Franchises are starting to form their teams for the upcoming season, and an important development involving Natarajan has brought his IPL journey back into focus. This step was taken by another young Indian It also presents an opportunity for the bowler to take on a new challenge, as teams look to strengthen their respective bowling attacks.

T Natarajan’s IPL journey takes a new turn

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have brought Natarajan back into their setup ahead of IPL 2027, Delhi Capitals (DC) After completing a player trade with. Under this deal, the leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari Will go in the opposite direction and join the Capitals. Delhi bought Natarajan for INR 10.75 crore in the IPL 2025 player auction. However, the fast bowler managed only five wickets in 12 matches for the franchise across two seasons. He will now join Sunrisers at a revised fee of INR 5 crore, while Ansari will remain at his current fee of INR 40 lakh.

The trade allows both franchises to adjust their bowling combinations ahead of the new season, with Sunrisers bringing back a familiar face and Delhi adding another spin option to their squad. Natarajan started his IPL career with the Punjab franchise in 2017, then moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad for 40 lakh INR ahead of the 2018 season. An injury kept him out of action in 2018, and he did not play in any matches the following year.

SRH bought back the left-arm fast bowler for INR 4 crore ahead of IPL 2022, and he gradually established himself as a key part of their bowling attack. His best campaign came in 2024, when he finished as the leading wicket-taker for Sunrisers that season with 19 wickets. Natarajan was instrumental in helping the team reach the final, playing key roles throughout the tournament. In his IPL career, the fast bowler has taken 72 wickets in 73 matches at an average of 32.97 and an economy rate of 9.21.

Zeeshan Ansari gets an opportunity at Delhi Capitals

Zeeshan Ansari made his IPL debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2025 and made an immediate impact against Delhi Capitals, taking three wickets in his debut match. The 26-year-old Uttar Pradesh leg-spinner finished his debut season with six wickets in 10 matches, showing promise in his debut campaign. Although SRH retained him ahead of IPL 2026, Ansari did not play in any matches that season.

He will now join Delhi Capitals for his current fee of INR 40 lakh, where he will look to get regular opportunities and make his place in the playing XI. Capitals ahead of IPL 2027 Rishabh Pant has been brought back into the franchise, Kuldeep Yadav To Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) After being traded in exchange for a wicketkeeper-batsman. Ansari’s arrival adds another spin option to the Delhi team, as the franchise is in the process of reshaping its squad for the upcoming season.