Sunrisers Hyderabad‘s inconsistent run in the 2025 season left them outside the playoff race, and they finished sixth. As the franchise gears up for the IPL 2026 mini-auction, a series of important retention and release decisions await. Though their top order showed promise, the team’s struggles in the middle overs and lack of squad depth will be key focus points in the lead-up to the November 15 deadline.
Sunrisers Hyderabad are likely to retain Pat Cummins, with his leadership and impactful bowling providing stability to the squad. Joining him in the core group will be Travis Head, who smashed 374 runs in 13 matches at an impressive strike rate of 162.61, and Abhishek Sharma, who played a key role with 439 runs in 14 games, averaging 33.77 and striking at 193.39. This trio provides SRH with a potent mix of seasoned leadership, explosive batting, and youthful energy to shape their strategy for IPL 2026.
The speculation surrounding Heinrich Klaasen’s future with Sunrisers Hyderabad is intensifying, as the franchise is reportedly considering his release before the mini-auction. Despite his impressive performances over the past two seasons, SRH may be looking to add more money to their purse, potentially allowing them to target a wider pool of players to fill multiple roles, rather than focusing solely on a big-ticket overseas batter.
Reports suggest the franchise is on the lookout for budget-friendly batters who can have a similar impact, giving them greater flexibility in the auction. Klaasen’s potential departure continues to dominate the conversation around the trade window.
SRH’s Probable Retained Players: Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Smaran Ravichandran, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, Eshan Malinga, Adam Zampa, Kamindu Mendis, Atharava Taide, Aniket Verma, Zeeshan Ansari
SRH’s Probable Released Players: Heinrich Klassen, Sachin Baby, Jaydev Unadkat, Brydon Carse, Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Simarjeet Singh, Rahul Chahar