Yashasvi Jaiswal has been backed to move to Lucknow Super Giants and take on the captaincy role ahead of the IPL 2027 mini-auction, which is scheduled
for December 16 in Goa, with a franchise briefing set for December 15. Reports suggest that Rajasthan Royals are planning to send Jaiswal to Mumbai Indians as part of a swap deal that would bring Hardik Pandya to Jaipur, while Lucknow Super Giants are separately discussing a potential multi-player trade involving three or four players with Rajasthan Royals, with a deal said to be agreed upon in principle.
The speculation around Jaiswal centres on whether the franchise would hand him the leadership role if a trade is completed. One voice that has weighed in on the matter is former cricketer and multiple IPL titles winner Ambati Rayudu, who has offered a series of predictions covering multiple franchises ahead of the auction window.
"They need an Indian captain who is hungry to lead the franchise for a decade. I think Yashasvi Jaiswal will be a great option for them and good for him too," Rayudu said via Cricbuzz.
What other trade moves has Rayudu predicted for IPL 2027?
The former wicketkeeper-batter predicted that Gujarat Titans would look at Venkatesh Iyer as a potential trade target to address their middle-order batting needs. He also suggested that Royal Challengers Bengaluru could target Yuzvendra Chahal in a trade, citing the need for a leg-spinner on slow surfaces.
"They need a spinner, maybe a leg-spinner. The wickets are going to be slow," Rayudu said.
Rayudu's predictions span several franchises and cover a wide range of player profiles. He suggested that Nehal Wadhera would move from Mumbai Indians to Punjab Kings, describing him as a "solid No. 4 batter who can play spin as well as pace". Rayudu also tipped Shai Hope to join the Delhi Capitals as an opening partner for KL Rahul.
On the bowling front, Rayudu predicted that Sunrisers Hyderabad would pursue Sam Curran in a trade. The reasoning offered was that bringing in Curran would allow Heinrich Klaasen to bat at a higher position in the order and reduce the bowling pressure on Pat Cummins. Rayudu also flagged that Royal Challengers Bengaluru would need spin reinforcement, with Nehal Wadhera noting,
The cricketer-turned-commentator further predicted that Chennai Super Kings would look for a Hardik Pandya-type player to strengthen their middle order. He also named Suryakumar Yadav as a potential captain for Kolkata Knight Riders, citing Suryakumar's previous experience with the franchise as a factor in that prediction.
What confirmed trades have taken place ahead of IPL 2027?
While much of the pre-auction movement remains at the prediction or rumour stage, one confirmed trade has already been completed. Nathan Ellis has moved from Chennai Super Kings to Sunrisers Hyderabad, marking the first confirmed trade of the IPL 2027 cycle. Alongside that, Khaleel Ahmed has also moved to the Hyderabad-based franchise with CSK getting Jack Edwards and Liam Livingstone in their pool.
Arshdeep Singh is strongly rumoured to be moving in the opposite direction, with reports linking him to Mumbai Indians, though that deal has not been officially confirmed. The Hardik Pandya trade to Punjab Kings also remains unconfirmed at this stage. All franchises are expected to finalise their retained and traded squads before the December 15 briefing in Goa ahead of the mini-auction the following day.
