Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) reached the Indian Premier League 2024 season final but couldn’t take the leap. This time around, the Pat Cummins-led side would like to push for the coveted IPL trophy after bolstering their squad with some massive names during the IPL auction 2025 in Jeddah. SRH went on to retain some of their key performers before taking in settled names at the auction.
The IPL 2025 auction in Jeddah saw Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) make bold moves as they restructured their squad following a runner-up finish in IPL 2024. With a focus on assembling a balanced lineup, SRH made several high-profile signings at IPL Auction 2025.
Their biggest purchase was the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who joined for Rs 11.25 crore, providing a youthful and explosive option at the top of the order. The team also strengthened their bowling attack by securing veteran pacer Mohammad Shami (Rs 10 crore) and versatile all-rounders like Harshal Patel (Rs 8 crore).
On Day 2, SRH focused on depth and versatility, bringing in players like Jaydev Unadkat, Brydon Carse, and Kamindu Mendis. By the end of the auction, SRH showcased a clear trend of balancing their experienced core with fresh talent to address the gaps left by releasing stalwarts such as Aiden Markram, Rahul Tripathi, and Washington Sundar.
Sunrisers Hyderabad have released their retention list for the upcoming season, choosing to keep hold of five players. The Orange Army made huge investments in retaining the core part of the players. The likes of Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Nitish Kumar Reddy have been retained by the franchise.
Sunrisers Hyderabad SWOT Analysis
Strengths : Depth and experience across departments
The likes of Head and Abhishek form the most deadly opening combination, as seen last year when they tore apart sides and scored at will. In 16 matches, Abhishek scored 484 runs at 32.26 last season. His strike rate was 204.21. Head managed 567 runs from 15 matches. His strike rate was 191.55.
He averaged 40.50. As per ESPNCricinfo, Head scored 402 of his runs in the power play and struck at 208.29. Abhishek managed 343 runs in this phase and struck at 202.95. So you have the base to continue in this fashion and take the opposition team to the cleaners from the word go. Their understanding will be pivotal once again.
With Heinrich Klaasen retained for INR 23 crore, SRH has secured a reliable and explosive batter. He is known for his ability to play big shots, which adds crucial depth to the middle order. On the other hand, Pat Cummins and Travis Head bring world-class experience and balance to the table.
Head had a terrific IPL 2024 campaign, amassing 567 runs in 15 matches at a remarkable strike rate of 191.5 and an average of 40.50. Captain Pat Cummins remains the backbone of SRH, with the franchise retaining him for INR 18 crore. Under Cummins’ tutelage, SRH reached the finals in the last season. Meanwhile, retaining the likes of Abhishek Sharma and Nitish Reddy for 14 crore and 6 crore bolsters SRH’s core with young and promising players.
The acquisition of Ishan Kishan ensures SRH will have a destructive opener or a No.3 batter who can set the tone in the powerplay. The presence of Heinrich Klaasen, Abhishek Sharma, and Travis Head adds depth and versatility to the middle order, capable of adapting to various match situations.
Kishan comes in and provides more fluidity in the ranks. Like Head and Abhishek, Kishan can be aggressive, and score quality runs at a brisk pace. Kishan scored 320 runs for Mumbai Indians last season, striking at 148.83. Ideally an opener, Kishan will likely come in at number four as he, too, is a left-handed batter. So SRH could fit someone like Kerala’s Sachin Baby in between. Baby has performed well in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Like Kishan, he can bat at several positions. Baby owns 1882 runs in SMAT and has a strike rate worth 132-plus. There is also Atharva Taide, who played for Punjab Kings. In Klaasen and Reddy, you get your ideal number five and six. Nitish has done an able job in T20s since making his debut in 2021. He owns 485 runs at 32.33. Klaasen is the big man and the match-winning finisher. He has close to 5000 T20 runs. In IPL 2024, he managed 479 runs (SR: 171.07). There is Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis in the mix as well.
SRH’s new-look bowling unit boasts a mix of pace and spin. With Shami and Harshal Patel providing leadership in the pace attack, and Adam Zampa and Rahul Chahar offering wicket-taking abilities in the spin department, SRH is well-equipped to handle different conditions. The inclusion of seasoned IPL performers like Shami, Harshal, and Unadkat gives the team a reliable core of players who can perform in high-pressure situations.
SRH have a dream pace attack. Cummins leads the show with veteran Shami helping him out. Australia’s Cummins impressed with 18 scalps last season and was a consistent force. And with Shami coming in, the bowling receives a boost. The Bengal pacer has 127 IPL scalps at 26.86. Shami has been bowling at full tilt since coming back from an injury.
He missed IPL 2024, and in 2023, he picked 28 scalps for the Gujarat Titans. And then you have Harshal Patel. Notably, he is a two-time Purple Cap winner, having won the award in 2021 as well with RCB. He picked 32 scalps in IPL 2021 and ended with 99 scalps for RCB in 80 matches. In IPL 2024 for Punjab, he took 24 scalps from 14 games at 19.87. SRH’s depth in pace looks sorted. Jaydev Unadkat lends a voice alongside newcomer Brydon Carse. Eshan Malinga and Simarjeet Singh.
Weaknesses : Lack of finishing power
Despite a strong top and middle order, SRH lacks a proven finisher in their batting lineup. Players like Abhinav Manohar and Kamindu Mendis have shown potential but lack the consistency and experience required to deliver under pressure consistently. This could leave the team vulnerable in tight chases or while setting high targets.
