CSK and SRH Complete Four-Player Trade Ahead of IPL 2027 Auction

Key points

1. Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad completed a four-player trade on November 5, 2026, ahead of the IPL 2027 season.
2. England all-rounder Liam Livingstone and Australian seam-bowling all-rounder Jack Edwards move from SRH to CSK.
3. Livingstone joins CSK at a revised fee of ₹6 crore, down from the ₹13 crore at which SRH had acquired him.
4. Edwards moves to CSK at his existing fee of ₹3 crore; he did not play in IPL 2026 after a foot injury.
5. Left-arm fast bowler Khaleel Ahmed and Australian fast bowler Nathan Ellis move from CSK to SRH.
6. Khaleel joins SRH at ₹4.8 crore and Ellis at ₹2 crore, both at their existing fees.

Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad have completed a four-player trade ahead of the 2027 Indian Premier League season, with England all-rounder Liam Livingstone and Australian seam-bowling all-rounder Jack Edwards moving to Chennai. In exchange, left-arm fast bowler Khaleel Ahmed and Australian quick Nathan Ellis will join Sunrisers Hyderabad. The IPL confirmed the exchange on Thursday, November 5, 2026.

The deal reshapes two parts of the teams' squads: CSK add two all-rounders, while SRH bring in two fast bowlers. The most notable contract adjustment is Livingstone's revised fee of ₹6 crore, considerably lower than the ₹13 crore at which SRH had originally acquired him.

Livingstone joins CSK at a reduced fee

Livingstone, an England all-rounder known for his power-hitting and ability to contribute with the ball, moves to the five-time champions for ₹6 crore. His earlier SRH contract was valued at ₹13 crore. The revised amount gives Chennai an additional all-round option while changing the financial terms attached to the player for the upcoming season.

Livingstone had limited opportunities during the 2026 campaign, featuring in only two matches for SRH, according to reports on the trade. His move gives him a fresh franchise environment and gives CSK another option in the batting and bowling departments as they prepare for IPL 2027.

Australian seam-bowling all-rounder Jack Edwards also moves to Chennai, retaining his existing fee of ₹3 crore. SRH had signed Edwards before he made his international debut for Australia. However, he could not feature in IPL 2026 after being ruled out with a foot injury. The trade brings him into CSK's squad for the next season, although he is yet to make an IPL appearance.

Khaleel and Ellis strengthen SRH's pace options

SRH receive two fast bowlers in return. Khaleel Ahmed joins at his existing fee of ₹4.8 crore, while Nathan Ellis moves at ₹2 crore. The pair add left-arm pace and Australian fast-bowling experience to Hyderabad's options.

Khaleel's move is also a return to a familiar franchise. He represented SRH from 2018 to 2021 before joining CSK. His 2025 season in Chennai was productive: he claimed 15 wickets in 14 matches, providing a left-arm pace option across the campaign.

His 2026 season was interrupted by injury. Khaleel played five matches for CSK before a right quadriceps injury ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign. His return to SRH gives the franchise a bowler who has previously played for the team and who arrives with recent IPL experience.

Ellis, meanwhile, is known for his variations and his ability to bowl in the death overs. He was expected to take on a significant pace-bowling role for CSK but missed the 2026 season after a hamstring injury. His move to SRH adds another specialist fast-bowling option as the franchise prepares its squad for the next edition.

What the trade means for both franchises

For CSK, the exchange brings in two all-rounders while moving out two fast bowlers. Livingstone's batting power and bowling options, alongside Edwards' seam-bowling all-round skill set, provide different combinations for the team to consider. The revised Livingstone fee is a prominent part of the deal, reducing the amount attached to the England player from his previous SRH contract.

For SRH, the trade shifts the balance towards pace bowling. Khaleel offers a left-arm option and a previous association with the franchise, while Ellis brings experience in varied T20 conditions and late-innings bowling. Both arrive at their existing contract values, according to the IPL announcement.

The exchange is part of the early squad movement ahead of the IPL 2027 auction. Reports state that the mini-auction is scheduled for December 16 in Goa, while the deadline for franchises to submit their retention and release lists has been extended to November 17. The trade therefore gives both teams an opportunity to shape their squad plans before the auction process.

Squad changes continue ahead of IPL 2027

The four-player deal is a significant piece of business for two franchises with different squad needs. CSK gain two players who can contribute in more than one discipline, while SRH add two pace bowlers, including a former player returning to the team. The revised contract attached to Livingstone also makes the financial details of the exchange notable.

Neither side's full plans for the auction can be determined from this trade alone. Further retention decisions and auction purchases will shape the final squads. For now, the confirmed movement is clear: Livingstone and Edwards head to Chennai, while Khaleel and Ellis move to Hyderabad for the IPL 2027 cycle.