“Peak chaotic energy” – Fans puzzled as CSK trade Khaleel Ahmed & Nathan Ellis ahead of IPL 2027 auction

In a major shake-up, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) traded Khaleel Ahmed and Nathan Ellis to SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in exchange for Liam Livingstone and Jack Edwards ahead of the IPL 2027 auction. The four-player trade was confirmed on Thursday, November 5.

Khaleel played 19 matches and picked up 17 wickets during his two-year stint with CSK. Ellis, meanwhile, bagged one wicket in his solitary appearance for the Chennai-based side.

Several CSK fans were left puzzled by the development, with some suggesting that the five-time champions should not have let go of the two fast bowlers. Here are some of the top reactions on X:

Chennai finished eighth in the IPL 2026 points table with six wins and eight losses. The five-time champions failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

The side underwent a major overhaul after yet another disappointing season, with Zaheer Khan taking over as the new head coach. The revamped support staff includes Mohit Sharma (bowling coach), Albie Morkel (assistant coach), and Gareth Batty (assistant coach).

Liam Livingstone takes a big pay cut in CSK-SRH trade ahead of IPL 2027

Liam Livingstone was roped in for ₹13 crore by SRH at the IPL 2026 auction. The English all-rounder warmed the bench for the majority of the season, playing just two matches.

He has taken a significant pay cut as part of the recently announced trade. The 33-year-old joined Chennai at a revised salary of ₹6 crore. Livingstone is an experienced campaigner, having played 370 T20s. He has scored 8,595 runs at a strike rate of 145.18, and also has 171 wickets to his name at an economy rate of 8.45.

Jack Edwards (₹3 crore), Khaleel Ahmed (₹4.8 crore), and Nathan Ellis (₹2 crore) switched teams at their existing salaries. Meanwhile, the IPL 2027 retention deadline is November 17, while the mini-auction will take place on December 16 in Goa.

Edited by Aditya Suketu Desai