Additionally, while their bowling attack has depth, it lacks raw pace or a standout death-over specialist, a role previously played by the likes of T Natarajan. His absence might expose the bowling unit in crunch moments.
SRH shelled out a whopping INR 3.2 crore on 30-year-old Abhinav Manohar. He could be used as an impact player. However, one hopes that Manohar doesn’t turn out to be similar to Abdul Samad, who made more noise and less substance. Manohar owns a modest 670 runs from 31 innings in T20s. His strike rate is 149. He played just two games for GT last season, scoring nine runs. Manohar adds to the finishing ranks for SRH and could come in at seven as an impact player. But will he deliver?
SRH’s spin attack is stronger than last season. Rahul Chahar will walk into the side, and Aussie star Adam Zampa can complement the Indian bowler. However, if SRH plans to keep Zampa on the bench, then there is a lack of a frontline spinner. Zeeshan Ansari has yet to play T20 cricket. Apart from Ansari, SRH does not have a spinner. So this is one department where SRH could lack, given any injury woes.
There is a lack of proven Indian core in the team. SRH released experienced Indian players like Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Besides that, there could be some bowling depth concerns. The likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan and Umran Malik have been released.
With 45 crore left in their wallet, replacing them could be challenging. It remains to be seen how the Sunrisers will approach the upcoming mega auction, which won’t be that easy, given the fierce competition in the auction. Moreover, over-reliance on overseas players could be a sign of weakness. We all know that SRH’s strength now leans totally on overseas stars like Klaasen and Cummins and we can’t always count on them to deliver the goods match after match.
Opportunities :
The release of players like Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen and Washington Sundar opens doors for SRH to scout for emerging talent in the domestic circuit or maybe grab impact players in the auction. With youngsters like Abhishek Sharma and Nitish Reddy retained, the Orange Army has a chance to build a solid, long-term Indian core around him and other new Indian signings.
With a purse value of INR 45 crore and numerous slots open, SRH has a golden opportunity to build a well-rounded squad that caters to all conditions. With several players released already, the 2024 runners-up have enough room to bring in fresh faces in the pace and spin departments.
Pat Cummins, who is an excellent leader has vast experience in handling pressure as an international captain. Sunrisers missed out on winning the title last time as they lost to KKR in the final. However, Cummins will make sure to bring the best out of his teammates, in the hope of making a bid for the title.
Threats :
Meanwhile, there would certainly be high pressure on retained players. With big names and high salaries, players like Heinrich Klaasen (INR 23 crore) and Pat Cummins (INR 18 crore) will face heavy expectations and any dip in their form could severely impact the team’s overall performance.
On top of that, building team chemistry would be another challenging aspect. Although they retained the core, as many as 21 players have been released already and SRH risks a lack of stability and cohesion. With several teams looking to bolster their core, SRH will face intense competition in the auction, especially for quality Indian players and experienced bowlers, which might as well limit their ability to rebuild the squad and only time will tell the story.
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Impact Player’s and probable playing first XI
With the Impact Player rule, teams can name five substitutes and use one of them when needed. If four foreign players are already named in the XI, the impact player can only be an Indian. SRH’s best balance is the above-mentioned starting XI owing to the resources. So if they bat first, Manohar will fit in. And then, during bowling, he could be replaced by someone like a Chahar. Other players in the mix are Taide, Unadkat, and Baby.
Heinrich Klaasen: South African ace Klaasen scored a crucial 448 runs from 12 matches (11 innings) in IPL 2023. His strike rate was a whopping 177.07, and he averaged close to 50. He backed the numbers up with another solid season in IPL 2024. So you get a strong-minded asset on the side who can be the game changer.
Full SRH squad for IPL 2025
Batters: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Atharva Taide, Abhinav Manohar, Sachin Baby
Wicket-keepers: Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen
All-Rounders: Kamindu Mendis, Nitish Kumar Reddy
Bowlers: Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Adam Zampa, Simarjeet Singh, Jaydev Unadkat, Brydon Carse, Eshan Malinga, Zeeshan Ansari, Aniket Verma
SRH probable first-choice playing XI:
Travis Head (Overseas), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Nitish Reddy, Henrich Klaasen (Overseas), Abhinav Manohar, Sachin Baby, Pat Cummins (C & Overseas), Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Adam Zampa (Overseas)
Impact player: Rahul Chahar
SRH: Early predictions for IPL 2025
On paper, SRH has assembled a well-balanced squad with a mix of explosive batting, reliable bowling, and experienced campaigners. However, their success will hinge on their ability to finish games with the bat and handle pressure in death overs with the ball. If the likes of Klaasen, Head, and Kishan and their bowling unit fire consistently, SRH could be strong contenders for another deep playoff run. However, the lack of finishing power and a strike bowler might hold them back in high-pressure matches.
SRH won’t make many changes and will rely on their main XI to help them deliver. Reddy will be the 4th seamer in the side with a world-class attack in Shami, Cummins, and Harshal. Unadkat, Carse, and Eshan can contribute when called upon. And then with Chahar and Zampa, you can get quality overs of spin. The batting is SRH’s major strength. You have 5 powerful performers on the side. Utility names in Baby and Taide could play supporting roles. One feels SRH can make it to the last 4.