Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) entered the IPL 2026 mini-auction with clear goals after a frustrating 2025 season. Despite having match-winners across departments, SRH failed to finish in the top four last year and knew changes were needed.
SRH are not new to pressure moments. They lifted the IPL title in 2016 and reached the final as recently as 2024, where they lost to KKR. That recent pedigree meant expectations stayed high even after a disappointing 2025 campaign.
One major move before the auction was trading Mohammed Shami to Lucknow Super Giants. Shami was bought in the IPL 2025 mega auction but was moved on as SRH reshaped their bowling plans ahead of 2026.
SRH entered the mini-auction with a purse of ₹25.50 crore and 10 slots to fill. The focus was on adding depth while securing one proven overseas match-winner to strengthen the middle order and all-round options.
The biggest signing of the auction for SRH was Liam Livingstone, picked up for ₹13 crore. The England all-rounder adds explosive power, off-spin options and flexibility in the middle order, something SRH lacked at times last season.
They also invested in young and domestic talent. Punjab wicketkeeper-batter Salil Arora was signed for ₹1.50 crore, adding a backup option behind Heinrich Klaasen and Ishan Kishan.
Among the other notable buys, SRH secured Jack Edwards for ₹3 crore and brought back Shivam Mavi for ₹75 lakh to boost pace depth. These signings were aimed at improving bench strength rather than just the playing XI.
SRH also picked six uncapped players at base price. Shivang Kumar, Sakib Hussain, Omkar Tarmale, Amit Kumar, Praful Hinge and Krains Fuletra were all bought for ₹30 lakh each, filling remaining slots and strengthening the domestic pool.
The final SRH squad has 25 players, with 17 Indians and 8 overseas. Core names like Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Pat Cummins, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Reddy, Harshal Patel and Ishan Kishan remain central to the team’s plans.
With Livingstone added to that core, SRH now look more balanced across batting, bowling and all-round options. They also finished the auction with ₹5.45 crore still in the purse, giving them flexibility for mid-season replacements if needed.
Players Bought by SRH in IPL 2026 Auction
| Sr. No. | Player Name | Country | Role | Base Price | Final Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liam Livingstone | England | All-Rounder | ₹2 Crore | ₹13 Crore |
| 2 | Jack Edwards | Australia | All-Rounder | ₹50 Lakh | ₹3 Crore |
| 3 | Salil Arora | India | Wicket Keeper/Batter | ₹30 Lakh | ₹1.5 Crore |
| 4 | Shivam Mavi | India | Bowler | ₹75 Lakh | ₹75 Lakh |
| 5 | Shivang Kumar | India | All-Rounder | ₹30 Lakh | ₹30 Lakh |
| 6 | Sakib Hussain | India | Bowler | ₹30 Lakh | ₹30 Lakh |
| 7 | Onkar Tarmale | India | Bowler | ₹30 Lakh | ₹30 Lakh |
| 8 | Amit Kumar | India | Bowler | ₹30 Lakh | ₹30 Lakh |
| 9 | Praful Hinge | India | Bowler | ₹30 Lakh | ₹30 Lakh |
| 10 | Krains Fuletra | India | All-Rounder | ₹30 Lakh | ₹30 Lakh |
Players Retained by SRH ahead of IPL 2026 Auction
| Sr. No. | Player Name | Country | Role | Retention Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heinrich Klaasen | South Africa | Wicketkeeper-Batter | ₹23 Crore |
| 2 | Pat Cummins | Australia | All-Rounder/Bowler | ₹18 Crore |
| 3 | Abhishek Sharma | India | Batter/All-Rounder | ₹14 Crore |
| 4 | Travis Head | Australia | Batter | ₹14 Crore |
| 5 | Ishan Kishan | India | Wicketkeeper-Batter | ₹11.25 Crore |
| 6 | Harshal Patel | India | Bowler | ₹8 Crore |
| 7 | Nitish Kumar Reddy | India | All-Rounder | ₹6 Crore |
| 8 | Eshan Malinga | Sri Lanka | Bowler | ₹1.2 Crore |
| 9 | Brydon Carse | England | Bowler | ₹1 Crore |
| 10 | Jaydev Unadkat | India | Bowler | ₹1 Crore |
| 11 | Kamindu Mendis | Sri Lanka | All-Rounder | ₹75 Lakh |
| 12 | Zeeshan Ansari | India | Bowler | ₹40 Lakh |
| 13 | Aniket Verma | India | Batter | ₹30 Lakh |
| 14 | Harsh Dubey | India | All-Rounder | ₹30 Lakh |
| 15 | Ravichandran Smaran | India | Batter | ₹30 Lakh |
