 "Sunrisers Hyderabad have retained their core group of players who looked threatening to the opposition in IPL 2024. PTI")
Sunrisers Hyderabad put together a mind-boggling IPL season in 2024, smashing batting records for fun and finishing only behind the Kolkata Knight Riders . It was the first time they had made the final since the 2018 edition, and it is not a surprise that they have retained the maximum complement of capped players . With a chunk of their side intact, they will want to have another proper tilt at the title come the summer of 2025.
IPL Retention | Full list of retained, released players ahead of 2025 mega auction
Who are SRH’s retained players?
Heinrich Klaasen (Rs 23 crore)
Pat Cummins (Rs 18 crore)
Abhishek Sharma (Rs 14 crore)
Travis Head (Rs 14 crore)
Nitish Kumar Reddy (Rs 6 crore)
Rationale behind the retentions
Why fix something that is not broken, and why tinker with the core that instilled fear among oppositions and made people wonder what was indeed possible across 20 overs of T20 batting.
Pat Cummins, a leader who liberates those around him, remains Captain Fantastic, having turned almost everything he has touched into gold. Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head batter teams like no IPL opening pair has ever done, and if sides get past them, there is Heinrich Klaasen, whose middle name, for all we know, is carnage. Oh, and Klaasen can also keep wicket, which helps SRH cover another base.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsNitish Kumar Reddy’s retention is also a no-brainer, given he is an Indian pace-bowling all-rounder, capable of batting in the top five and chipping in with the ball - sometimes even opening the bowling, as he did in his debut series against Bangladesh.
What they might look for at the auction
SRH’s retention strategy means they will have some work to do on the domestic front. They have, however, been a franchise that has historically trusted Indian bowlers and pacers, and that is likely to continue. SRH might also have a keen eye on a pedigreed Indian spinner, which might help them balance out their side. Their RTM, meanwhile, could be used for Abdul Samad, or possibly Mayank Markande, who now qualifies as an uncapped player.
As for their overseas players, they will probably want a good mix of options. With Cummins, Head and Klaasen expected to feature whenever fit, they have the luxury of picking and choosing their fourth overseas player based on the opposition and the conditions.
They will also have to be careful of the financial aspect because the retentions have eaten significantly into their purse. The splurge often synonymous with IPL teams has happened before the auction for SRH, and bargain buys, rather than big-money signings, could be their modus operandi at the auction.
Players SRH could target at the auction
Aiden Markram is a name that they might look to get back on a cheaper price, given he has been a part of the franchise before, ticks most boxes and has led SRH’s sister franchise Sunrisers Eastern Cape with distinction in the SA20. If they want another bruising middle-order batter, David Miller and Rovman Powell could be in the fray as well.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan also make sense because of their long association with the franchise and their need for Indian bowlers and pacers, in particular. Mukesh Kumar, with a skill-set similar to that of Bhuvneshwar, could also be an alternative. A slightly more left-field option could be Shardul Thakur, who can contribute lower down the order and can bowl in different phases. Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami will also be available at the auction but both of their prices might exceed what SRH could commit to.
Someone like Wanindu Hasaranga could be under consideration too, although it remains to be seen what bridges were burnt when he pulled out of the 2024 iteration. With Cummins as captain, there could be a temptation to move for Adam Zampa. Mitchell Santner might also be an attractive option, especially with Daniel Vettori continuing as head coach.
Among Indian spinners, R Ashwin, Washington Sundar and Yuzvendra Chahal might be on their radar, although they may have to stump up some cash for their services.
Auctions, of course, are unpredictable and SRH might, due to a variety of reasons, end up targeting a different set of players altogether. But with five genuine match-winners retained, they will be quietly confident of finding the right blend at the auction table.