IPL News: T Natarajan Returns to SRH in Player Trade

Sunrisers Hyderabad have brought back their former death-overs specialist T Natarajan ahead of IPL 2027. In a trade deal with Delhi Capitals, the left-arm pacer returns to SRH, while young leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari moves in the opposite direction.

Natarajan previously represented Sunrisers Hyderabad for five seasons, from 2020 to 2024, and played an important role in their bowling attack. His ability to deliver accurate yorkers, particularly in the death overs, made him one of the team’s most reliable Indian fast bowlers.

Delhi Capitals had signed Natarajan for ₹10.75 crore at the IPL mega auction. However, under the latest trade agreement, the Tamil Nadu pacer returns to Hyderabad at a revised contract value of ₹5 crore. Zeeshan Ansari, meanwhile, joins Delhi Capitals at his existing salary of ₹40 lakh.

The trade appears to be a well-planned move by both franchises, with Hyderabad looking to strengthen their pace attack and Delhi aiming to add another wicket-taking spin option.

Why SRH Needed T Natarajan Ahead of IPL 2027

Sunrisers Hyderabad have struggled with their fast-bowling combination in recent seasons. Despite having experienced bowlers such as Jaydev Unadkat and Harshal Patel, the team has often failed to maintain control during the death overs.

Both bowlers have struggled to deliver consistently in pressure situations, leaving SRH vulnerable in the final stages of an innings.

Although young pacers like Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain have shown promise alongside Pat Cummins, Hyderabad still lack experienced Indian fast bowlers who can handle difficult situations.

Another concern for SRH is the potential uncertainty surrounding Cummins’ availability and workload management. If the Australian captain misses matches, Hyderabad could be left with a relatively inexperienced pace attack.

This is where Natarajan’s return becomes particularly important.

The left-arm pacer has considerable IPL experience and is known for his accurate yorkers and ability to bowl under pressure. More importantly, he understands the SRH setup, having spent five seasons with the franchise.

His arrival gives Hyderabad an experienced Indian death-overs specialist and provides much-needed balance to their fast-bowling department.

Why Delhi Capitals Traded Natarajan for Zeeshan Ansari

While Natarajan’s departure might surprise some Delhi Capitals supporters, the decision makes sense when looking at their current squad.

Delhi already have a strong fast-bowling attack featuring Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidi and Mukesh Kumar. The franchise also have several young bowling options, giving them sufficient depth in the pace department.

However, their spin attack needed strengthening following Kuldeep Yadav’s move to Lucknow Super Giants.

Kuldeep was one of Delhi’s most important wicket-taking bowlers, particularly during the middle overs. His departure created a gap that the franchise needed to address before IPL 2027.

Delhi have now turned to Zeeshan Ansari, a promising leg-spinner from Uttar Pradesh.

Ansari has impressed with his performances in the UP T20 League, where his variations and ability to pick up wickets have attracted attention.

Unlike a defensive spinner who primarily focuses on controlling the scoring rate, Ansari offers an attacking option capable of taking wickets during the middle overs.

By bringing him into the squad, Delhi Capitals have strengthened an area that required attention without disturbing their established pace-bowling combination.

Can T Natarajan Make an Impact for SRH in IPL 2027?

T Natarajan’s return to Sunrisers Hyderabad could be one of the franchise’s most important moves ahead of IPL 2027.

SRH needed an experienced Indian fast bowler who could handle the death overs, and Natarajan fits that requirement perfectly. His familiarity with the franchise should also help him settle into the bowling unit quickly.

For Delhi Capitals, the arrival of Zeeshan Ansari provides a promising solution to their spin-bowling concerns.

Ultimately, the success of this trade will depend on how both players perform during the season. However, from a squad-building perspective, both franchises appear to have addressed important areas of concern ahead of IPL 2027.