Gujarat Titans are set to acquire Harshal Patel from Sunrisers Hyderabad in an all-cash trade worth INR 4 crore, according to ESPNcricinfo. The deal values the pacer at half his 2025 auction price and would make GT his fifth IPL franchise since his debut in 2012.
Trade Details at a Glance
SRH bought Harshal for INR 8 crore at the 2025 mega auction. The reported trade fee of INR 4 crore represents a 50% reduction in his franchise valuation.
If completed, GT will become the fifth team of his IPL career. Reports indicate the deal is an all-cash arrangement with no player going the other way.
| Trade Metric | Detail |
|---|
| Current franchise | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| Destination franchise | Gujarat Titans |
| 2025 auction price | INR 8 crore |
| Reported trade value | INR 4 crore |
| Price change | -50% |
| IPL debut year | 2012 |
Recent Form: A Clear Decline
Harshal's two seasons at SRH show a sharp performance drop. His output in IPL 2025 was serviceable, but IPL 2026 was far weaker.
| Season (SRH) | Matches | Wickets | Economy |
|---|
| IPL 2025 | 13 | 16 | 9.80 |
| IPL 2026 | 5 | 0 | 10.82 |
Reduced Role in 2026
His economy rate rose by 1.02 runs per over between the two seasons. He averaged roughly 1.23 wickets per match in 2025 and took none in 2026.
SRH leaned on emerging pacers Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain, who left positive impressions. That cut Harshal's opportunities to five matches.
Purple Cap Pedigree
Harshal's career record explains why franchises still pursue him. He won the Purple Cap twice, in 2021 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and in 2024 with Punjab Kings.
| Season | Team | Matches | Wickets | Economy | Best Figures |
|---|
| 2021 | RCB | 15 | 32 | 8.14 | 5/27 |
| 2024 | PBKS | 14 | 24 | 9.73 | 3/15 |
Historical Comparison
His 2021 haul equates to about 2.13 wickets per match. His 2024 return was about 1.71 per match.
His 2025 rate of 1.23 and 2026 rate of zero show a steady downward trend from those peaks.
Why the Move Suits Gujarat Titans
GT already hold an established pace group. Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Jason Holder form the core of that unit.
Harshal would add depth and bowling variations to that group. GT have not publicly outlined their tactical reasoning, so the fit remains an analytical judgment.
Home Connection
Harshal moved to Gujarat to play domestic cricket and is based in Ahmedabad. A switch to GT would let him play for his home team.
The question for GT is value. At INR 4 crore, they are paying for experience rather than recent output, given his 10.82 economy and wicketless 2026.
Analytical Outlook
The price cut reflects the market's view of his recent numbers. A career built on two Purple Caps now rests on whether he can return closer to his 9.80 economy of 2025.
For GT, the trade is a low-cost addition to an already deep attack. For Harshal, it offers a fresh role and a familiar home setting.