IPL 2026: Strongest Playing XI of Sunrisers Hyderabad – Full Squad Breakdown

gopi-marisetty — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:04:10 GMT

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will enter the IPL 2026season to regain their former glory after an inconsistent 2025 IPL season. The 2016 IPL champions finished in sixth position last season with six wins and seven losses. The team had not been able to secure a playoff berth. However, the team has continued to back its aggressive style of play, retaining the same players who helped the team remain competitive last season.

The team will once again be led by Australian skipper Pat Cummins, while former New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori will continue to be the team’s head coach. The team management has focused on maintaining stability at the team level in the IPL 2026 mini-auction that took place in Abu Dhabi. They retained most of their players but added a few new players to the team to strengthen its position.

One of the biggest signings for the team was England all-rounder Liam Livingstone, who was picked up for 13 crore. The team also traded experienced fast bowler Mohammed Shami to the Lucknow Super Giants. The 25-member team looks to be well balanced with powerful hitters, quality all-rounders, and experienced bowlers.

Predicted opening pair for Sunrisers Hyderabad in Indian Premier League 2026

Travis Head will play as the opening batsman for Sunrisers Hyderabad. The Australian left-hander was among the most devastating batsmen in IPL 2024, smashing 567 runs in 15 innings at an unbelievable strike rate of 191.55. His aggressive batting in the powerplay helped Sunrisers Hyderabad win many matches in IPL 2024. SRH retained him for ₹14 crore, and his ability to attack bowlers from the first ball makes him one of the most dangerous openers in the tournament.

Abhishek Sharma will play alongside Travis Head in the opening slot. The Indian all-rounder has become one of the most promising young players in T20 cricket. In IPL 2024, he scored 484 runs at a strike rate of 204.22 and hit 42 sixes, the highest number of sixes scored by an Indian in IPL 2024. In addition to that, he also provides SRH with an attacking bowling option in left-arm spin. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma make for one of the most destructive opening pairs in the competition.

SRH’s middle-order strength and all-round options for IPL 2026

Ishan Kishan will bat at number three and also keep wickets. The left-handed batsman had a great run in IPL 2025, scoring 354 runs in 13 innings, including a ton on debut for SRH against Rajasthan Royals. His aggressive game style is exactly what SRH need. Ishan Kishan recently scored a T20I hundred for India against New Zealand, which speaks volumes about his current form.

Nitish Kumar Reddy is likely to bat at number four and add balance to the side as a batting all-rounder. He had a fantastic season in the IPL 2024, contributing 303 runs and being awarded the Emerging Player of the Year award. The youngster will also provide bowling options to the captain as a medium-pace bowler.

Heinrich Klaasen is one of the most valuable players in the SRH squad. The South African power hitter usually bats at number five and plays the role of a finisher in the middle overs. Klaasen scored 479 runs at a strike rate of over 170 in the IPL 2024. SRH retained him for ₹23 crore, making him the highest-paid player in the squad. With Klaasen focusing only on franchise cricket after retiring from international matches, SRH will expect big performances from him.

Furthermore, Liam Livingstone, SRH's most expensive buy in the mini-auction for the IPL 2026, will provide strength to the team in the middle order at number six. Liam is known for his strong hitting and his ability to provide variety with his off-spin and leg-spin skills. However, in case Liam is not able to perform throughout the season, Sri Lankan all-rounder Kamindu Mendis will come in handy for SRH as a like-for-like replacement for Liam Livingstone.

Aniket Verma will most probably play as a lower-order power hitter for SRH at number seven. The young batter impressed in his debut IPL season by hitting 20 sixes in just 12 innings. SRH brought him for only ₹30 lakh, making him one of the most exciting among the young talent in the squad.

SRH’s bowling attack that could dominate in IPL 2026

Pat Cummins, the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad. He leads the fast bowling department. Cummins is known for his ability to bowl in all conditions and has the potential to lead the team with calmness. He has taken 79 wickets in the IPL. He also has the potential to contribute to the batting department with powerful hitting. In case Cummins needs workload management or is unavailable for any match, Brydon Carse can be brought in as a replacement for the fast bowling department.

Harsh Dubey will lead the spin department. The left-arm spinner had an impressive Ranji Trophy campaign, where he picked 69 wickets for Vidarbha. His ability to control the middle overs is expected to be very handy for SRH, especially when the wickets are slow.

Harshal Patel will be responsible for the death overs. The experienced fast bowler is known for his clever variations and slower balls. The two-time Purple Cap winner has many times proven his capability to handle pressure situations in the final overs of an inning.

Jaydev Unadkat will complete the pace attack with his left-arm swing bowling. The experienced pacer has 110 wickets to his name in his IPL career. His ability to bowl with the new ball as well as in the final overs makes him a very handy asset for his team.

Impact Players: Shivam Mavi is likely to be the first-choice substitute when SRH need an extra pacer. The right-arm fast bowler has taken 30 wickets in 32 IPL matches and can strengthen the pace attack on seamer-friendly pitches. Zeeshan Ansari is another useful option as a leg-spinner and could be brought in on slow surfaces to support Harsh Dubey in the spin department. Salil Arora offers a batting-heavy option for SRH as an Impact Player. The young wicket-keeper batter has already made an impact in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scoring 358 runs with a strike rate of almost 200. In high-scoring games, he can be used as an impact player to enhance the batting line-up of the side.

Strongest Playing XI for SRH in IPL 2026

Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Liam Livingstone, Aniket Verma, Pat Cummins (C), Harsh Dubey, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat.