IPL 2026 Trade Window Explained: How It Works and Schedule

Although IPL 2025 has just wrapped up, the buzz for the next season is already in full swing, and that’s all thanks to the IPL 2026 trade window. This crucial period allows franchises to recalibrate their squads, swap players, and even seal major cash deals ahead of IPL 2026. With high-profile names already in the rumor mill, the excitement is soaring long before the auction.

So, what exactly is the IPL trade window and how does it work? Let’s break it down.

How the IPL Trade Window Works?

The IPL trade window is a special transfer period that occurs before and after the IPL auction. During this time, teams can negotiate deals to either:

• Trade a player in exchange for another player
• Purchase a player through an all-cash deal

The most notable example of such a trade is Hardik Pandya’s switch from the Gujarat Titans back to the Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2024. It was an all-cash deal that made headlines, and similar surprises are expected this year too.

There are two official phases when the IPL trade window is active:

1. Pre-Auction Window
   • Opens at 9 AM (IST), seven days after the IPL season ends
   • Closes at 5 PM (IST), seven days before the IPL auction
   • For IPL 2026, the first trade window opened on June 10, as IPL 2025 concluded on June 3
2. Post-Auction Window
   • Opens at 9 AM (IST) the day after the IPL auction concludes
   • Closes at 5 PM (IST), 30 days before the next IPL season begins
   • Example: If the auction ends on December 10, 2025, the window reopens on December 11, and will close around February 22, 2026, if the league begins on March 22

These periods are vital for team strategy as they allow franchises to offload underperforming players and bring in fresh talent ahead of the season.

Also, see:

Sanju Samson’s Transfer to CSK Likely During IPL 2026 Trade Window: Reports