Big breaking news is coming in from the IPL. Chennai Super Kings, one of the league’s most popular and successful franchises, and a resurgent Sunrisers Hyderabad have completed a major four-player trade ahead of IPL 2027.
CSK have traded two match-winning fast bowlers, Khaleel Ahmed and Nathan Ellis, to SRH. In return, Chennai have brought in all-rounders Liam Livingstone and Jack Edwards.
CSK and SRH Trade: All Four Player Fees
Livingstone joins Chennai at a revised fee of ₹6 crore, down from the ₹13 crore SRH paid for him. Edwards moves at his existing fee of ₹3 crore.
| Player | Move | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Liam Livingstone | SRH to CSK | ₹6 crore |
| Jack Edwards | SRH to CSK | ₹3 crore |
| Khaleel Ahmed | CSK to SRH | ₹4.8 crore |
| Nathan Ellis | CSK to SRH | ₹2 crore |
Why CSK Appear to Have Made a Big Mistake
Looking at the players exchanged, SRH appear to have secured the better deal. Chennai have given away two quality pacers who could have been part of their playing XI when fit. They now need to cover the gap created by those departures.
Ellis is the biggest concern in this decision. His variations and ability to bowl difficult overs make him a valuable death-bowling option. There is a strong case for placing him among the best in that role, and SRH have acquired him for just ₹2 crore.
Had Ellis entered the auction, he could have attracted a much higher bid. That makes his departure at this price particularly difficult to justify from CSK’s perspective.
Khaleel’s exit also takes away an experienced Indian left-arm pace option. By giving up both bowlers in the same deal, Chennai have created more work for themselves in rebuilding their pace attack.
How All Four Players Performed in IPL 2026
Livingstone had a disappointing season for SRH, scoring just 15 runs in two matches before losing his place. His reduced fee makes him cheaper, but Chennai are still investing in a player coming off a poor IPL campaign.
Edwards did not play a match in IPL 2026 after a foot injury ruled him out. He therefore arrives without a performance from last season to establish his IPL credentials.
Khaleel played five matches and took two wickets, with an average of 73.00 and an economy rate of 8.67. His season ended early because of a right quadriceps injury.
Ellis also missed the entire IPL 2026 season, having been ruled out with a hamstring injury.
The concern for Chennai is the value of the roles they have surrendered. They have exchanged two specialist pace options for an all-rounder who struggled last season and another who could not feature. On that basis, SRH look to have won this trade, while CSK’s decision appears to be a significant mistake.
