Natarajan returns to SRH, Zeeshan Ansari moves to DC in IPL 2027 trade
Synopsis
T. Natarajan is heading back to Sunrisers Hyderabad — the franchise where he built his IPL reputation — at a sharply revised fee of ₹5 crore, nearly half what Delhi Capitals paid for him at the 2025 mega auction. In exchange, leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari moves to DC, getting a fresh opportunity after sitting out the entire 2026 season.
Key Takeaways
Natarajan will rejoin Sunrisers Hyderabad at a revised fee of ₹5 crore , down from the ₹10.75 crore DC paid at the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Zeeshan Ansari moves to Delhi Capitals at his existing fee of ₹40 lakh after being benched for all of IPL 2026 at SRH.
Natarajan, 35 , claimed 19 wickets in 2024 — his best IPL season — to finish as SRH's leading wicket-taker and help them reach the final.
He has taken 72 wickets in 73 IPL matches at an economy rate of 9.21 .
Ansari has taken 6 wickets in 10 IPL appearances and will bolster DC's spin options alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel .
Indian left-arm pacer T. Natarajan will return to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), while leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari is set to join Delhi Capitals (DC) following a player trade between the two franchises ahead of the IPL 2027 season. The deal, confirmed by the IPL in an official release, sees Natarajan rejoin SRH at a revised fee of ₹5 crore, having originally been acquired by DC for ₹10.75 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Natarajan's Journey Back to Hyderabad
Natarajan, now 35, was a cornerstone of the Sunrisers setup between 2020 and 2024, with his best IPL campaign coming in 2024 when he claimed 19 wickets — finishing as SRH's leading wicket-taker and helping the side reach the final. His move to DC in 2025 was disrupted by a collarbone injury that kept him out of the franchise's first 10 matches, and he ultimately featured in just two matches that season. He returned more consistently in 2026, taking five wickets in 10 appearances. Across his IPL career, the Tamil Nadu pacer has played 73 matches, taking 72 wickets at an economy rate of 9.21, built on a reputation for precision yorkers and reliable death bowling.
What Natarajan Brings to SRH's Pace Attack
At SRH, Natarajan slots into a pace unit led by captain Pat Cummins, alongside youngsters Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain. The Hyderabad squad also includes Sri Lankan pacer Eshan Malinga, who has drawn attention for his performances. Natarajan's experience as a proven Indian pace option — particularly in high-pressure death overs — gives SRH a seasoned hand to complement their emerging talent.
Zeeshan Ansari Heads to Delhi Capitals
Zeeshan Ansari, 26, joins DC at his existing fee of ₹40 lakh after representing SRH in 10 matches during IPL 2025. He was benched for the entire IPL 2026 tournament at SRH, making this trade a fresh start for the leg-spinner. Ansari made an eye-catching IPL debut, claiming three wickets against Delhi Capitals, and has taken six wickets in 10 IPL appearances overall. At DC, he is expected to deepen a spin-bowling unit that already features Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel.
What This Means for Both Franchises
This trade reflects the increasingly strategic use of the mid-cycle exchange window ahead of IPL auctions, allowing franchises to reshape their squads without the uncertainty of open bidding. For SRH, it is a homecoming for a player who defines their recent identity. For DC, Ansari adds a wrist-spin dimension that could become useful given Kuldeep and Axar's international workloads. With IPL 2027 preparations underway, further trade activity between franchises is expected in the coming weeks.
Point of View
In turn, are betting on familiarity over freshness, which has a logic in T20 cricket where death-bowling muscle memory matters. The more interesting subplot is Ansari: a wrist-spinner who took three wickets on debut and then vanished from SRH's XI for an entire season. DC may have spotted an underused asset. Whether a change of dressing room is enough to unlock him will be one of IPL 2027's quieter subplots to watch.
NationPress
14 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is T. Natarajan returning to Sunrisers Hyderabad?
Natarajan is returning to SRH as part of a player trade with Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2027. SRH has re-signed him at a revised fee of ₹5 crore, and he rejoins the franchise where he spent his most productive IPL years, including a 19-wicket haul in 2024.
How much will Natarajan be paid at SRH in IPL 2027?
Natarajan will return to Sunrisers Hyderabad at a revised fee of ₹5 crore, significantly lower than the ₹10.75 crore Delhi Capitals had paid for him at the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Who is Zeeshan Ansari and why is he moving to Delhi Capitals?
Zeeshan Ansari is a 26-year-old leg-spinner who represented SRH in IPL 2025 before being benched for the entire 2026 season. He moves to Delhi Capitals at his existing fee of ₹40 lakh as part of the same trade that sends Natarajan back to Hyderabad.
What does Zeeshan Ansari add to Delhi Capitals' squad?
Ansari adds a wrist-spin option to DC's bowling attack, which already includes Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. He claimed three wickets on his IPL debut and has six wickets in 10 appearances, offering depth in the spin department.
How has Natarajan performed in his IPL career overall?
Natarajan has played 73 IPL matches and taken 72 wickets at an economy rate of 9.21. His standout campaign was in 2024, when he took 19 wickets for SRH and helped them reach the final. He is regarded as one of India's most reliable death-over bowlers in T20 cricket.
