced. The Pant and Kuldeep exchange will matter before bidding begins because both franchises now have different role requirements.
Delhi can focus less on finding a first choice Indian wicketkeeper, but replacing Kuldeep’s middle overs remains a serious squad question. Lucknow can build its spin attack around Kuldeep, while wicketkeeping, leadership and left handed batting require attention. Actual auction purses cannot be stated safely until the league and franchises complete all relevant retention, release and trade accounting.
Trade reports are likely to increase as the auction approaches. The useful question is not how often a player is mentioned, but whether a franchise announcement, player consent and league approval exist.
What to watch next
The next meaningful change to this tracker will be another completed trade, a clear franchise rejection, or the close of the pre auction trading window. Hardik Pandya is the most discussed unresolved name, but the latest public evidence still leaves him at Mumbai Indians.
After the mini auction, attention will move from transfer talks to final squad balance, playing combinations and replacements. The IPL 2027 schedule covers the March 10 to May 15 season window, while the squads page records players under their confirmed teams.