3 best trades in IPL history

The IPL Trade Window has just passed, and teams would have certainly been looking to make changes and bring players in that can improve their squad depth and lead to better results. In the context of this article - and the IPL Trade Window in general - the word "trade" is used loosely, as it includes not only players being exchanged for one another but also franchises purchasing players contracted with other franchises for particular prices, i.e. transfers (such as the Mumbai Indians purchasing Quinton de Kock from the Royal Challengers Bangalore).

This means that for the purposes of this slideshow, the word "trade" includes all exchanges of players made between franchises outside of the auction.

This slideshow looks at the four best trades in IPL history, from the perspective of the team which the player was traded to, on the basis of the player's contribution to the franchise in that particular year as well as in subsequent years in the IPL.

Note: These trades are in no particular order.

#3 - Kevin Pietersen from Deccan Chargers to Delhi Daredevils in 2011/12

While Kevin Pietersen never performed to his highest potential in the IPL, his best performances in the IPL came in a Delhi Daredevils shirt. In IPL 2012, his first season with the franchise, he made 305 runs in 8 innings at an average of 61 and strike rate of 147, and was instrumental in the franchise finishing at the top of the table in the group stages and making it to the playoffs.

Pietersen missed the 2013 edition of the IPL due to a knee injury, but played for the Daredevils in 2014, captaining the franchise. He had middling returns of 294 runs in this season and was released the following year; however, his dominant role in the franchise's best ever season in IPL history makes this trade one of the best ever.