Which Players will SRH Target in IPL 2025 Auction with INR 45 Crore Purse? Analysing Full Sunrisers Hyderabad Wishlist and Key Areas They Need to Fill

Darpan Jain

Analysing the IPL 2025 auction strategy of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) based on players they have retained.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have retained five players ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. They have spent INR 75 crores and have INR 45 crores to work with during the auction. Before delving into SRH’s strategy for the auction, let’s analyse each player they have retained and their expertise.

Abhishek Sharma: An attacking opener, Abhishek Sharma is primarily a spin-hitter. However, he is also really good against non-short-length deliveries against pace. He can also bowl decent left-arm finger spin.
Travis Head: Among the most dynamic openers in white-ball cricket, Travis Head is equally capable vs pace and spin and can utilise the powerplay. He formed a successful opening stand with Abhishek, for they complemented each other brilliantly. He can also bowl decent off-spin.
Nitish Kumar Reddy: Among the finest all-rounders in the country, Nitish Kumar Reddy is exceptional vs spin. He is a perfect middle-order batter who can shield pace-hitters around him and bat at a quick rate. He is also a more than decent medium-pace and will improve with time.
Heinrich Klaasen: Heinrich Klaasen is among the finest T20 batters and handles pace and spin well. He can be flexible with his batting position and bat anywhere in the middle order. He is also a wicketkeeper.
Pat Cummins: Pat Cummins is a pacer who provides ample value in the powerplay and middle overs. He can move the new ball and bowl hard lengths when it gets old. He can also bat a bit in the lower order.

Also Read: Which Players will KKR Target in IPL 2025 Auction with INR 51 Crore Purse? Analysing Full Kolkata Knight Riders Wishlist and Key Areas They Need to Fill

Right now, this is how Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Playing XI is set up:

Abhishek Sharma
Travis Head
________________
Nitish Kumar Reddy
Heinrich Klaasen
________________
________________
Pat Cummins
________________
________________
________________

Now that it’s clear where the voids are, we can explore how Sunrisers Hyderabad might go about their business in the IPL 2025 Auction.

What do Sunrisers Hyderabad require in the IPL 2025 auction?

Role No.1 – A solid No.3 batter who is adept vs spin and decent vs pace

Rahul Tripathi: Rahul Tripathi did the job of No.3 brilliantly last season. He is aggressive and is solid vs pace and spin. He can be flexible with his batting position and open the innings if required.
Shreyas Iyer: Shreyas Iyer will be another ideal No.3 for SRH. He can bat according to the situation and is skilled vs spin and fuller lengths vs pace. He will save an overseas spot.
Jacob Bethell: Jacob Bethell has taken significant steps as a batter in recent months. He is skilled vs spin and has shown good technique against pacers. He can also bowl useful left-arm finger spin.
Venkatesh Iyer: Venkatesh Iyer is a perfect fit because he can bat anywhere from the top to the middle and is very good vs pace and spin. He can also bowl useful medium-pace, but his price might be out of SRH’s budget.
Jonny Bairstow: Jonny Bairstow can be a decent No.3. He is skilled vs pace and decent vs spin, even though his recent returns have been middling. He can also keep the wickets.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi: A budget pick, Angkrish Raghuvanshi showed his superior skillsets last season. He has serious attacking gears vs pace and is decent vs spin. He will be a long-term investment.
Josh Inglis: Another budget pick, Josh Inglis has a solid all-round game against pacers and can hit them at will. Further, his game vs spin is also more than decent. He will thrive on flat Hyderabad decks and provide a wicketkeeping option.

Role No.2 – A pace-hitter in the lower order

Abhinav Manohar: Abhinav Manohar might be a fine option for this role. He is among the most ferocious hitters of the ball and can hit sixes at will against pacers. His price will fit in SRH’s budget.
Abdul Samad: Despite his mediocre returns, Abdul Samad is still among the best options for this role. He is a genuine pace-hitter who has taken down the finest of pacers in the past. He won’t be as expensive, either.
Ashutosh Sharma: Ashutosh Sharma was a revelation last season and showed his superior expertise vs pace. He will improve from here on and will be a long-term investment. His price might be high, so that can be an issue.
Tim David: Tim David is another quality option for this role. Despite his middling returns with Mumbai Indians (MI), he is a solid player who can take on pacers from the first ball, and his game vs spin is also decent. He will thrive on the flat deck of Hyderabad.
Rovman Powell: Rovman Powell has performed well in this role almost everywhere. He is a hard-hitter of the ball who can also be promoted up in the order if required. His price won’t be as high, either.
Sherfane Rutherford: Sherfane Rutherford’s recent improvement is noteworthy. He is a hard-hitter of the ball who can hit all the lengths vs pace easily. He will be a long-term investment.
Romario Shepherd: Romario Shepherd’s hitting has improved massively, and the margin of error for pacers against him is low. He also provides a bowling option, for he can bowl hard lengths. He will also be a long-term investment.
Manoj Bhandage: Manoj Bhandage will be a budget pick. He has done really well in the local T20 league and has the potential to ace the toughest job in the IPL. He can also bowl a bit of medium pace.

