The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 campaign for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) was forgettable; they finished with just eight points from 14 games, bottom of the 10-team points table. Having captured their first IPL championship in 2016, SRH was one of the league’s most powerful teams from 2016 to 2020. They have been far from their best in the last three IPL seasons while managing to qualify for the playoffs in each of the editions during this time.
With up to 19 players on the roster, SRH still has 6 spots (remaining cash of Rs 34 crore) to fill before the IPL player auction 2024.
Even though they parted ways with players like Harry Brook, Kartik Tyagi, and Adil Rashid, SRH still has a lot of work ahead of them. Their core group comprises Aiden Markram, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Heinrich Klaasen, Mayank Agarwal, T Natarajan, and Washington Sundar.
Key players put on incredible performances that drove the team’s success. Abhishek Sharma was able to participate in the final stage matches, and he performed exceptionally well. He opened the innings and used an aggressive style of play. While Bhuvneshwar Kumar was at his best, he was swinging the ball forward and landing flawless yorkers in the final moments of play. He got numerous wickets for his team at critical junctures and was also incredibly economical. Although Klaasen and Markram, their captain, also had some strong innings, their team is hoping for an extraordinary season from these guys this time around.
Players SRH can target
Travis Head
Travis Head, the World Cup winner for Australia, will be a solid backup if they are unable to obtain Rachin Ravindra. Especially in light of his heroics against India in the World Cup final, he doesn’t require an introduction. Since Head is a proven match-winner, SRH hasn’t had many players like him in recent years.
Gerald Coetzee
SRH might yet bid at the auction for a top international pacer, even though Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan, and Umran Malik make up a formidable looking pace trio. Bhuvneshwar and Natarajan have both been prone to injury in the past few seasons, while Umran Malik’s IPL 2023 season was somewhat disappointing, as he only managed five wickets in eight games. It wouldn’t be shocking if SRH chose a gifted pacer like Gerald Coetzee of South Africa, who took 20 wickets in the ODI World Cup, given their financial resources.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman
In their pursuit of a spinner, SRH may find Mujeeb Ur Rahman to be an additional worthwhile investment. An experienced spinner with a reputation for variety, Mujeeb can manipulate the opposition hitters at will and turn the tide of the match in his team’s advantage. Although acquiring Mujeeb won’t be simple for SRH, a bidding war for the 22-year-old could be extremely likely.
