Rishabh Pant to DC, Kuldeep Yadav to LSG — The 3 biggest trade deals in IPL history that completely rewrote the title race

After a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign with Lucknow Super Giants, speculation surrounding Rishabh Pant's future intensified, with many believing the star wicketkeeper-batter could leave the franchise ahead of IPL 2027. Those rumours have now turned out to be true. In a blockbuster move, Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals have completed a major player swap involving Rishabh Pant and Kuldeep Yadav, a deal that could significantly impact the balance of power in the tournament.

The trade was officially announced by the IPL Governing Council on June 23, 2026. Pant will return to Delhi Capitals, the franchise where he started his IPL career and established himself as one of India's biggest cricket stars. In return, Lucknow have acquired Kuldeep Yadav, one of the league's most consistent wicket-taking spinners. The total value of the trade stands at INR 28.25 crore, with Pant accounting for the larger share of the deal.

Since the IPL introduced the trade window, several high-profile players have switched teams before auctions. Franchises often prefer trading star players rather than releasing them, especially when there is strong demand for their services. While players such as Shardul Thakur have been involved in multiple trades throughout their careers, very few deals have matched the scale and significance of the Pant-Kuldeep exchange.

With the Pant-Kuldeep swap already creating headlines ahead of IPL 2027, it has once again highlighted the impact that major trades can have on a franchise's fortunes. In this listicle, let's take a look at the top three biggest trade deals in IPL history that completely rewrote the title race.

3. Hardik Pandya, GT to MI (Before IPL 2024)

At No. 3 on this list is Hardik Pandya's blockbuster move from the Gujarat Titans to the Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2024. While there have been rumours in recent years about Pandya featuring in trade discussions again, his return to Mumbai remains one of the most talked-about deals in IPL history. The Indian all-rounder established himself as one of the league's biggest match-winners through consistent performances with both bat and ball.

Hardik joined the Gujarat Titans as captain in their debut season in 2022 and immediately led the franchise to the IPL title. He followed it up with another impressive campaign in 2023, guiding the team to a second consecutive IPL final. Despite enjoying tremendous success with Gujarat, Hardik decided to move on and expressed his desire to return to the Mumbai Indians, the franchise where he had spent seven seasons after making his IPL debut in 2015.

See also -Hardik Pandya to CSK? Chennai Super Kings offer Dube and Khaleel in blockbuster swap deal with MI

In a stunning all-cash deal worth INR 15 crore, the Mumbai Indians brought Hardik back ahead of IPL 2024. To complete the move, MI also traded Australian all-rounder Cameron Green to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The transfer created massive buzz across the cricketing world, and the excitement grew further when Mumbai appointed Hardik as captain, replacing their long-time leader Rohit Sharma. The move remains one of the biggest and most influential trades ever seen in the IPL.

2. Sanju Samson to CSK, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to RR (Before IPL 2026)

At No. 2 on this list is the blockbuster trade involving Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja, and Sam Curran ahead of IPL 2026. While many trade deals have taken place over the years, few have matched the scale and star power of this transaction. Rajasthan Royals parted ways with their long-time captain and franchise icon, Sanju Samson, while Chennai Super Kings gave up two proven all-rounders in Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in one of the most surprising moves in IPL history.

The deal saw Chennai Super Kings acquire Samson for his existing salary of INR 18 crore, while Rajasthan Royals received Jadeja and Curran in return. Jadeja's salary was revised from INR 18 crore to INR 14 crore, while Curran's value stood at INR 2.4 crore. The trade sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, considering Jadeja had represented CSK in 185 IPL matches and played a key role in several title-winning campaigns. On the other hand, Samson had become the face of Rajasthan Royals, featuring in 149 IPL matches for the franchise and leading the side from 2021 to 2024.

See also -Hardik Pandya to Rajasthan Royals before IPL 2027? Yashasvi Jaiswal set to be traded in return

While Samson had established himself as the poster boy of Rajasthan Royals over the years, Jadeja and Curran brought immense experience and all-round quality to the CSK setup. Despite the strong connection between the players and their respective franchises, both teams decided a major change was needed and completed the trade just weeks before the retention process for IPL 2026. The move remains one of the biggest player exchanges in league history, and reports now suggest that Samson could take over as Chennai Super Kings captain from the 2027 season onwards.

1. Rishabh Pant to DC and Kuldeep Yadav to LSG (Before IPL 2027)

At No. 1 on this list is the blockbuster player swap involving Rishabh Pant and Kuldeep Yadav ahead of IPL 2027. The deal has already become one of the most talked-about trades in IPL history due to the stature of the players involved and its potential impact on the title race. Ahead of the new season, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants agreed to exchange two of their biggest stars, with Pant returning to his former franchise and Kuldeep making the move to Lucknow.

Pant was part of the Lucknow Super Giants setup during IPL 2026, but after two disappointing seasons and a difficult campaign as captain, he stepped down from the leadership role. Less than a month after the IPL 2026 final, LSG traded the wicketkeeper-batter back to Delhi Capitals. As part of the deal, Pant accepted a revised salary of INR 15 crore, significantly lower than the INR 27 crore contract he received after becoming the most expensive player in IPL history at the 2025 mega auction. In return, Lucknow acquired Kuldeep Yadav for his existing contract value of INR 13.50 crore.

The Pant-Kuldeep swap ranks among the biggest player-to-player trades ever seen in the IPL. Despite taking a pay cut of INR 12 crore, Pant chose to return to the franchise where he built his IPL legacy and remains Delhi Capitals' most-capped player with 111 appearances. Meanwhile, Kuldeep leaves Delhi after five successful seasons to begin a new chapter with Lucknow Super Giants. Completed just weeks after the end of IPL 2026, the deal quickly became one of the most sought-after and high-profile transfers in league history, making it a deserving No. 1 on this list.