Role No.3 – A finger spinner with some batting value

Krunal Pandya: Krunal Pandya is an ideal fit for this role. He bowls defensive lines and provides firepower with the bat. His price should be in SRH’s budget.
Harpreet Brar: Harpreet Brar has been among the best defensive spinners in the league lately. He bowls defensive lines and delivers economical spells. There is also a decent batting value.
Allah Ghazanfar: A budget pick, Allah Ghazanfar’s rise has been prominent. He has a range of variations and is a genuine wicket-taker. He can also hit the ball long in the lower order.
Anukul Roy: Anukul Roy might not be a popular pick but adds a lot of value. He can bowl decent left-arm finger spin and also bats aggressively. He is also a terrific fielder.
Shahbaz Ahmed: Shahbaz Ahmed is another value pick. He can contribute with both bat and ball handsomely, and his batting has improved a lot. He has previous experience playing with the franchise.
Mitchell Santner: Mitchell Santner hasn’t got enough opportunities in the league but has a lot to offer. He can bowl tight lines and deliver frugal spells. He is more than capable with the bat.

Role No.4 – A wicket-taking wrist-spinner

Yuzvendra Chahal: Not having a consistent leg-spinner was a loophole in SRH’s squad last cycle. So, they should spend a good amount in this department and try to get Yuzvendra Chahal, a consistent performer. He will bring regular wickets and break the game in the middle overs and can also bowl an over in the death overs.
Noor Ahmad: Noor Ahmad is a genuine wicket-taker. Noor has plenty of variations and can draw false shots on any given deck. He has previously done well in the league.
Adam Zampa: Adam Zampa is a skilled operator with a proven track record in international cricket. He has several variations and bowls attacking lines, which help him snare wickets and remain economical at the same time. He should be SRH’s target if they don’t get one of the above two.
Suyash Sharma: Suyash Sharma is a modern-day spinner who bowls at a high pace and can be a serious threat. His craft will improve from here on. He can be a long-term investment.
Wanindu Hasaranga: Wanindu Hasaranga didn’t show up for SRH last time, but they can look to get him back again. He is a genuine wicket-taker who also contributes with the bat. He can struggle with his fitness, though.

Also Read: ‘Not Sure He Is Going Down That Road’ – Simon Doull Makes Ominous Prediction for Gautam Gambhir’s Future

Role No.5 – A powerplay specialist

Trent Boult: Trent Boult will solve a lot of problems of Sunrisers Hyderabad. He is a genuine wicket-taker with the new ball and provides decent value in the death overs as well. He is a proven performer and will bring variety to the bowling attack.
Khaleel Ahmed: Khaleel Ahmed has been brilliant in the powerplay in the last few years. Khaleel can move the new ball both ways and bring consistent wickets. He can bowl as many as three overs in the first six sets.
Josh Hazlewood: Josh Hazlewood will solve two problems: powerplay and middle overs. He can move the new ball and bowl hard lengths in the middle overs. He is a proven performer.
Rasikh Dar: Rasikh Dar can move the new ball. He has done well in this phase lately and will definitely get some help early on. There’s also a decent death-over potential in him.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: It won’t be surprising if SRH simply opt for Bhuvneshwar Kumar again. He is a new-ball wicket-taker who provides a decent option in the death overs. His previous experience playing in Hyderabad will be handy.
Marco Jansen: SRH can look to spend some money on Marco Jansen again. He is a left-arm pacer who moves the new ball and provides decent value in other phases, especially in the slog overs. He is also a more than handy batter.

Role No.6 – A death-over specialist

T Natarajan: Leaving T Natarajan wouldn’t have been an easy decision, but SRH had no option but to release him. However, they can look to get him back, even if they need to spend a big sum. He is a proven performer and has done well for the franchise in the past.
Arshdeep Singh: Arshdeep Singh might be out of SRH’s budget, but he will do everything SRH require. He will bring new-ball wickets while also providing massive death-over value. He has shown ample control over his yorkers and also has a few slower ones.
Nathan Ellis: Nathan Ellis might come into SRH’s budget. He was not utilised properly by Punjab Kings (PBKS) but is a smart operator who can bowl yorkers and has different types of slower deliveries. He has done well almost everywhere.
Harshal Patel: Harshal Patel might also be out of SRH’s budget. He has a range of slower balls and mixes them well with pace-on deliveries. He is a proven performer.
Avesh Khan: Avesh Khan will also be in heavy demand. He is a hit-the-deck bowler with encouraging credentials in the death overs. SRH should try getting him if his price is reasonable.
Akash Madhwal: Akash Madhwal is a perfect fit for SRH. He can do what Bhuvneshwar Kumar did all these years – bowl in the powerplay and death overs. He generates late movement with new and old ball and has good control over his yorkers.
Yash Thakur: Yash Thakur will provide similar values as Akash Madhwal. He can bowl in the powerplay and death overs and has done well in limited chances. He will improve from here on and will be a long-term investment.
Mohit Sharma: Mohit Sharma might have been effective last time but is still among the best options in this category. He provides ample value in the middle and death overs. He has multiple types of slower ones and knows how to mix them well with pace-on deliveries.