SRH IPL 2026 Auction Review: Sunrisers Hyderabad go all-in on batting, leave bowling thin

The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) had a strong core in place ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, but they still had to fill in a few gaps to put together a squad that could go one better than they did in 2024, and repeat the franchise’s heroics from 2016.

They began the auction slowly, not buying a single player until the accelerated round came about. During that phase, they were priced out of several deals, including those involving Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer, both of whom were ultimately acquired by the Chennai Super Kings.

As the minutes ticked by, SRH got their act together, unleashing a flurry of purchases. Liam Livingstone was the most high-profile acquisition, with Jack Edwards, a tall pace-bowling all-rounder who has impressed in recent months in franchise cricket, also getting a gig, alongside several other Indian signings. Krains Fuletra was the most wildcard pick in that bunch, but he can surprise a few with his left-arm wrist-spin.

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Sunrisers Hyderabad 2026 squad: Biggest Strength

Batting. Batting. Batting. If you had doubts over which suit SRH favour, well, those have now been quelled. They already had a drool-worthy batting unit, and they have now bolstered it with the addition of Liam Livingstone. And his presence, alongside Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Travis Head, will send shivers down opposition teams’ spines.

Not to mention this team’s mindset when batting first. Especially on those flat decks in Hyderabad. They were never going to veer away from it majorly anyway. But now, their recruitment has just reinforced their approach - that they will come hard at teams. No. Matter. What.

Sunrisers Hyderabad 2026 squad: Biggest Weakness

Bowling. And there are no two ways about it either. Last season, their attack, at least in theory, looked good, with Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa a part of it. But now, it looks thin, even in theory.

None of the Indian pacers they bought are established at this level, and they do not have a vast body of work in the IPL. Edwards and Livingstone fill gaps on the all-rounder front, but neither, at this point, is a bankable all-conditions four-overs bowler. Meaning that the burden will have to be shouldered by Cummins, Harshal and Jaydev Unadkat. And by the batters, who may have to give their bowlers enough of a cushion.

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Sunrisers Hyderabad at IPL 2026 Auction: What could they have done differently?

When someone is incredibly blessed with a skill (or a couple of skills), the universe tends to balance it out by making that person not as talented in other facets. Similarly, perhaps to balance things out, numerous teams contrive to leave themselves short at the IPL auction table. Willfully or not, no one really knows, but SRH are the latest franchise to indulge in such shenanigans.

Their batting depth and firepower almost feel illegal. But their bowling department feels just as hollow. And they did nothing to truly rectify it at the auction. Livingstone does fulfil the overseas finisher criteria, but they still lack an experienced wrist-spinner, and they do not have an out-and-out Indian new-ball bowler either, having traded off Shami.

They had the purse to go shopping. But like those bound and attracted to annual editions of sports games (on consoles, computers et al), they bought more of what they already had.

Also Read: IPL 2026 Auction: Full List of Most Expensive Capped and Uncapped Players

Predicted twelve for Sunrisers Hyderabad (Impact Player included)

1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Travis Head, 3 Ishan Kishan (wk), 4 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 Liam Livingstone, 7 Aniket Verma, 8 Pat Cummins (c), 9 Harsh Dubey, 10 Harshal Patel, 11 Jaydev Unadkat, 12 Zeeshan Ansari

IPL Auction 2026: Players purchased by Sunrisers Hyderabad

Shivang Kumar (Rs 30 lakh), Salil Arora (Rs 1.5 crore), Sakib Hussain (Rs 30 lakh), Onkar Tarmale (Rs 30 lakh), Amit Kumar (Rs 30 lakh), Praful Hinge (Rs 30 lakh), Krains Fuletra (Rs 30 lakh), Liam Livingstone (Rs 13 crore), Shivam Mavi (Rs 75 lakh), Jack Edwards (Rs 3 crore)

Sunrisers Hyderabad full squad for IPL 2026

Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aniket Verma, R Smaran, Ishan Kishan (wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kamindu Mendis, Harshal Patel, Brydon Carse, Pat Cummins (c), Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga, Zeeshan Ansari, Shivang Kumar, Salil Arora, Sakib Hussain, Onkar Tarmale, Amit Kumar, Praful Hinge, Krains Fuletra, Liam Livingstone, Shivam Mavi, Jack Edwards