IPL 2026 trade updates: auction on Dec 16 in Abu Dhabi, GT to retain Glenn Phillips

Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in Rajasthan Royals😍

Sanju Samson is a CSKian now!

• Ravindra Jadeja - CSK to RR - ₹14 crore 
• Sam Curran - CSK to RR - ₹2.4 crore 
• Nitish Rana - RR to DC - ₹4.2 crore 
• Mohammed Shami - SRH to LSG - ₹10 crore 
• Mayank Markande - KKR to MI - ₹30 lakh 
• Arjun Tendulkar - MI to LSG - ₹30 lakh 
• Donovan Ferreira - DC to RR - ₹1 crore 
• Sherfane Rutherford - GT to MI - ₹2.40 crore 
• Shardul Thakur - LSG to MI - ₹2 crore 

1. That's it for the day for us. With less than 48 hours left for the IPL 2026 retention deadline, join us tomorrow for more updates. There might be a few more trades heading our way in the final few hours. 

Gujarat Titans (GT), who denied trading Washington Sundar, will give the all-rounder a bigger role in IPL 2026, according to the Times of India. CSK have shown interest in him as an replacement for Ravichandran Ashwin but GT denied the request. It can be expected that Sundar might bat at number 4 for GT in IPL 2025.

GT are also expected to retain Glenn Phillips. The Kiwi all-rounder didn't play a match last season and got injured while fielding, which led to him missing the entire season. Despite this, GT are likely to stick with him.

ESPNcricinfo have reported that Tuesday, December 16 has been confirmed as date for the IPL 2026 mini auction. The venue as reported earlier is Abu Dhabi. 

It seems like CSK doesn't want to take further part in trade deals. The Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran transfer to RR will be the end of things, at least until the IPL retention lists are announced on November 15. 

Mumbai Indians' decision to acquire Sherfane Rutherford seems rather strange considering the fact that Naman Dhir was excellent as their finisher last year. The Indian batter scored 252 runs at a strike rate of 182.60. Perhaps MI will use one of them in the middle order instead.

Sherfane Rutherford has returned to Mumbai Indians after 6 years. After spending a year with them for in 2020, he's back in the blue and gold.

• 2019 - Delhi Capitals 
• 2020 - Mumbai Indians (trade)
• 2021 - Sunrisers Hyderabad (replacement) 
• 2022 to 2025 - Gujarat Titans
• 2026 - Mumbai Indians (trade)

Mumbai Indians have trade with Gujarat Titans as well. They have paid them INR 2.6 crore for the finisher.

IPL announced the trade with an official statement. 

West Indies all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford is set to represent the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2026 season following a successful trade from the Gujarat Titans (GT). Acquired by GT for a fee of INR 2.6 crore, Rutherford will move to MI at his existing fee.

The 27-year-old has featured in 44 T20Is for the West Indies and holds the record for the highest sixth-wicket partnership in T20Is, having stitched together a 139-run stand with Andre Russell against Australia in Perth.

Rutherford has played 23 IPL matches so far, having earlier represented Delhi Capitals in 2019 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2022. He was part of the MI squad in 2020 and the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, but did not feature in the playing XI during those seasons

Reports suggested that Arjun Tendulkar will be traded to LSG and this post has been suspecting the same. 

Ashwin, IPL's transfer specialist

Now that Shardul Thakur has been traded from LSG to MI, it marks the 3rd time that the all-rounder has been transferred to another franchise. 

• In 2017 - Punjab Kings to Rising Pune Supergaint (INR 2 crore)
• In 2023 - Delhi Capitals To Kolkata Knight Riders (INR 10.75 crore)
• In 2025 - Lucknow Super Giants To Mumbai Indians (INR 2 crore)

Shardul Thakur to MI from LSG for Rs 2 Cr becomes the first official trade update of IPL 2026. 

Official statement

Lucknow Super Giants all-rounder, Shardul Thakur is all set to represent Mumbai Indians, following a trade between the two franchises. The Mumbai-based all-rounder was picked up by the Lucknow Super Giants for INR 2 crore as an injury replacement for the 18th edition of the league, wherein he featured in 10 games. Shardul has been a utility player for franchises he has represented, putting in clutch performances time and again. The all-rounder has been traded to Mumbai Indians for his existing player fee of INR 2 crore.

• Heinrich Klaasen - Hold
• Mohd Shami - Fold
• Ishan Kishan - Hold
• Harshal Patel - Hold
• Rahul Chahar - Fold
• Pat Cummins - Hold

• Rashid Khan - Hold
• Kagiso Rabada - Hold
• Ishant Sharma - Fold
• Washington Sundar - Hold
• Shahrukh Khan - Hold

According to a Cricbuzz report, LSG and DC have shown interest in a Mohammed Shami trade with SRH. It's understood that if the trade indeed happens, it'll be a cash deal.

Reminder: Shami was bought for INR 10 crore last year.

As per reports, Delhi Capitals will release vice-captain Faf du Plessis and opener Jake Frser-McGurk before the IPL 2026 auction. While Faf managed to score 202 runs from 9 matches in IPL 2025, the Aussie top-order batter had a sub-par outing, amassing just 55 runs from 6 matches. The franchise is also expected to take a tough call on T Natarajan as per reports. 

What has MS Dhoni been up to since the IPL 2025 ended? Well, the CSK great rested for a couple of months, and it was only in September that he started to practice again.

Dhoni has been travelling to the JSCA International Stadium regularly and trains for about 4.5 hours there. He hits the gym, swims, and bats for 2 hours there before leaving.

DC were in talks with KKR regarding a KL Rahul trade. KKR needed a wicketkeeper-batter and captain. Rahul checks both of these boxes. The issue was that KKR weren't letting go of any big names like Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, or Harshit Rana. Due to this, the trade couldn't happen.

Bravo will continue to be the mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders. KKR also may get Tim Southee as the bowling coach after Bharat Arun left for LSG.

🚨📰| Tim Southee is likely to be the bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders.

(ESPNcricinfo) pic.twitter.com/TktYcg72QM

— KnightRidersXtra (@KKR_Xtra) November 13, 2025

KKR appoint new coach

KKR have announced Abhishek Nayar's replacement as assistant coach. The former India batter was promoted to head coach, leaving his previous spot open. KKR have recruited the services of Shane Watson, former CSK and Australia great. 

It's T-2 before the IPL franchises announce their retention lists for the 2026 mini auction. Yet, despite all of these reported trades, nothing has been confirmed. MI, LSG, KKR, RR, and CSK are all reportedly interested in trades involving big names like Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja, as mentioned.