With the IPL 2025 mega auction rules announced, fans and franchises are left wondering about the availability of the trading window, especially after rumors about trades involving big players like Suryakumar Yadav and Rohit Sharma. However, it has been clarified that the trade window is not available before a mega auction. This means that no trades can happen in the lead-up to IPL 2025.
Why No Trading Before the Mega Auction?
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has long confirmed that the mega auction will be held before IPL 2025. According to IPL trade rules, the trading window cannot take place ahead of a mega auction. As a result, rumors of possible trades of high-profile players such as Suryakumar Yadav to Kolkata Knight Riders or potential deals involving Rohit Sharma will not materialize this year.
Trades can only be made around the mini auction, which takes place after the IPL tournament in a regular season. After the IPL 2025, the trading window will open for the IPL 2026 season, where teams will have the chance to negotiate and swap players.
How the Trade Window Works in IPL
The trade window generally opens about a month after an IPL season ends and remains open until a week before the auction. A second window is also available after the auction, which closes a month before the new season begins. This gives franchises the opportunity to strengthen their teams or offload players as they see fit.
One of the notable trades in recent IPL history includes Hardik Pandya’s return to the Mumbai Indians in 2024 from Gujarat Titans, which ultimately didn’t yield successful results for the team. Another significant trade was Hardik Pandya’s move to Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans in 2023, where MI traded Cameron Green to Royal Challengers Bengaluru to make room for Hardik.
With no trade window ahead of IPL 2025, all player movements will occur through the mega auction, with trading options reopening before the IPL 2026 season.