Shikhar Dhawan during his playing days for the Sunrisers Hyderabad
Following that year, he moved on to play for Delhi Capitals and later Punjab Kings before eventually retiring from the tournament. However, his departure from SRH was not just a regular transfer. There is an interesting and lesser-known story behind why Dhawan left the franchise, and it played a major role in shaping the later part of his IPL career.
Known as the Mr. ICC, Shikhar Dhawan has been one of the most consistent performers in Indian cricket and a proven match-winner in the Indian Premier League. His surprise move from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) became one of the biggest headlines of that IPL off-season. The transfer not only brought Dhawan back to the franchise where his IPL journey began but also raised questions about what prompted the change, especially given his success with SRH, including their 2016 title win.
The official confirmation came when both SRH and Delhi Daredevils announced the trade on the same day. Delhi strengthened their top order significantly by adding an experienced opener like Dhawan, who was expected to partner the young Prithvi Shaw at the top. In exchange, three Delhi players were traded to SRH in a swap deal. The transfer followed failed talks between SRH and Kings XI Punjab over a possible move. The main reason behind Dhawan’s departure was financial dissatisfaction. Despite being one of the most prolific run scorers in IPL history, he was retained by SRH for ₹5.2 crore using the Right To Match (RTM) card during the auction. The statement issued by SRH said:
The Sunrisers were delighted to pick Shikhar up in the auction after using one of its RTM (right to match) cards earlier in the year. Unfortunately, it has become apparent that the player has been unsettled ever since with the amount he was bought for in the auction, which unfortunately we cannot rectify due to IPL rules. The franchise has made the decision to trade Shikhar as they feel it is best for both parties. Sunrisers value the great contribution that Shikhar has made over the years, and saddened that due to financial reasons, he feels it’s time to move on. We wish him and his family all the best.
While this was a substantial amount, Dhawan reportedly felt it did not reflect his market value, especially when other Indian stars and even some uncapped players were fetching higher bids. Big names like KL Rahul and Jaydev Unadkat had gone for huge sums in the same auction, while top players like MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli were earning significantly more. SRH’s official statement acknowledged that Dhawan had been unsettled about his pay since the auction. The franchise said they valued his contribution highly, but could not change the salary due to IPL rules.
Once it became clear that the issue could not be resolved, SRH decided it was in the best interest of both sides to arrange a trade. The statement praised Dhawan’s role in their success over the years and wished him well for the future. From Delhi’s perspective, the signing was a major boost. Dhawan’s experience, consistency, and aggressive yet composed batting style made him an ideal choice to strengthen their batting lineup. Known for building innings and accelerating at the right time, he brought not just runs but also leadership qualities to a team that had been searching for stability at the top.
Explaining the above situation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has brought changes to the Right to Match (RTM) rule ahead of the 2025 IPL auction. The backdrop of Shikhar Dhawan’s case may have played a role in this decision. Under the new rule, when a team decides to use its RTM card, the original franchise that had purchased the player will get a chance to bid again. They can offer any amount they wish for the player, and after that, the final decision will lie with the player’s former team on whether they want to re-sign him at that revised price.
The RTM rule has been a point of debate for years, and senior India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been among its biggest critics. Earlier in 2025, he openly called the existing format “unfair” to players and suggested a major change, like giving the player the choice to accept or reject an RTM. He explained that the rule often allows a team to regain a player without participating fully in the competitive bidding process, which can be unfair to both the player and the other teams involved. He said:
If a franchise has released a player because they don’t see him in their top four or five, then what gives them the right to jump in during an auction? You give the option to the player, asking if he wants to be right to match. There should be a contract binding the two parties, which says he can be RTMed, only if the price is X amount and leave that pre-determined amount to be decided by the player.
Ashwin’s main argument is that if a franchise has released a player because they no longer see him among their top options, it should not be allowed to jump back in and take him during the auction. Unless the player agrees. He believes there should be a pre-agreed contract between the player and the franchise, specifying conditions such as the maximum or minimum amount for which RTM can be applied.
This amount, according to Ashwin, should be decided by the player beforehand. To illustrate his point, Ashwin shared a hypothetical example. Imagine a player “X” playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad with an estimated value of ₹5–6 crore. The franchise releases him, and he goes into the auction. The Sunrisers initially bid for him at the base price of ₹2 crore. Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Mumbai Indians engage in a bidding war, and the price climbs to ₹6 crore. He added:
There is no rule more unfair for a player than RTM. Because how has the RTM rule been so far? For example, there is a player called X. He is on a team called, let us say, Sunrisers. His current value is around ₹five-six crores. He has gone into the auction. Now let’s say the Sunrisers want to buy the player back. So, the Sunrisers will bid for the player at a base price of 2 crore. Then, let us say KKR and the Mumbai Indians are bidding for the player. The bid goes up to six crores, and finally, they say, ‘The player is sold to the Mumbai Indians for six crores.’ So, with RTM, the Sunrisers will then bid for and take the player at six crores. The problem here is that Sunrisers are happy. But KKR and MI are unhappy. The only person happy is Sunrisers. Because, in the beginning, they gave attendance bid at base price.
Normally, at this point, the highest bidder, like the Mumbai Indians, would get the player. But with RTM, the Sunrisers can simply match the highest bid of ₹6 crore and take the player back. In this process, Ashwin pointed out that the Sunrisers end up being satisfied as they get the player they initially released. However, the two teams that genuinely fought in the bidding, like KKR and MI in this case, will lose out.