The Indian Premier League is the most popular T20I league in the world of cricket. From famous veterans to young wonder kids, the Indian Premier League has been the playground of numerous cricketing icons. Since its inception in 2008, the annual Twenty20 cricket tournament has completed 16 seasons.
In 2024, cricket fans will be witnessing the 17th edition of the cricketing mega fest with increased enthusiasm and passion from supporters, athletes, and franchises. The tournament will commence in March 2024, however, the preparations have already been started as the teams have released the list of their retained and released players.
Apart from the retained and released players, a few more surprises have also unfolded before the auctions. The different franchises have traded their players to new as well as their former teams to collect a good sum of money before heading into the ultimate auction while a few sides wanted to empty up a few spots to recruit new signings.
Hence, without further delay, let’s take a look at the top 5 IPL Player Trades in the ongoing window:
#5 Shahbaz Ahmed (RCB to SRH)
Shahbaz Ahmed was also a part of the Indian cricket team that won the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games. After his brilliant performances in domestic tournaments for Bengal, Ahmed was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore and made his debut against Rajasthan Royals.
However, he became a famous name in the Indian Premier League after he dismissed Jonny Bairstow, Manish Pandey, and Abdul Samad in a single over and led RCB towards a six-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in a low-scoring match. The slow left-arm orthodox bowler later cemented his place in the playing XI as an all-rounder.
Ahmed played a total of 39 matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore and 321 runs and took 14 wickets. The all-rounder has been traded by Royal Challengers Bangalore to Sunrisers Hyderabad for the upcoming Indian Premier for his existing fee, which is reportedly INR 2.4 crore.
#4 Avesh Khan (LSG to RR)
Avesh Khan has been traded to Rajasthan Royals from Lucknow Super Giants
Just like Shahbaz Ahmed, Avesh Khan was also a part of the gold medal-winning men’s Indian cricket team at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. In 2017, Avesh Khan made his IPL debut for Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, after a forgettable campaign, he was purchased by Delhi Capitals in 2018.
However, in his initial years, Khan always struggled to get recognized by the fans. Finally, in IPL 2021, the right-arm bowler took the world by a stir as he ended the campaign as the second-highest wicket-taker with 24 wickets, behind Harshal Patel who had a terrific season scalping 32 wickets.
However, in the mega auction of 2022, he was signed by Lucknow Super Giants for a staggering price of ₹10 crore. He also became the most expensive uncapped player in the history of the IPL. Nevertheless, Khan will now be playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League as he has been traded by Lucknow Super Giants for Devdutt Padikkal.
#3 Devdutt Padikkal (RR to LSG)
Devdutt Padikkal was signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL auction for 2019 and made an instant impact in the annual tournament as he scored three half-centuries in his four Initial matches. Next season when Padikkal was still playing for the Bangalore-based franchise, he was named the emerging player of the season building an efficient left-right combination with skipper Virat Kohli at the top of the batting order.
In IPL 2021, Padikkal scored a century (101*) against the Rajasthan Royals and helped RCB win the match by 10 wickets. Coincidentally, in next year’s auction, he was signed by Inaugural IPL champions, Rajasthan Royals.
In his IPL career, the left-handed batter has played 57 matches and has scored 1521 runs. Padikkal has been traded by Rajasthan Royals to Lucknow Super Giants for Avesh Khan bulking up an already left-handed batting contingent at LSG.
#2 Cameron Green (MI to RCB)
Cameron Green has been traded to Royal Challengers Bangalore from Mumbai Indians
Cameron Green made his Indian Premier League debut during the last edition after he was signed by Mumbai Indians for a staggering amount of INR 17.5 crore. He became the most expensive Australian player and the second most expensive overseas player in IPL auction history after Sam Curran, who was purchased in the same auction by Punjab Kings for INR 18.50 crore.
In his debut for the Mumbai Indians, the Australian all-rounder gave a decent performance. He played all 16 matches for Mumbai and scored 452 runs with a strike rate of 160. Green played in different positions for Rohit Sharma’s side such as the top-order and lower-order.
Moreover, he also scored a spectacular ton against Sunrisers Hyderabad apart from picking up six wickets with the ball in hand. The Australian all-rounder has been traded to Royal Challengers Bangalore from Mumbai Indians for his existing fees.
#1 Hardik Pandya (GT to MI)
Hardik Pandya was signed by Mumbai Indians in 2015 and instantly became a hit at the Wankhede Stadium after he guided Mumbai Indians towards a thrilling victory over Kolkata Knight Riders by scoring 61 runs off 31 balls. After spending six glorious title-laden seasons in Mumbai, Pandya was released by the side ahead of the IPL mega auction in 2022.
Pandya was signed up by Gujarat Titans and named as the captain of the franchise in their maiden IPL campaign. Interestingly, the Indian all-rounder later led Gujarat Titans to the IPL glory in their debut campaign defeating Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals in the final.
The next season, Titans again reached the final of the tournament, however, they failed to win the title for the second consecutive year losing to Chennai Super Kings in the final. Interestingly, the Indian all-rounder has been traded by Gujarat Titans to his former IPL franchise Mumbai Indians. Pandya was reportedly getting paid INR 15 crore at Titans and he’s expected to receive the same amount at Mumbai too.
Apart from Pandya, Romario Shepherd has also been traded to Mumbai Indians from Lucknow Super Giants for INR 50 Lakhs.