Ashutosh Sharma’s IPL 2027 trade is a live rumour, not an agreed deal. Gujarat Titans approached Delhi Capitals about him a couple of months ago and received no immediate response. Neither franchise has confirmed an agreement. Delhi’s new management and coach may take another look, with the retention and release deadline set for November 17.
Trade status (9 November 2026): reported interest only, with no official confirmation from GT, DC or the IPL.
Gujarat Titans and Delhi Capitals: Where the Ashutosh Sharma Trade Stands
Ashutosh Sharma to Gujarat Titans is the most credible link so far, but it is an approach and not a negotiation. GT had also reportedly explored a finisher-for-pacer deal involving Ashok Sharma with another franchise, and that proposal was not accepted. Note that this earlier report did not involve Delhi. Ashok Sharma, the GT pacer, is also a different player from Ashutosh, and headlines keep mixing the two up.
Delhi’s side is murkier. They are understood to be considering a swap for a fast bowler, though the other franchise is unclear. Claims about his availability also conflict. One trade update has cited journalist Kushan Sarkar saying he is not available, which I could not independently verify. Delhi may simply prefer to keep a proven Indian finisher over a reserve pacer.
Why Gujarat Titans Want Ashutosh Sharma for IPL 2027
Ashutosh Sharma offers GT a specialist for the last four overs. The Titans are believed to be considering the release of Shahrukh Khan, which would leave the finisher’s slot open.
GT’s Problem in the Lower Middle Order
GT’s batting is deep, but not built around a pure finisher. In their April 2026 game against Delhi, the scorecard had Sai Sudharsan opening ahead of Shubman Gill, with Jos Buttler, Washington Sundar at No. 4, Glenn Phillips at No. 5, and Rahul Tewatia at No. 6. Rashid Khan adds real hitting lower down. That is a strong order, but if Shahrukh leaves, Tewatia and Rashid would carry most of the late-overs workload.
Ashutosh Sharma’s IPL Record as a Finisher
His numbers make the case, with one caveat. The samples are small.
| Season | Runs | Average | Strike rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 189 | 27.00 | 167.26 |
| 2025 | 204 | 29.14 | 160.63 |
| 2026 | 171 | 34.20 | 181.91 |
| 2025–26 combined | 375 | 31.25 | 169.68 |
In 2026, he hit 15 fours and 12 sixes, so 27 boundaries in 171 runs. That marks him as an aggressive middle-order hitter. I haven’t seen a pace-versus-spin split, so I won’t claim he is better against one type. He also holds the record for the fastest men’s T20 fifty by an Indian batter, off 11 balls. Context matters, though. He missed an early 2026 game against GT because Sameer Rizvi was preferred, so his role in Delhi has not always been fixed.
Which GT Fast Bowler Could Delhi Capitals Demand?
Delhi’s need is specific. They traded T Natarajan to Sunrisers Hyderabad and are unsure about Mitchell Starc’s availability. After the Kuldeep Yadav-for-Rishabh Pant deal, their bowling has more gaps than their batting.
Possible GT Players DC Could Target
GT’s fast-bowling options include Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Arshad Khan, Gurnoor Brar, Kulwant Khejroliya, Rabada and Ishant Sharma, plus Ashok Sharma. The ranking below is my editorial assessment, not reported negotiation information, and I haven’t compared bowling statistics because I couldn’t verify a clean, like-for-like set.
| Player | Contract detail | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Ashok Sharma | INR 90 lakh | Tempting opening offer, but an October report described him as currently injured, which weakens his appeal to DC |
| Gurnoor Brar | INR 1.30 crore | Realistic Indian pace option for Delhi |
| Arshad Khan | INR 1.30 crore | Seam-bowling all-rounder, adds batting depth |
| Kulwant Khejroliya | Squad depth | Possible make-weight in a larger package |
| Ishant Sharma | INR 75 lakh | Experienced but declining. He took four wickets in seven matches at an economy of 11.18 in 2025 |
| Prasidh Krishna | Core pace option | High value, hard for GT to surrender |
| Mohammed Siraj | Core pace option | Very unlikely to be a sacrifice |
| Kagiso Rabada | INR 10.75 crore | Too valuable to exchange without a substantial return |
What GT Can Offer, What DC Should Demand, and Where Each Should Walk Away
My proposed opening offer for GT would be Ashok Sharma, although the earlier report concerned a different franchise. There is a problem with it. Delhi needs a bowler who can contribute now, and an injured or unavailable pacer does not fix that. Expect Delhi to reject it, or at least ask for a second name.
