SunRisers Hyderabad made a bold move by releasing Mohammed Shami. This decision freed up ₹10 crore in their auction purse. SRH now has ₹25.5 crore to spend. That’s decent money to fix their squad weaknesses.
IPL 2026 mini-auction will be on December 16 at Abu Dhabi. The Orange squad will be ready with some bidding plans.
What Went Wrong for SRH?
SRH has big names like Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head. Ishan Kishan also joined them in 2025. But having star players doesn’t guarantee success. Their batting crumbled under pressure multiple times. The bowling looked ordinary on most days. That’s why they missed the playoffs badly.
The team has 10 vacant spots right now. Two of these are for overseas cricketers. SRH desperately needs an overseas all-rounder. They also lack quality new-ball bowlers. Let’s look at who they might chase.
Players SRH Should Target
- Andre Russell
Russell isn’t the player he was years ago. But he still packs a serious strike with the bat. KKR surprisingly let him go after a decade. SRH can grab this opportunity. Russell’s late-order hitting wins matches out of nowhere. He can bowl too, which adds flexibility. This signing would excite fans instantly.
- Ravi Bishnoi
SRH released both leg spinners Rahul Chahar and Adam Zampa. That left a huge gap in spin bowling. Bishnoi is available after LSG released him for ₹11 crore. The young leggie has 76 wickets from 77 IPL games. His economy of 8.22 is solid. Pairing him with Zeeshan Ansari could create a deadly spin duo.
- Wanindu Hasaranga
Adam Zampa’s exit opened an overseas spinner slot. Hasaranga fits perfectly here. The Sri Lankan leg spinner brings tons of experience. He’s clever with his variations. Plus, he can smash some runs down the order. That makes him a proper all-rounder option.
- Venkatesh Iyer
Here’s SRH’s biggest problem – their middle order. The top order scores runs, but the middle falls apart. This happened repeatedly in 2025. Iyer can slot in at number 4 or 5 easily. He’s calm under pressure. His presence would add much-needed stability.
- Dasun Shanaka
SRH already has several overseas stars. So they won’t splash big money here. But Shanaka makes sense as a budget pick. He adds depth to the bench. The team can use him as an impact substitute. Smart teams need good backup options.
What’s Next for SRH?
The mini-auction will test SRH’s strategy. They have ₹25.5 crore to work with. The focus should be on balance, not just big names. Getting the right spinners is crucial. Fixing the middle-order mess is equally important. If SRH plays smart, they can build a championship squad. Fans are waiting to see some action.
