The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) entered the IPL 2026 mini-auction with a clear strategy to bolster their squad, armed with a remaining purse of ₹25.50 crore and 10 slots to fill, including 2 for overseas players. The auction took place in Abu Dhabi on December 16, 2025.
SRH's Auction Strategy
Going into the auction, SRH's priorities were to secure Indian fast-bowling options, a high-profile Indian spinner, and a finisher. The team also aimed to find backup players for their overseas stars, such as Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen.
Key Retentions and Releases
Before the auction, SRH retained a core group of players, including Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, Travis Head, and Abhishek Sharma. The franchise showed faith in Heinrich Klaasen, recognizing him as a key player in their batting lineup. However, they also made some tough calls by releasing established players such as leg-spinners Adam Zampa and Rahul Chahar, along with South African all-rounder Wiaan Mulder and Indian batter Abhinav Manohar. Mohammed Shami was traded.
SRH's Full Squad
Here is the full list of Sunrisers Hyderabad players for IPL 2026:
- Abhishek Sharma
- Aniket Verma
- Brydon Carse
- Eshan Malinga
- Harsh Dubey
- Harshal Patel
- Heinrich Klaasen
- Ishan Kishan
- Jaydev Unadkat
- Kamindu Mendis
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Pat Cummins
- R Smaran
- Travis Head
- Zeeshan Ansari
Post-Auction Analysis
With a mix of retained core players and strategic acquisitions, Sunrisers Hyderabad aimed to build a balanced and competitive squad for the IPL 2026 season. The team focused on strengthening their batting and adding depth to their bowling attack. By retaining players like Klassen, Cummins, Head and Sharma, SRH ensured they had a solid foundation.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad team is owned by Sun TV Network Limited, coached by Daniel Vettori, and captained by Pat Cummins. Their home venue is the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.
