'Bowling has been a problem and they let go of both bowlers' - Subramaniam Badrinath slams CSK's trade deal with SRH

On November 5, 2026, Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad completed a trade that saw the former exchange pace bowlers Khaleel Ahmed and Nathan Ellis for batter Liam Livingstone and Australian all-rounder Jack Edwards. The deal involved significant adjustments to valuations: Livingstone, originally purchased by SRH for INR 13 crore at the 2026 auction, moved to CSK at a reduced fee of INR 6 crore, while Edwards joined at INR 3 crore. In return, SRH acquired Khaleel for INR 4.8 crore and Ellis for INR 2 crore.

Subramaniam Badrinath, who captured two IPL titles with CSK during the franchise's championship runs in 2010 and 2011, voiced strong objections to the trade. The former India batter questioned the strategic logic of the exchange, particularly focusing on the loss of bowling resources at a time when CSK's bowling department had already emerged as a significant weakness during the 2026 season.

Badrinath raised a fundamental concern about the nature of the swap, highlighting the playing-time disparity between the outgoing and incoming players.

"Is it a good trade if you trade two players who play in the XI for two who don't play at all in the XI? I'd say it's a super trade for SRH," Badrinath said on his YouTube channel.

Why the trade favours SRH significantly?

Khaleel Ahmed's powerplay performance and left-arm bowling advantage had made him a valuable asset for CSK. The bowler took 15 wickets in 14 matches during IPL 2025, establishing himself as a key contributor to the franchise's attack. However, his 2026 campaign proved disrupted when a quadriceps injury limited him to just five appearances before ending his season prematurely.

Nathan Ellis, by contrast, made minimal impact at CSK, featuring in only one match across two seasons and remaining unavailable throughout IPL 2026 due to injury. Badrinath elaborated on why the trade strengthened SRH's position considerably.

"The reason I'm saying this is because Khaleel Ahmed has done well in the powerplay. He's got a good left-arm advantage. T Natarajan is already there (at SRH) as well,' Badrinath said.

"Badrinath doubled down on his statement by saying that the trades make CSK's bowling weaker, despite the department already being one of the weaker points for the franchise," he added.

Jack Edwards, the Australian all-rounder acquired by SRH at the 2026 auction, arrived at CSK with significant fitness concerns. Edwards had been unavailable for the entire 2026 season following a foot injury, creating uncertainty around his availability and readiness for the upcoming campaign. Liam Livingstone's arrival at a reduced price from his original auction valuation represented a strategic recalibration of CSK's investment approach.

Uncertainty surrounding Edwards and Livingstone's roles

CSK's eighth-place finish in IPL 2026, with six wins from 14 matches, underscored the franchise's struggles throughout the season. The bowling department had been identified as a particular area of concern, making the departure of Khaleel Ahmed a notable loss. SRH further strengthened their bowling options by acquiring T Natarajan from Delhi Capitals in exchange for Zeeshan Ansari, bolstering their resources ahead of the next season.