After finishing second in 2024, SRH struggled in 2025, winning only six matches and ending up sixth on the table. With a team with talents like captain Pat Cummins and big hitter Heinrich Klaasen, their inconsistency was astonishing. Heinrich Klaasen ended up on the top run scorer with 487, Abhishek Sharma with 439 and Travis Head with 374. Pat Cummins and Harshal Patel were the team’s leading wicket-takers with 16 each. With their bowling struggling in the middle and end, they literally gave opposition games.
In the 2026 season, SRH will be making changes to their squad. They are planning to retain players like Cummins, Klaasen, Sharma, Head, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Aniket Verma and Harshal Patel, who are key players of SRH. During this process, they will be releasing some big names- Ishan Kishan, Mohammed Shami, Adam Zampa and Abhinav Manohar so to keep the budget of SRH in their control and have space in their budget and concentrate on their weak areas, especially bowling and lower order batting.
With more funds expected from these changes, SRH will target bowlers who can perform well at the end of innings and add more power-hitters to the lower order. Players being linked to the team include Rilee Rossouw, Adam Milne, Matthew Potts and Akeal Hosein. They are also looking at Indian players like Venkatesh Iyer and Natarajan .
Sunrisers Hyderabad 2025 IPL Squad – Auction Prices and Season Performance
| Player | Sold Price (₹ Cr) | IPL 2025 Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Heinrich Klaasen | 23.00 | Batting: 487 runs in 13 innings, SR 172.70, 42×4, 25×6, HS: 105* vs KKR |
| Pat Cummins | 18.00 | Batting: 97 runs in 9 innings, SR 167.24 – Bowling: 16 wickets in 14 matches |
| Abhishek Sharma | 14.00 | Batting: 439 runs in 13 innings, SR 193.39, 46×4, 28×6, 1 century |
| Travis Head | 14.00 | Batting: 374 runs in 12 innings, SR 162.61 |
| Mohammed Shami | 10.00 | Batting: 10 runs in 4 innings – Bowling: 6 wickets in 9 matches |
| Harshal Patel | 8.00 | Batting: 21 runs in 4 innings – Bowling: 16 wickets, economy issues, death-over specialist |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | 6.00 | Batting: 182 runs in 11 innings, SR 118.95, 16×4, 4×6 – Bowling: 2 wickets in 3 overs |
| Ishan Kishan | 11.25 | Batting: 354 runs in 13 innings, SR 152.59, 33×4, 15×6 |
| Abhinav Manohar | 3.20 | Batting: 61 runs in 5 innings, SR 100, 2×4, 4×6 |
| Rahul Chahar | 3.20 | Bowling: 8 wickets in 11 matches, economical in middle overs |
| Aniket Verma | 0.30 | Batting: 236 runs in 12 innings, SR 166.20, 12×4, 20×6 |
| Atharva Taide | 0.30 | Batting: 13 runs in 1 innings, SR 144.44, 3×4 |
| Kamindu Mendis | 0.75 | Batting: 92 runs in 5 innings, SR 133.33 – Bowling: 2 wickets in 4 overs |
| Zeeshan Ansari | 0.40 | Bowling: 4 wickets in 10 matches, economical in middle overs |
| Jaydev Unadkat | 1.00 | Bowling: 11 wickets in 7 matches, best avg 15.90 |
| Brydon Carse | 1.00 | Bowling: 3 wickets in 4 matches, backup pace option |
| Eshan Malinga | 1.20 | Bowling: 2 wickets in 7 matches (160 balls) |
| Simarjeet Singh | 1.50 | Batting: 3 runs in 3 innings – Bowling: 2 wickets in 4 matches |
| Wiaan Mulder | 0.75 | Batting: 9 runs in 1 innings, SR 81.82, 1×4 |
| Sachin Baby | 0.30 | No appearance |
Sunrisers Hyderabad Retained Players: The Core Stays Strong
SRH are keeping their main stars for IPL 2026. Here are the top players they’re holding onto:
Star Players (High Salary):
Heinrich Klaasen – ₹23 crores (Top wicketkeeper-batsman)
Pat Cummins – ₹18 crores (Captain & pace spearhead)
Abhishek Sharma – ₹14 crores (Explosive opener & left-arm spinner)
Travis Head – ₹14 crores (Australian opener & consistent performer)
Key Middle-Order Players:
Nitish Kumar Reddy – ₹6 crores (Young all-rounder star)
Aniket Verma – ₹0.30 crores (Promising young batsman)
Harshal Patel – ₹8 crores (Death bowling specialist)
Support Players:
Rahul Chahar, Jaydev Unadkat, and several promising young Indians like Atharva Taide and Sachin Baby.
