T Natarajan Returns to Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL Trade with Delhi Capitals
By NajamSports Team | 14 October 2026
Sunrisers Hyderabad have brought back their trusted yorker specialist. The T Natarajan trade is official — the left-arm pacer is returning to Sunrisers Hyderabad from Delhi Capitals for Rs 5 crore, while young leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari moves the other way to Delhi at his existing fee of Rs 40 lakh. The IPL announced the swap deal today, and it is one of the most interesting trades ahead of IPL 2027.
Honestly, this one feels like a homecoming that was always on the cards. Natarajan played five seasons for SRH between 2020 and 2024 and was the heart of their death bowling. Let me break down what exactly happened and why it matters for both sides.
What Happened?
The IPL trade window ahead of the 2027 season is open, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have used it smartly. T Natarajan, whom Delhi Capitals had bought for Rs 10.75 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction, returns to his old franchise at a revised fee of Rs 5 crore — less than half of what Delhi paid for him.
In the same deal, Delhi Capitals get Zeeshan Ansari, a young leg-spinner from the SRH setup, at his existing fee of Rs 40 lakh. It is a straight swap arrangement, and both franchises clearly see something they want.
Natarajan's Record with Sunrisers Hyderabad
Let us not forget what Natarajan did in that orange jersey. He represented SRH for five straight seasons (2020–2024) and became one of the franchise's most reliable Indian seamers. His accurate yorkers, especially in the death overs, made him a genuine match-winner on his day.
- IPL 2024 was his best season — 19 wickets, SRH's leading wicket-taker that year.
- He played a key role in SRH's run to the final in 2024.
- Five seasons, one franchise, and a reputation as one of the finest death-over specialists in the league.
Why This News Matters
For SRH, this is smart business. They are getting back a bowler who knows their system, their home ground in Hyderabad, and their dressing room culture — at Rs 5 crore, not Rs 10.75 crore. A death-overs specialist with five seasons of SRH experience for half the mega-auction price? That is a bargain in my book.
For Delhi Capitals, the thinking is also clear. Zeeshan Ansari is a young leg-spinner, and good wrist-spinners are rare currency in the IPL. At Rs 40 lakh, it is a low-risk investment with high upside. Plus, Delhi had just paid over ten crore for Natarajan — moving him on at a reduced trade value suggests they are reshaping their pace attack around other plans.
IPL 2027 Trade Window Heating Up
This is not the only movement ahead of next season. Earlier in the trade window, wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant returned to Delhi Capitals from Lucknow Super Giants (taking a pay cut from Rs 15 crore to Rs 12 crore), while wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav moved to Lucknow at Rs 13.5 crore. The message is simple — franchises are not waiting for the auction; they are rebuilding through trades right now.
Our Analysis
In my opinion, SRH are the clear winners of this swap. They fix their death bowling, which struggled without a specialist yorker bowler, and they do it at a price that leaves auction money in the bank. Natarajan at 5 crore could easily be the value signing of this trade window — if he stays fit, which has been his only real concern in recent years.
Delhi, meanwhile, are clearly betting on youth. Ansari is largely unproven at this level, but so was every leg-spinner before their breakout season. The real question is whether Delhi's pace attack now has enough Indian experience without Natarajan. That is something we will only know when the new season begins.
Conclusion
T Natarajan is back in orange. The Rs 5 crore trade brings SRH's favourite death bowler home, while Delhi Capitals take a chance on young Zeeshan Ansari. The IPL 2027 trade window is clearly heating up, and more deals are likely before the auction.
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Read more: Sourav Ganguly appointed Delhi Capitals head coach for IPL 2027, and check out our latest on Indian cricket — Shikhar Dhawan's legal action against T20 Continent Cup organisers. You can also read our IND vs WI 4th T20I preview from Hyderabad — Hyderabad being the home city SRH fans know so well.
Sources
- Indian Premier League official announcement (October 14, 2026)
- ABP Live — IPL Trade report (October 14, 2026)
- Indian Express — IPL trade report (October 14, 2026)