Sunrisers Hyderabad was one step away from lifting the trophy last season. We take a look at the key decisions that SRH could take to win the IPL 2025.
Hyderabad, Sunrisers, led by Pat Cummins, had an incredible season of the Indian Premier in 2024, but could not turn it into a championship. They were hesitated in the final stages, losing to the riders of Kolkata Knight twice.
The mega auction, which happens every three years, meant that SRH had to rebuild his side. They had quite easy decisions to make with respect to the withholdings, ensuring Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head, Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma and Niten Kumar Reddy. At the IPL auction, they acquired some valuable assets such as Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Isehan Kishan, Adam Zampa, among others.
In IPL 2025, Sunrisers Hyderabad will have to make some calls that could decide their season.
Heinrich Klaasen entry point
Sunrisers Hyderab retained Heinrich Klaasen for INR 23 million rupees and that should tell him how much they value him. It is one of the best white ball hitters in the world. Being a batter to the right and abroad, his ability to crush the spinnings is surprising.
Klaasen has accumulated 927 races in the last two editions of the IPL, hitting 174 while averaging 44. He had a thin race in the format from the World Cup final T20, but recovered the form in the second half of the SA20 with 66 of 44 and 44 and 76* OFF 47.
One of the reasons behind his extensive streak was that the teams were trying to protect him for the end. In the recent SA20, the Super Giants of Durban delayed him and hit him in number six or lower in four of the seven entries.
Klaasen is an excellent spin batter and when he has time in his hands, he can be doubly dangerous. But delaying it means that it is in a position that you have to start hitting from the first ball or arrest the collapse. Sunrisers Hyderabad would be prudent to send him between 7 and 12 overs and give him enough time.
The enigma of Isehan Kishan: Where does it hit in the alignment of SRH?
Sunrisers Hyderabad spent 11.25 million rupees to add Isehan Kishan to his list. However, it made very little sense since they already have a pair of openness established in Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head. Kishan’s best batting position is at the top, but it is unlikely that he gets that place ahead of those two.
That leaves a number three or four role, something that does not adapt to your current game. Isehan Kishan had stood out in the medium order role in 2020, but has struggled largely in the last few against Spin.
Isehan has an average of 26 at a strike rate of less than 120 against the wrist and right arm. Starting your entries in the middle against the SPIN could be a problem for him. So how SRH uses Kishan in IPL 2025 could be key.
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Kamindu Mendis or Adam Zampa
Sunrisers Hyderab could have a selection dilemma in IPL 2025 with respect to the final place abroad. Pat Cummins, Mohammed Shami and Harshal Patel will form the rhythm attack. For the frontline roulette, do Adam Zampa go and bet on an Indian batter or opt for Rahul Chahar and play Kamindu Mendis in the lower medium order?
Zampa is one of the best spinners in the world, while without Mendis, his batting looks a bit light. Mendis does not have a large record for Sri Lanka in the shortest format, but he had done well in the LPL last year, scoring 286 races to an average of 41 and a 157 strike rate.
The impact player’s rule offers SRH an option to name three players abroad in the XI game while hitting first and uses Mendis or Zampa depending on the situation.
How are Sunrisers Hyderabad if Cummins remains marginalized?
Pat Cummins has been out of action with an ankle injury he suffered during the house test series against India. The Australian captain has been discarded from the Champions Trophy and the timeline for his return is still clear.
In case Cummins do not recover in time and lose the early part, how they adapt to Sunrisers Hyderabad will be vital for your campaign. For the role of the captaincy, SRH could deliver the reins through Travis Head, which has a lot of experience.
Srh also has a good option for similar backup in Brydon Cars. England’s pancer recently had impressive performances in the T20i series against India, nine WICKETS in four games and hitting 31 pounds 17 in Chennai.