Sunrisers Hyderabad Released Players
| Player Name | Salary (₹ Cr) | IPL 2025 Performance & Why Released |
|---|---|---|
| Mohammed Shami | 10.00 | Batting: 10 runs in 4 innings – Bowling: 6 wickets in 9 matches; Injury concerns and age factor, too expensive for inconsistent availability |
| Ishan Kishan | 11.25 | Batting: 354 runs in 13 innings, SR 152.59, 33×4, 15×6; Poor form and high price, Klaasen is the preferred wicketkeeper |
| Adam Zampa | 2.40 | Bowling: 2 wickets in 2 matches; Overseas spinner slot needed for batting options |
| Brydon Carse | 1.00 | Bowling: 3 wickets in 4 matches, backup pace option; Limited impact, backup overseas pacer not needed |
| Simarjeet Singh | 1.50 | Batting: 3 runs in 3 innings – Bowling: 2 wickets in 4 matches; Inconsistent bowling, better domestic options available |
| Abhinav Manohar | 3.20 | Batting: 61 runs in 5 innings, SR 100, 2×4, 4×6; Middle-order spot needs strengthening with better players |
Sunrisers Hyderabad Targeted Players in IPL 2026 Auction
Venkatesh Iyer
Iyer offers SRH the flexibility of a left-handed opener who can also bowl a few overs of seam. His ability to handle pressure and contribute in both departments makes him a valuable all-round option.
T Natarajan
Natarajan is a proven death-overs specialist with his accurate yorkers. A return to SRH would strengthen their pace unit and give them variety alongside Cummins.
Romario Shepherd
Shepherd has the power to finish games with the bat and can clear boundaries with ease. His medium pace also gives him the ability to chip in with crucial overs at the back end.
Nathan Ellis
Ellis is one of the most reliable T20 death bowlers in world cricket. His slower deliveries and yorkers could solve SRH’s finishing-over problems.
Ravi Bishnoi
Bishnoi adds energy and aggression to the spin department. Pairing him with youngsters like Harsh Dubey and Zeeshan Ansari could give SRH a well-rounded spin attack.
Spencer Johnson
Johnson brings left-arm pace and swing with the new ball an area SRH lacked in 2025. He can be used effectively in the powerplay to take early wickets.
Suryansh Shedge
Shedge is a young batting all-rounder who can provide finishing firepower. His presence in the lower middle order would reduce the over-reliance on Klaasen.
SRH IPL 2026 Purse & Auction Budget Breakdown
| Budget Category | Amount | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Total Purse for IPL 2026 | ₹125 crores | 100% |
| Money Spent on Retained Players | ₹75 crores | 60% |
| Money Saved from Releases | ₹28.35 crores | 23% |
| Available for Auction | ₹50 crores | 40% |
IPL 2026 Mini Auction: When and Where It Will Happen?
The retention deadline for IPL 2026 is expected to be in late October 2025, and the mini auction is likely to take place in December 2025 or January 2026. The venue will be in India, most likely Mumbai or Delhi, and it will be conducted as a mini auction, not a mega auction.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Auction Type | Mini Auction |
| Expected Date | December 2025 – January 2026 |
| Venue | Mumbai or Delhi, India |
| Total Purse per Team | ₹125 crores |
| Maximum Players per Team | 25 |
| Retention Deadline | Late October 2025 (dates not yet officially confirmed) |
| Auction Format | Teams buy players to fill remaining slots after retention and release |
ALSO READ: Sunrisers Hyderabad Team Profile & History in IPL
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