The buildup to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has begun. While we wait for a player shuffle at the mini-auction, teams have the opportunity to reinforce their squad. The trade window opened on June 10 and will remain open until a week before the IPL 2026 auction.
While trades are rare in the IPL, with each passing year, the frequency increases. In 2024, we saw two trades of Rs 15 and 17.5 crores. There is a possibility we will see trades this year as well. One such could be between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
They had different results in IPL 2025. RCB won their maiden trophy, while SRH finished sixth thanks to a late 3-match winning streak. But both will want to strengthen their teams. Rasikh Salam Dar was the most expensive uncapped pick in the auction, and the talented pacer from Kashmir played just 2 matches for RCB.
He had shown immense promise in the prior season for the Delhi Capitals. Rasikh was expensive in terms of economy, but turned out to be a good wicket-taker in the middle overs. But for RCB, he was ineffective in all departments. Given the amount of money already spent on him, a fast bowler of some pedigree could be brought in.
How Shami can fit in at RCB
Mohammed Shami could be that perfect trade. The veteran pacer hadn’t played the 2024 edition and was coming back from an injury. He was ineffective for SRH after raking in Rs 10 crore at the auction. Shami was even dropped midway. He hasn’t been at his best since returning, and his Test career might be over due to it.
Shami doesn’t seem to have a future at SRH. He didn’t justify his price. The newly appointed bowling coach of SRH, Varun Aaron, may have a say in this. He was working as a commentator/analyst during IPL 2025 and had openly stated that he would release Shami if he had the power to do so. Well, Varun has the power now.
But this means Shami can hone his white-ball skills. Considered an elite wicket-taker, Shami can add to his bag of tricks. A good slower ball, the ability to bowl in the middle, and at death are what he can improve. He has about 8 months to hone his skills and redefine himself as a T20 bowler.
Considering RCB has a set team, his inclusion improves them. He can come in as an impact bowler and add more quality to their already quality attack consisting of Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Josh Hazlewood. RCB doesn’t need a project considering their set team; they need a finished article, and Shami is very much that.
As for SRH, they would want a bowler who can service them for years. Rasikh has the raw talent for that. He can be a middle-overs enforcer, and his different style of bowling might go well with Harshal Patel’s slower balls and cutters. SRH are bound to make a few changes already, and he might be a worthy pick, at least until the mega auction.
Rasikh Salam Dar & Mohammed Shami stats in IPL 2025
| Bowler | Inns | Wkts | Avg | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rasikh Salam (Rs 6 crore) | 2 | 1 | 70 | 11.66 | 36 |
| Mohammed Shami (Rs 10 crore) | 9 | 6 | 56.17 | 11.23 | 30 |
