List Of All Major Trades In IPL: Can Sanju Samson’s Rumoured Trade To CSK Top It All?

There’s a trade brewing? Sanju Samson is rumoured to be on his way out of Rajasthan Royals, and guess where he’s speculated to go? To the five-time IPL winners, Chennai Super Kings. 

If it happens, it will be the biggest trade in IPL history, on the same lines as Hardik Pandya’s big-money move to Mumbai Indians, which shook the entire league. So, without wasting much more time, here’s the list of all major trade deals in IPL.

Major Trades in IPL History

Zaheer Khan (RCB-MI) in 2009

While no one possibly remembers Zaheer Khan’s trade to MI in 2009, the left-hander’s impact can’t be forgotten. The left-arm pacer made 30 appearances for MI and picked up 29 wickets in them, averaging 27.4 with the ball, and at an economy rate of 7.4. 

Dinesh Karthik (Kings XI Punjab-MI) in 2012

Price: $2.35 million (rumoured)

Good teams understand a good trade, and hence it is no surprise that MI have been one of the teams that have used the trade option to their advantage. Dinesh Karthik’s move to MI resulted in the franchise picking up its first IPL title in 2013.

The right-hander amassed 510 runs in the 2013 season, averaging 28.33, with two fifties. 

Parthiv Patel (RCB-MI) in 2015

Parthiv Patel’s influence on MI’s success is immense, as the left-hander has amassed 911 runs for the franchise over three seasons. Parthiv was crucial in MI’s wins in 2015 and 17, providing the much-needed stability at the top of the order. During his stint with MI (2015-17), the franchise won two IPLs. 

Quinton de Kock (RCB-MI) in 2019

Price: INR 2.8 crore

Another trade that MI landed successfully, and converted into a two-time title-winning team, was Quinton de Kock. The left-hander was instrumental for MI, forming a sizzling partnership with Rohit, with back-to-back 500+ run seasons in 2019 and 20. De Kock left MI in 2022, but was already hailed as one of MI’s all-time greats by then.

Trent Boult (DC-MI) in 2020

Price: INR 3.2 crore

Trent Boult+Jasprit Bumrah = MI title.

Boult’s inclusion won MI the title in the very first year, when the left-arm pacer picked up 25 wickets in the season, averaging 18.3, after DC deemed him surplus. 

Ravichandran Ashwin (PBKS-DC) in 2020

Price: INR 7.6 crore

While DC might not have won in IPL 2020, they certainly had a strong side, where Ashwin was a key member. The off-spinner picked up 20 wickets for DC across two seasons, including the 13-wicket season that took them to the final. It was a trade that yet again revitalised Ashwin’s white-ball fortunes. 

Robin Uthappa (RR-CSK) in 2021

CSK shocked the world by announcing an all-cash deal for veteran Robin Uthappa. While many didn’t quite foresee how Uthappa would fit in the franchise’s scheme of things, the veteran put on a display for ages, taking multiple bowling attacks by surprise, in CSK’s title-winning 2021 campaign. In four games, he scored 115 runs and helped CSK to their fourth title. 

Harshal Patel (DC-RCB) in 2021

Purple Patel’s purple patch only began when he was traded from DC to RCB. In a franchise where bowlers usually struggle, Harshal found an able home, picking up 32 wickets in his first season at RCB. The Haryana all-rounder picked up 99 wickets at RCB, averaging 23.2 with the ball. 

Shardul Thakur (DC-KKR) in 2022

Price: INR 10.75 crore

Shardul’s move to KKR was a flop, given that KKR shelled out INR 10.75 crore. But there were some moments of brilliance, like his 70 against RCB, which gave KKR a much-needed win, and he picked up seven wickets in the campaign. 

Lockie Ferguson (GT-KKR) in 2022

Price: INR 10 crore

KKR’s move for Lockie Ferguson didn’t go as well as the franchise had hoped, as the Kiwi pacer only made three appearances. Even in those three games, Ferguson picked up just the one solitary wicket, averaging a disappointing 96.00 in IPL 2023. It was no surprise that he was released months later. 

Hardik Pandya (GT-MI) in 2023

Price: INR 15 crore

The biggest IPL trade deal remains Hardik Pandya’s move back to MI. Pandya was at the peak of his powers, having led GT to successive IPL finals, when his move to MI was confirmed, at a staggering price of INR 15 crore. While the value seemed astonishingly low, it was a deal that shook the IPL back then. Pandya is now leading MI, without much success.

Cameron Green (MI-RCB) in 2023

Price: INR 17.5 crore

Like Pandya, Cameron Green’s move to RCB was shocking, considering how well he had done in the previous edition for MI. Green’s move turned out to be a masterstroke for RCB, with the all-rounder scoring 255 runs in the 2024 campaign, with ten wickets at an average of 30.30.

If not for his injury, it could have been an association for the ages.  

Avesh Khan (LSG-RR) in 2024

Price: INR 10 crore

Avesh Khan gained a lot from his big-money move to Rajasthan ahead of IPL 2024. The MP-born pacer picked up 19 wickets in IPL 2024, where he was integral in both the middle overs and at the death, averaging 28 in the competition. While RR’s search for their second IPL title fell flat in Qualifier 2, Avesh’s contribution can’t be forgotten.