In 2024, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) reached their first final in six years. They had a strong start, securing five wins in their first seven matches. With three additional victories and an abandoned game, SRH ended the group stage tied on 17 points with Rajasthan Royals (RR).
However, their superior net run rate secured them a second-place finish. After losing to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Qualifier 1, they bounced back by defeating RR in Qualifier 2 to book a spot in the final, where they fell short against KKR once again.
Table of Contents
Likely Best XII
- Travis Head*
- Abhishek Sharma
- Ishan Kishan (wk)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Heinrich Klaasen*
- Aniket Verma
- Abhinav Manohar
- Pat Cummins* (capt)
- Harshal Patel
- Rahul Chahar
- Mohammed Shami
- Adam Zampa
* denotes overseas player
Full Squad
Pat Cummins, Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, Ishan Kishan, Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Abhinav Manohar, Rahul Chahar, Adam Zampa, Simarjeet Singh, Eshan Malinga, Jaydev Unadkat, Wiaan Mulder, Kamindu Mendis, Zeeshan Ansari, Atharva Taide, Sachin Baby, Aniket Verma
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s IPL 2025 Setup: Power-Packed Batting & a Reinvented Attack
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) set the IPL ablaze last season with their fearless batting, breaching the 250-run mark on three occasions and rewriting history with a record-breaking 287 for 3 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Retaining the core of Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, and Nitish Kumar Reddy while adding Ishan Kishan at the auction, SRH seem intent on sticking to their ultra-attacking blueprint.
However, their domestic batting reserves remain thin. Aniket Verma is yet to debut, Abhinav Manohar had limited opportunities in 2024, and Sachin Baby last played IPL in 2021. With captain Pat Cummins, Head, and Klaasen locked in as overseas regulars, SRH could turn to Kamindu Mendis to reinforce their middle order.
Despite keeping Cummins and re-signing Jaydev Unadkat, SRH will field a largely revamped bowling unit in 2025. Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, and Rahul Chahar bolster the pace and spin departments, with Shami expected to take the new ball in Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s absence. Among overseas options, Adam Zampa and allrounder Wiaan Mulder offer additional firepower, while Reddy, Abhishek, Head, and Kamindu provide part-time support.
Few teams have reversed their fortunes as emphatically as SRH did in 2024. After years of inconsistency post-David Warner, they found stability under Pat Cummins, whose arrival alongside Travis Head and head coach Daniel Vettori reshaped the squad’s identity. They defied conventional batting norms, fully exploiting PowerPlays and embracing an aggressive mindset en route to their first final since 2018.
Heading into the new cycle, SRH benefited from the revised retention rules, securing six players without restrictions on overseas picks. This allowed them to maintain their explosive top five, now further enhanced by Kishan’s arrival. With experience replacing experience—Shami and Harshal stepping in for Bhuvneshwar and T Natarajan—SRH seem poised to build on their momentum. Their mantra for 2025? Keep the high-octane approach, but take it up another notch.
Watch Out For
SRH’s Dynamic Openers: Boom or Bust?
Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head tormented bowling attacks last season, redefining powerplay dominance with their explosive starts. However, their red-hot form fizzled out in the final four matches, where they managed a mere 15 runs combined.
Still, if SRH’s openers fire in even half of their games this season, rival bowlers could find themselves with nowhere to escape. Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma has been in blistering form, striking at 200.86 across 28 matches since IPL 2024. He has notched up three centuries in this period, including two in his last six outings.
Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami was a powerplay menace in the 2022 and 2023 IPL seasons, claiming 28 wickets at an average of 21.25 with an economy of 7.08. However, an ankle injury that required surgery sidelined him for over a year. Since his comeback, he has bowled in the powerplay in four T20s, picking up two wickets, before reaffirming his fitness with nine scalps in 41 overs during the Champions Trophy.
If he remains injury-free and continues to strike early, SRH may not feel Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s absence as much. Since recovering from ankle surgery, Mohammed Shami has picked up 14 wickets in 11 T20s for Bengal and India, maintaining an average of 23.50 and an economy rate of 8.02.
