Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to ensure complete financial transparency in Indian Premier League player trades. In his Mid-Day column, the legendary batter called for all financial details of high-profile franchise transfers to be made public.
The IPL has seen several major player trades outside the traditional auction process. With the trading window open, franchises are exploring direct player swaps and other deals to strengthen their squads. Several teams are expected to remain active in the trade market during the ongoing IPL off-season.
Sunil Gavaskar Demands Public Disclosure of IPL Trade Amounts
Sunil Gavaskar believes the current IPL trading system lacks transparency because only the two franchises, the player and the BCCI, know the financial details of a trade. He argued that the remaining franchises should also have access to the figures to ensure every team follows the salary cap rules.
“There’s some speculation in the media about the possible switching of players from one franchise to another. There’s, of course, still some time for that window to be closed. However, while transfer of a player from one franchise to another is in the public domain, when a trade takes place, then the numbers are known only to the two franchises, the player and BCCI,” Sunil Gavaskar wrote in his Mid-Day column.
“In such a situation, the other franchises don’t know if the salary cap that every franchise has for its squad was maintained or breached. That’s why it’s important for full transparency that the numbers are also out in the public domain,” he added.
Sunil Gavaskar Wants IPL to Avoid ‘Finger-Pointing’
Sunil Gavaskar also stated that transparency would help protect the IPL's reputation. He believes making trade amounts public would reduce questions about whether teams have followed the competition's rules.
“The IPL is the greatest T20 league in the world, and it’s therefore crucial that full transparency is maintained so that there’s no finger-pointing at it from those jealous of it,” Gavaskar wrote.
The former India captain's comments come at a time when player trades has become an important part of IPL squad planning. Franchises now use the trading window to make major changes outside the mini auction.
Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav and Sanju Samson Feature in Recent Trades
Several high-profile trades have taken place around the IPL in recent seasons. Before the 2026 season, Sanju Samson moved from Rajasthan Royals to Chennai Super Kings, with his league fee reported at ₹18 crore.
After the 2026 season, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants completed another major swap involving Rishabh Pant and Kuldeep Yadav. Pant moved from Lucknow Super Giants to Delhi Capitals for a reported ₹15 crore fee, while Kuldeep joined Lucknow for ₹13.50 crore.
Hardik Pandya has also returned to the centre of trade speculation. The Mumbai Indians all-rounder previously made the biggest trade in IPL history when he moved from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians before the 2024 season. However, there is no official confirmation of his departure from Mumbai.
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