In a recent development coming ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) retention deadline, last season’s runners-up Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will go all out by paying their top retainer a staggering amount of INR 23 crores. The Orange Army has decided to retain five key players ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, which also includes two Indian stars.

South African power batsman Heinrich Klaasen will be the first player retained by the franchise for an exorbitant amount, followed by Australian all-rounder and franchise captain Pat Cummins with Rs 18 crore and India all-rounder Abhishek Sharma with Rs 14 crore.

It is understood that SRH are also likely to soon consolidate the retentions of explosive Australian opener Travis Head along with talented all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy.

If all five retention points are used, SRH will enter the auction with a single Right To Match (RTM) card.

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All five players impressed for SRH last season

Notably, all five players signed by SRH enjoyed a stellar campaign last season (IPL 2024).

Klaasen amassed 479 runs in 15 innings during IPL 2024, maintaining an impressive strike rate of 171.07, making him the Sunrisers’ second-highest run-scorer, just behind Head and Abhishek.

Abhishek, on the other hand, had scored 484 in 16 innings at a strike rate of 204.21, having the highest strike rate among the top ten run-scorers last season.

Meanwhile, Cummins led Sunrisers to the final, where they narrowly missed out on winning the title, losing to Kolkata Knight Riders.

Head, who formed a dynamic opening duo with Abhishek, ranked fourth among the overall run-scorers with 567 runs in 15 innings at a remarkable strike rate of 191.55.

Nitish Reddy also enjoyed a great campaign with 303 runs scored at 142.92 and three wickets.

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