The trade window before the retention deadline saw several player movements across the Indian Premier League (IPL), including the big move of Mohammed Shami from the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Although they did not fire in the 2025 season, they still appear to have a settled playing XI, with decent backups available.
With a good purse left at SRH's disposal, we explore the players who can be on their radar in the auction.
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SRH auction purse and squad gaps for IPL 2026
After SRH released the likes of Shami, Atharva Taide, Abhinav Manohar, Adam Zampa, and Rahul Chahar, among others, they have ₹25.50 crore to spend as they head into the auction.
Using this amount, they will want to address issues such as adding a backup opener, acquiring an Indian middle-order batter and an Indian fast bowler. The following are their options in the market.
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Backup opener for SRH
Mayank Agarwal: While they have Ishan Kishan in their playing XI, SRH have used him at number 3. Agarwal's short stint with RCB last season turned out to be a success for him, scoring impactful runs at a strike rate of 148.43. He will also be among the cheaper options.
Indian fast bowlers for SRH
After losing Shami to LSG, they freed up 10 crore, but it has left a gap in their squad. They have Jaydev Unadkat and Harshal Patel, but would ideally want another option in the team to rotate or use as a backup.
The following are the options that can fit that role for them:
- Mohit Sharma
- Akash Deep
- Kuldeep Sen
- Darshan Nalkande
Indian middle-order batters for SRH:
Venkatesh Iyer: Considering that SRH is a top-heavy batting lineup, they lack experience in the middle-order, which was consistently exposed to a collapse in 2025. They can add Iyer's experience at No. 4 or 5, as per the team's requirements, to address that issue.
Mahipal Lomror: Lomror is another player who has played some impactful knocks for RCB and RR in the past. He will be a more affordable alternative who can also serve as a squad player for rotational use.
Backup overseas all-rounder for SRH:
Dasun Shanaka: Considering they have a stacked quota of overseas stars, they will try not to spend too much on this, but Shanaka can add some quality on the bench and can also be used as an impact player.
Backup spinners for SRH:
With Harsh Dubey and Zeeshan Ansari taking up the roles of frontline spinners, the following are the cheap spin-bowling options who can add depth to their bench:
- Karn Sharma
- Vignesh Puthur