The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) enter IPL 2025 with a revamped squad under the leadership of captain Pat Cummins, a seasoned winner of major trophies, including the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup. While Pat Cummins has tasted success in international cricket, he fell short of winning the IPL in 2024, with SRH losing in both the first qualifier and the final to Kolkata Knight Riders.
Following the disappointment, SRH turned their attention to addressing weaknesses exposed during their near-title run. The primary issues from IPL 2024 were a lack of depth in batting and inadequate support for Pat Cummins in the bowling department. To rectify these flaws, SRH made strategic signings in the IPL 2025 auction, including Karnataka’s explosive batsman Abhinav Manohar and experienced bowlers Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, and Adam Zampa, which has brought greater balance to the team. Wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan also replaced Aiden Markram in the middle order, adding more IPL experience and a point to prove.
With a powerful batting lineup capable of attacking from the first ball, SRH appears to have a squad that won’t be easily brushed aside in the upcoming season. However, their bench strength remains a concern. The team lacks proven alternatives to players like Manohar, and though Zampa and Rahul Chahar are skilled leg spinners, they haven’t made a significant impact in the IPL for years. Pat Cummins may also face challenges on slower pitches.
For SRH to secure their second IPL title, starting the season strong and maintaining consistent form will be key. If they can rack up wins early on, avoiding the net run-rate issues that plagued them last year, their strengthened squad could provide a serious challenge for the title.
SRH’s performance in IPL 2024 was notable, with their aggressive batting strategy making them the trendsetters in utilizing the Impact Player rule. They finished second in the group stage, with eight wins and 17 points, and saw strong performances from Travis Head, who scored 567 runs, and T. Natarajan, who took 19 wickets. Nitish Kumar Reddy was named Emerging Player of the Year for his all-round contributions.
With a formidable lineup for IPL 2025, SRH will aim to build on last year’s progress and finally end their wait for a second IPL title.