Ishan Kishan
Since the end of 2023, Ishan Kishan has endured a rough patch, losing his place in India’s squads across all formats and missing out on a central contract for the 2023-24 season. His decline was rapid, culminating in his omission from the T20 World Cup-winning squad in 2024. However, he has begun his climb back, returning to action for Jharkhand in domestic cricket. A strong IPL campaign could put him back on the selectors’ radar ahead of next year’s home T20 World Cup, especially with head coach Gautam Gambhir prioritizing a left-right balance at the top.
Kishan’s arrival at SRH wasn’t a last-minute auction gamble but a long-awaited move. The franchise had aggressively pursued him in 2022, only to fall short against MI. Last year, they finally secured him and are now poised to unleash him at the top, giving him the perfect platform to shine.
Abhinav Manohar
The Karnataka batter, known for his power-hitting prowess, could finally get a consistent run in SRH’s middle order. Although Gujarat Titans picked him up in 2022, limited opportunities prevented him from fully showcasing his talent. However, a stellar Maharaja T20 League 2024, where he smashed 550 runs in 11 innings at a blistering strike rate of 195.35—including 57 sixes, the most by any batter—sparked an intense bidding war at the IPL auction. Just over a month after SRH secured him for ₹3.20 crore, he reinforced his credentials with a match-winning 79 off 42 balls in the Vijay Hazare Trophy final.
With his explosive finishing ability and red-hot form, Manohar is primed to thrive in a side that embraces an aggressive batting philosophy. Having played just 8, 9, and 2 games in the last three seasons, this could finally be his breakthrough campaign.
Concern
Injury Comebacks: Cummins and Carse on the Road to Recovery
Cummins sat out the Champions Trophy due to an ankle injury but avoided surgery, opting for rehab instead. He has resumed bowling, with his last T20 appearance dating back to the MLC final in July. With the WTC final and a Test tour of the West Indies following the IPL, Australia will be keen on keeping him injury-free.
Meanwhile, Brydon Carse sustained a left toe injury during England’s India tour before the Champions Trophy, prompting SRH to bring in Wiaan Mulder as his replacement.
Fixture Challenges and Key Home Ground Stat
Sunrisers have a strong chance to gain early momentum, with five of their first eight matches set at home in Hyderabad—where their batting flourished last season (winning six out of seven). Their campaign kicks off with back-to-back home fixtures, followed by a short trip to Visakhapatnam. Among their early away games, a visit to Mumbai presents a familiar challenge, as one of their five losses in 2024 came at the Wankhede Stadium, despite the favorable batting conditions.
The scheduling dynamics could work in SRH’s favor, with quick turnarounds for their first five games but a more spaced-out stretch of four matches in April, allowing time for rest and adjustments. Though a few fixtures involve short recovery periods between travel, the team also benefits from two separate extended breaks (4-5 days) between home matches. Their league phase concludes with two consecutive away games—first in Bengaluru, where they registered a record-breaking 287/3 last season, and then in Lucknow, an unfamiliar venue for them in 2024. Additionally, SRH is among six franchises set to play two afternoon fixtures (compared to three for others), both within the first eight days of their campaign.
Last season, SRH’s home ground proved a paradise for batters, recording a scoring rate of 9.99—second only to Delhi’s 10.76. With the impact player rule still in play and SRH’s aggressive batting mindset, expect another season of high-scoring contests at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Read More: IPL 2025: Chennai Super Kings Preview – Squad Analysis of CSK & Starting XI
FAQs
Can Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head replicate their explosive powerplay starts?
Yes, if the duo can deliver strong starts in even half the games, opposition attacks could struggle to contain SRH’s aggressive approach.
How crucial is Mohammed Shami’s return for SRH?
Shami’s ability to strike early with the new ball could help SRH cover for Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s absence, provided he stays fit throughout the season.
Can Ishan Kishan revive his career with SRH?
After losing his India spot, Kishan has a chance to prove himself with a strong IPL season, which could put him back in the selectors’ radar.
Will SRH’s home advantage play a big role in IPL 2025?
Yes, SRH won six out of seven home games last season, and with five of their first eight matches in Hyderabad, they have a golden opportunity to start strong.
How does Pat Cummins’ fitness impact SRH’s campaign?
Cummins has recovered from an ankle injury without surgery, and his availability will be crucial, especially with Australia’s packed Test schedule after the IPL.
