3 holes SRH might struggle to fill at the IPL 2025 auction ft. powerplay bowling options
The SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) had a productive campaign in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). The Orange Army finished in the top two and reached the summit clash, where they lost to the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, SRH retained five players. Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Pat Cummins and Nitish Reddy, all of whom played starring roles for the franchise in the previous campaign, were snapped up.
However, it means that Hyderabad will have only ₹45 crore to spend at the IPL 2025 auction. With only one RTM card in their hands and a limited purse, the franchise might not have the freedom necessary to build another title-contending squad.
On that note, here are three holes SRH might struggle to fill at the IPL 2025 auction.
#3 SRH might not be able to find powerplay bowling options at the IPL 2025 auction
With only ₹45 crore in their purse, SRH will need to assemble the rest of their bowling attack around captain Pat Cummins. In that regard, powerplay bowling options will be hard to come by for the franchise.
The likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami are clearly nearing the end of their careers, and even then, they're unlikely to come for affordable prices. Deepak Chahar and similar bowlers are available, but they don't inspire much confidence.
Moreover, with only one overseas slot remaining in the XII, they might not be able to pursue a non-Indian fast bowler, depending upon how the rest of their roster shapes up. Speaking of which...
#2 Having retained 3 OS players, SRH need to build a solid Indian core
Abhishek Sharma and Nitish Kumar Reddy are two of the most valuable young Indian players on the market, and SRH have done well to tie them down. But unlike the other franchises, Hyderabad have retained three overseas players and need to build the rest of their domestic core.
That's a task that won't be easy for them at the IPL 2025 auction. Most teams have retained their talented young players, and those who haven't will be keen on bringing them back either via the RTM card or outright via a bid. In both batting and bowling, SRH might struggle to find youngsters good enough to fill the rest of the lineup.
Mayank Agarwal, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahme and others who played for SRH in IPL 2024 haven't set the league on fire, and the team can't afford to settle for lesser talents once again.
#1 SRH need to find quality spin options
Mayank Markande is one of two realistic RTM candidates for SRH, with Abdul Samad being the other. If Markande's price shoots up, and there's a good chance that it will given how many teams are on the lookout for a wrist-spinner, the SunRisers might not be able to afford him.
Irrespective of what happens with their former player, SRH might not find it easy to assemble a quality spin attack, which they lacked in IPL 2024. Left-arm spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel have been retained, while off-spinners like Washington Sundar may not find success at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium once again.
Abhishek is a decent bowling option, but SRH will need to rely on frontline options if they are to secure a solid foundation for the upcoming auction cycle.