IPL trade window: What are the rules for player signings and trades in the Indian Premier League?
IPL 2026 trade window officially open for business
Over the past 18 seasons, the Indian Premier League has grown to become one of the most eagerly anticipated annual leagues not just in cricket, but across all sports, thanks to the staggering riches available to players and its reach to all corners of the globe.
In more recent times, the IPL has generated extra interest even outside of the months in which the league is contested, thanks to the player-trading window as well as the IPL auction, which are held in the lead-up to the start of a new season.
While the trade system has been in place since the second season of the IPL (2009), it has only really taken off in the last few years, with teams becoming more open to making early deals, especially since the blockbuster trade of Hardik Pandya back to the Mumbai Indians in 2023.
The rules of the IPL trading window are fairly straightforward. The window opened on June 3 and will remain open until a week before the 2026 IPL player auction, which has yet to be confirmed by tournament organisers.
Trade types include one-way trades (player for cash) or two-way trades (player for player). This works in almost exactly the same way as we see in football leagues across Europe, such as the Premier League or La Liga.
Franchises now understand the potential financial advantages they stand to benefit from using the trade a opposed to waiting for the auction, as players can at times be acquired for less than they might go for once bidding opens at the IPL auction.
All traders must receive approval from the IPL governing council to be finalised. Notably, in a trade, there is no cap on transfer fees, meaning that rich franchises can tempt smaller teams to release the player they want with large sums, which do not show up in the IPL’s official accounts.
Sanju Samson among most in-demand players in 2026 IPL trade
Owing to his incredible performance at the 2025 IPL, Sanju Samson has become the hottest prospect for next year’s competition despite his valuation jumping from ₹18 crores to an eyewatering ₹25 crores.
The wicketkeeper batsman is on the radar of the five-time champions, the Chennai Super Kings, who are expected to undergo a major overhaul in personnel before the next season after a dismal performance in 2025.
Ishan Kishan is another player who is being heavily linked with a move away from the Sunrisers Hyderabad, with the Mumbai Indians believed to be planning a homecoming for the 27-year-old left-handed opener.
Finally, Venkatesh Iyer’s astonishing ₹23.75 crore retention by the Kolkata Knight Riders proved a poor piece of business last year when he managed just 142 runs. He could be on the move next season, with RCB and SRH rumoured to be interested in his services.
