Ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League season, a significant trade development has emerged in the tournament transfer window. Two-time purple cap winner and seasoned fast bowler Harshal Patel is set to leave Sunrisers Hyderabad and join the Gujarat Titans squad. According to reports, the deal has been finalized for a cash amount of 4 crore rupees, which is exactly half of the price he fetched during the 2025 mega auction. Following this high-profile switch, the player will get an opportunity to represent his home franchise, while the purchasing team's auction purse will see a direct deduction of the same amount.
Cash Deal Secures the Move to Gujarat Titans
Media reports indicate that an agreement was reached directly between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans for this transfer. Instead of a player swap, the transaction was completed through a direct cash purchase. This ensures that the bowler transitions smoothly into a setup where he can play in familiar regional surroundings.
A Fifth Different Franchise in the Tournament
This upcoming stint will mark the fifth different team for the right-arm pacer in his extensive tournament career. He has previously represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals, Punjab Kings, and spent the last two seasons with Sunrisers Hyderabad. His absolute peak performances came during the 2021 and 2024 editions. During the 2021 season, playing for RCB, he claimed an astonishing 32 wickets, while in 2024 while representing Punjab Kings, he added 24 scalps to his tally, emerging as the tournament's leading wicket-taker on both occasions.
Limited Opportunities During the Previous Season
When Sunrisers Hyderabad acquired his services for 8 crore rupees at the 2025 mega auction, expectations were substantial. During that campaign, he featured in 13 matches and secured 16 wickets while maintaining an economy rate of 9.80. However, the scenario shifted dramatically during the subsequent 2026 season where regular playing chances dried up. The team management preferred utilizing young talents like Prafull Hinge and Sakib Hussain instead. Consequently, he could only make five appearances that year, remaining wicketless while conceding runs at an economy rate of 10.82.
Returning to Home Roots and Strengthening the Bowling Unit
Approaching the age of 36, the seasoned bowler has strong personal ties to Ahmedabad, having relocated there some years ago to play domestic cricket. This trade places him alongside a formidable pace attack featuring Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Jason Holder. Interestingly, Gujarat had previously placed a 10.5 crore bid for him during the 2024 auction before backing out, allowing Punjab Kings to secure him for 11.75 crore, and also bid up to 6.5 crore during the 2025 auction before missing out.
