There are a lot of rumors going around regarding IPL trading, especially after reports suggesting Sanju Samson is willing to go to Chennai Super Kings. Reports from Cricbuzz have claimed that Rajasthan Royals, the team Samson is currently signed to, has demanded either of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravindra Jadeja or Shivam Dube in exchange for Sanju Samson. And thus the trading has been halted, as CSK seems unwilling to say yes. But how does this trading work? Unlike football transfers, which are global, agent-driven, and often involve huge fees and complex negotiations, cricket league transfers (like in the IPL) are seasonal, structured within trading windows, and bound by salary caps and league rules. And it is not that the franchises are undergoing trades for the first time. In recent times, Hardik Pandya has been one of the most lucrative transfers when he left Gujarat Titans and joined Mumbai Indians as the captain in 2024 for INR 15 crore. Here are some often-asked questions that will be answered: 1 | How many types of trades are in IPL? There are two types of trading: the one-way trading and the two-way trading. One-way trade: It involves cash and the player. That means if a team wants to trade a player, the other one will play the amount. Normally, the player's auction price is being paid to the team that traded him/her. As in Hardik Pandya's case, Mumbai Indians paid INR 15 crore to Gujarat Titans. Two-way trade: It involves payer trading, mostly like-for-like transfers. In this case, Team A will get a player of a similar role as the traded player from team B. If there is any difference in price between the two players, Team B will pay that money to team A. In Samson's case, it seems like a two-way trade, as RR demanded wither of the three players. But CSK naturally denied, as it Samson's role fits none of the three's. 2 | When does trading happen? Trading happens in two phases: the pre-auction and the post auction window. Pre-auction window: Opens a month after the season ends and closes one week before the auction. Post-Auction Window: Reopens the day after the auction and remains open until a month before the next season begins. 3 | Is player's concent valid in transfer? Yes. A player's consent is valid; rather, it is mandatory before being traded. However, he has to get a no-objection certificate (NOC), to be eligible for the transfer. Read also: 3 Teams That Could Target Sanju Samson in IPL 2026 Trade After CSK Pulls Out 4 | What is Transfer fee? Do players get percentages? A transfer fee is the sum paid by one franchise to another when a player is traded, in addition to the player’s original price. The amount is decided mutually by both franchises before finalizing the trade. There is no official cap on the transfer fee, and the exact figure is known only to the IPL and the franchises involved. Under the contract, a player may receive up to 50% of the transfer fee, depending on the arrangement made with the selling franchise. However, there is no assurance that the player will get any portion of this fee. Importantly, the transfer fee does not count toward the team’s auction purse, allowing franchises to spend more than their auction budget to acquire the players they desire. IPL 2026 Trade Rumors Player Present Team Probable future team Sanju Samson RR CSK KL Rahul DC KKR / CSK Devon Conway CSK GT Ishan Kishan SRH MI Venkatesh Iyer KKR SRH / RCB