Sunrisers Hyderabad bring back T Natarajan in trade with Delhi Capitals, Zeeshan Ansari heads to Capitals

Natarajan returns to Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have brought T Natarajan back into their setup ahead of IPL 2027, successfully completing a player trade with Delhi Capitals (DC). Leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari moves in the opposite direction, joining the Capitals.

The Capitals had acquired Natarajan for INR 10.75 crore at the 2025 player auction, but he featured in only 12 matches for them across two seasons, picking up five wickets. He will now rejoin Sunrisers at a revised fee of INR 5 crore.

A familiar franchise and a standout season

Natarajan represented Sunrisers from 2020 to 2024 and enjoyed his most productive IPL season in 2024, when he picked up 19 wickets to finish as the team's leading wicket-taker. The left-arm pacer played a key role in Sunrisers' run to the final that year.

Across 73 IPL matches, Natarajan has taken 72 wickets at an average of 32.97 and an economy of 9.21.

A winding IPL journey

Natarajan was part of the Punjab franchise in his maiden IPL season in 2017 before moving to SRH at a price of INR 40 lakh ahead of IPL 2018. He did not play that year due to an injury, nor did he get a game in the following year after being retained by SRH. He was bought back by SRH ahead of IPL 2022 for INR 4 crore.

Ansari heads to the Capitals

Ansari played 10 matches for SRH during his first IPL season in 2025. The 26-year-old Uttar Pradesh leg-spinner made an immediate impact on his debut, taking three wickets against the Capitals, and finished the 2025 edition with six wickets. He was retained by Sunrisers ahead of IPL 2026 but did not play a game. He will join the Capitals at his existing fee of INR 40 lakh and is expected to add depth to their spin department.

The trade gives Sunrisers a experienced left-arm option for their pace attack, while Delhi gain a spinner who has already shown he can perform on the big stage.