The Indian Premier League (IPL) trade window ahead of the 2027 season is heating up, with two major franchises, Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), locked in active negotiations over a blockbuster deal. As per a Cricbuzz report, at the heart of the discussions is a high-profile swap involving veteran Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami and England's star all-rounder Sam Curran.

LSG and RR in talks over Mohammed Shami–Sam Curran trade

The two teams have been engaged in trade talks since at least November 6, 2026. While the final paperwork is yet to be signed, the players involved have reportedly been approached. Should the deal cross the finish line, it will mark back-to-back pre-season trades for both Shami and Curran, both of whom switched franchises prior to the IPL 2026 campaign.

Unlike a straightforward one-for-one player swap, the ongoing negotiations between Jaipur and Lucknow involve multiple moving parts and financial balancing.

Because Mohammed Shami carries a heavy ₹10 crore price tag compared to Sam Curran’s ₹2.40 crore contract, the trade requires additional player movement and purse adjustments to satisfy IPL trading regulations. Tamil Nadu left-arm spinner Manimaran Siddharth, who was acquired by LSG for ₹75 lakh and has played nine IPL matches for the franchise (claiming nine wickets in 2024, including the prized scalp of Virat Kohli), is also understood to be part of the package heading to Rajasthan Royals.

Earlier in the trade window, Rajasthan Royals had also inquired about acquiring both Shami and left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan in separate discussions involving star opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, LSG balked at parting with both of their premier Indian fast bowlers simultaneously, causing those initial talks to stall before shifting focus toward the current Shami–Curran framework.

Why Rajasthan Royals want Mohammed Shami?

For Rajasthan Royals, pursuing Mohammed Shami is a targeted move to inject battle-hardened Indian pace experience into their bowling unit. Having relied heavily on domestic pacers like Sandeep Sharma and Tushar Deshpande alongside overseas quick Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, the Royals view Shami as an ideal new-ball and death-overs enforcer.

Despite recently announcing his retirement from Test cricket, Shami proved during IPL 2026 that he remains a potent force in the shortest format, serving as the backbone of LSG’s bowling attack. Pairing Shami’s seam movement and tactical acumen with Jofra Archer would give Rajasthan one of the most formidable new-ball pairings in the tournament.

Furthermore, Shami’s arrival in the Royals dressing room would create a fascinating generational pairing alongside teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Having an experienced World Cup veteran and seasoned campaigner like Shami mentoring young talents in the Jaipur camp adds intangible leadership value beyond his four overs with the ball.

Why Lucknow Super Giants Are eyeing Sam Curran?

From Lucknow Super Giants' perspective, the proposed trade serves two distinct objectives: purse flexibility and all-round squad balance.

Trading away Shami’s ₹10 crore contract while bringing in Sam Curran at ₹2.40 crore frees up substantial salary cap space for LSG ahead of the IPL 2027 mini-auction. With high-value assets already on their books—including marquee wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, the extra financial cushion will allow LSG to aggressively target domestic and overseas replacements in the auction room.

LSG are keen to bolster their batting depth and lower-order finishing. Sam Curran’s ability to strike cleanly in the death overs, bowl tricky cutters, and provide a left-handed batting option makes him a natural fit for Lucknow's middle-to-lower order.

A key factor driving LSG’s interest is Cricket Director Tom Moody’s familiarity with Curran. The England all-rounder has previously played under Moody’s guidance at the Oval Invincibles in The Hundred and the Desert Vipers in the ILT20. That established trust makes LSG confident they can extract the best out of Curran, especially after he endured a frustrating IPL 2026 season at Rajasthan Royals where he failed to feature in a single match.

What lies ahead before IPL 2027 retention deadline?

While both franchises see clear strategic upside in the deal, several pieces must still fall into place before the IPL Governing Council officially ratifies the transfer. Under IPL trade rules, any multi-player trade involving a significant salary differential requires formal consent from all players involved, clearance of medical checks, and final approval on purse adjustments.

For Sam Curran, a move to Lucknow offers an immediate lifeline to revive his IPL career after spending all of 2026 on the Rajasthan bench under head coach Kumar Sangakkara. For Mohammed Shami, a switch to Pink provides a fresh stage to spearhead a championship-contending bowling attack alongside Jofra Archer and share the dressing room with rising stars like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.