Chennai: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have completed a four-player trade ahead of the IPL 2027 season, with the franchises exchanging two players each as they prepare for next month’s mini auction.
England all-rounder Liam Livingstone and Australian all-rounder Jack Edwards will move to Chennai, while Indian pacer Khaleel Ahmed and Australian fast bowler Nathan Ellis will join Hyderabad.
The trade allows CSK to add depth to their all-rounder options, while SRH strengthen their pace attack. It also gives Livingstone an opportunity to rebuild his IPL career after a disappointing season with Hyderabad. Edwards, meanwhile, will get a fresh start after missing IPL 2026 due to injury.
Livingstone, who was signed by SRH for Rs 13 crore, will join CSK at a revised salary of Rs 6 crore. Edwards will retain his existing fee of Rs 3 crore. In exchange, Khaleel will return to SRH at Rs 4.8 crore, while Ellis will move at his existing salary of Rs 2 crore.
Liam Livingstone, Jack Edwards Join Chennai Super Kings
Livingstone’s move comes after a brief and underwhelming stint with SRH in IPL 2026. The England all-rounder played only two matches, scoring 15 runs at a strike rate of 60, and struggled to secure a regular place in the side.
The 32-year-old will now represent his fifth IPL franchise. He has previously featured for Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings. His ability to hit big in the middle order, along with his off-spin and leg-spin options, gives CSK another versatile player.
Edwards, who is yet to make his IPL debut, was signed by Hyderabad ahead of the 2026 season but could not take the field after suffering a foot injury.
The 25-year-old had a productive Big Bash League 2025-26 campaign for Sydney Sixers, taking 19 wickets and scoring 133 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 168.35. His all-round skills could offer Chennai another option across departments.
Khaleel Ahmed, Nathan Ellis Head To Sunrisers Hyderabad
SRH have added two fast bowlers to their squad through the deal. Khaleel returns to the franchise after representing Hyderabad from 2018 to 2021, before moving to Chennai.
The left-arm pacer took 15 wickets in 14 appearances during his first season with CSK. However, injuries affected his subsequent campaign. He played only five matches in IPL 2026, claiming two wickets at an economy rate of 8.67, before a right quadriceps injury ruled him out.
Ellis also had an injury-disrupted spell with Chennai. The Australian fast bowler was expected to feature in IPL 2026 but aggravated a hamstring issue before the tournament and missed the entire season while undergoing rehabilitation.
Known for his variations and death-over bowling, Ellis brings specialist white-ball experience to Hyderabad’s pace department.
CSK And SRH Look To Fill Squad Gaps Before IPL 2027 Auction
The four-player exchange follows another trade involving SRH earlier this year. The franchise brought left-arm pacer T Natarajan back from Delhi Capitals, with leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari moving to the Delhi-based team.
With the IPL 2027 mini auction approaching, the latest deal gives both franchises an opportunity to address specific squad requirements before entering the auction pool. Their remaining squad slots and available purse will now be important factors in shaping their combinations for the new season.