A more convincing package is Gurnoor Brar or Arshad Khan, perhaps with a depth bowler added. That keeps GT’s front line intact and gives Delhi someone who can play. Delhi’s firm position should be that a first-choice finisher is worth a bowler who starts.
The walk-away points follow. GT should refuse any deal involving Rabada or Siraj. Delhi should refuse a straight swap for an injured or bench bowler. If neither side moves, no deal is a perfectly fine outcome.
Why Delhi Capitals Might Agree to Trade Ashutosh
DC have reasons to listen. The Pant swap has already reshaped their squad, and pace is the clear gap. R Ashwin has said DC did not use him properly, and his contract is modest. He was bought for INR 3.8 crore at the mega auction two years ago.
The case against selling is strong too. Aakash Chopra has said Delhi would be the loser in a deal sending him out, calling him an incredible batter down the order. Delhi would lose one of their few Indian hitters who can win games from bad positions.
GT vs LSG: Which Team Needs Ashutosh More?
Gujarat have the clearer need. LSG are understood to want to consolidate their batting, but which batter Ashutosh would displace is not reported, so I won’t guess. Lucknow do hold the deeper pace pool. It includes Prince Yadav, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Anrich Nortje, Mayank Yadav, Akash Singh and Arjun Tendulkar. That makes them a natural source of an Indian bowler for Delhi.
| GT | LSG | |
|---|---|---|
| Role for Ashutosh | Finisher, if Shahrukh is released | Batting consolidation |
| Playing-time clarity | Higher | Less clear |
| Pace currency for DC | Brar, Arshad, Khejroliya | Deeper pool |
Another speculative discussion involved a possible Ashutosh Sharma-Rahul Chahar exchange between Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings. However, the journalist whose comments started the speculation clarified that he had not reported a confirmed swap. Aakash Chopra and R Ashwin subsequently questioned whether Delhi would benefit from such a deal.
Ashutosh Sharma’s Trade Price and IPL Trade Rules
Two different payments get confused here. Ashutosh’s existing League Fee is INR 3.8 crore, and GT would count that against its salary cap if the move happened. Any negotiated increase to his League Fee would need separate consideration. A franchise-to-franchise trade payment is a different matter, and it does not count against the cap.
His domestic switch is a side note. The Gujarat Cricket Association confirmed he joined Gujarat in October for the 2026-27 season. It may help him settle in locally, but it does not prove an IPL deal.
What Happens If the Ashutosh Sharma Trade Fails?
GT could keep Shahrukh Khan, lean on Tewatia and Rashid, or look for another Indian finisher at the auction. Delhi could keep a cheap, productive batter. Neither franchise is under real pressure, which is why a quick deal is far from certain.
Should Gujarat Titans Complete the Ashutosh Sharma Trade?
Yes, at the right price. The Ashutosh Sharma trade works for GT if it costs them depth and not their core attack. A package built around Brar or Arshad is fair. One that costs Rabada or Siraj is not.
For Delhi, unless the return is a fit, first-choice pacer, keeping him is the better call. The deadline is a week away. Until it passes, the Ashutosh Sharma IPL 2027 trade is a credible rumour and nothing more.
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Krishanu Das is the founder and lead writer of Sports Dribble. With more than five years of experience in sports writing, he specializes in creating well-researched guides, sports rules, player rankings, tournament explainers, and match analysis across cricket, football, basketball, tennis, volleyball, and many other sports.
Although he works as an accountant by profession, sports have always been his lifelong interest. That passion inspired him to build Sports Dribble, where he focuses on publishing accurate, easy-to-understand, and regularly updated content for sports fans around the world.
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