Natarajan back at SRH on Rs 5 crore as Zeeshan Ansari joins Delhi Capitals
Representative image: Auk002 / Pixabay
Fast bowler T Natarajan returns to Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 5 crore and spinner Zeeshan Ansari moves to Delhi Capitals in an IPL 2027 player trade announced on 14 October 2026.
What Happened
Fast bowler T Natarajan is returning to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) ahead of the 2027 Indian Premier League season, in a player trade with Delhi Capitals (DC) announced on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. In exchange, spinner Zeeshan Ansari moves from SRH to Delhi Capitals. Natarajan rejoins his old franchise at a fee of Rs 5 crore, down from the Rs 10.75 crore Delhi paid for him at the 2025 auction, a cut of Rs 5.75 crore. Ansari moves to Delhi at his existing fee of Rs 40 lakh. The IPL confirmed the trade in a release, and Delhi Capitals announced it on its own website.
Key Facts
- Trade announced: 14 October 2026, ahead of IPL 2027.
- T Natarajan: Delhi Capitals to Sunrisers Hyderabad, at Rs 5 crore (previously Rs 10.75 crore with DC).
- Zeeshan Ansari: Sunrisers Hyderabad to Delhi Capitals, at Rs 40 lakh.
- Natarajan's earlier SRH spell: 2020 to 2024, with his best season in 2024, when he took 19 wickets.
- Natarajan's IPL record: 72 wickets in 73 matches, according to one report.
- At Delhi: 12 matches and 5 wickets over the last two seasons, according to the franchise.
- Ansari at SRH: 10 matches and six wickets in IPL 2025.
Why It Matters
Natarajan's move back to Hyderabad is a homecoming. His best years in the IPL came in SRH colours, including a 19-wicket season in 2024, and his time at Delhi was much quieter, with five wickets in 12 matches over two seasons. Taking a pay cut of Rs 5.75 crore to return shows how much both the player and the franchise value the fit: SRH gets back a fast bowler who knows its set-up, at less than half the price Delhi paid.
For Zeeshan Ansari, the trade is a chance to build on a promising first season. Six wickets in 10 matches for SRH in 2025 marked him out as a spinner worth keeping, and a move to Delhi may give him more opportunities in a new environment. For young cricketers, his path, from a modest Rs 40 lakh contract to being a player another franchise wants to trade for, shows how quickly a good season can change a career.
The trade also shows how franchises can use player trades before the auction to fill gaps, manage budgets and bring back players they trust, rather than relying only on the auction.
| Player | From | To | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| T Natarajan | Delhi Capitals | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Rs 5 crore |
| Zeeshan Ansari | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Delhi Capitals | Rs 40 lakh |
Impact
Short-term: SRH strengthens its pace attack at a lower cost, freeing money for the auction. Delhi adds a young spinner and clears a large salary from its books.
Long-term: Natarajan's return could restore a successful partnership, while Ansari's move gives him a new platform to establish himself in the IPL.
Who is affected: Natarajan and Ansari, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals, their fans, and other franchises planning trades before IPL 2027.
Key Takeaway
T Natarajan returns to Sunrisers Hyderabad at Rs 5 crore, a Rs 5.75 crore pay cut, while young spinner Zeeshan Ansari moves to Delhi Capitals in an IPL 2027 trade.
Questions and Answers
Is Natarajan back at SRH?
Yes. T Natarajan has been traded from Delhi Capitals to Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of IPL 2027, in a deal announced on 14 October 2026.
How much will Natarajan earn at SRH?
Natarajan joins SRH at Rs 5 crore, down from the Rs 10.75 crore Delhi Capitals paid for him at the 2025 auction, a cut of Rs 5.75 crore.
Who did Delhi Capitals get in the Natarajan trade?
Delhi Capitals received spinner Zeeshan Ansari, who moves at his existing fee of Rs 40 lakh.
How did Zeeshan Ansari perform for SRH?
Ansari played 10 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025 and took six wickets.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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