MS Dhoni and Sunrisers Hyderabad. (Photo Source: Twitter
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) lacked discipline in the last three years and failed to qualify for the playoffs for three consecutive Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons. During this period, they tried three different skippers David Warner, Kane Williamson, and Aiden Markram but all failed to be impactful with their leadership skills.
After witnessing back-to-back failures, SRH have fetched some quality players in the 2024 IPL auction to get effective results in the upcoming T20 extravaganza. The Hyderabad-based outlet spent INR 30.80 crore at the business event in Dubai to reserve the services of some illustrious names such as Pat Cummins, Travis Head, and Wanindu Hasaranga. Noting their buys, let’s talk about SRH players who might form their best 11-member squad for the 2024 IPL edition.
Here is the playing XI of SRH after the conclusion of the IPL 2024 mini-auction:
1. Mayank Agarwal
Mayank Agarwal (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
Sunrisers Hyderabad have retained Mayank Agarwal for the 2024 season despite witnessing his flop show in 2023. The right-handed batter made his debut for SRH in the previous season and scored only 270 runs in ten matches at a strike rate of 128.57 and an average of 27.00.
Agarwal will look to forget his previous failure to focus on delivering his best to the side in 2024. The 32-year-old will have to showcase his batting mettle in the 2024 IPL season as he has added back-to-back two flop seasons to his profile and one more failure might end his IPL career.
2. Travis Head
Travis-Head. (Photo by MONEY SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images)
Australia’s Travis Head grabbed a lot of attention for his sensational performance in 2023. Riding on his batting excellence, the Aussie side won the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) mace and the 2023 World Cup trophy. Following his extraordinary performances, SRH invested INR 6.80 crore in him to get his services in the auction.
Head might be seen in the opening role along with Agarwal for SRH. The southpaw will make a comeback in the cash-rich league after six years. Back in 2017, he played for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) but couldn’t do much. With 151 runs in seven matches, he failed to justify his role in the team. In SRH colours, he will look to be at his best to help his side clinch the distinguished trophy after seven years.
3. Rahul Tripathi
Rahul Tripathi. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Rahul Tripathi looked ordinary with his bat in the 2023 IPL, scoring only 273 runs in 13 games at a strike rate of 128.16. However, Hyderabad haven’t lost faith in him as they included his name in their retention list before the 2024 IPL auction. Tripathi possesses a lot of experience in domestic cricket and IPL and he will be expected to utilise his skills for the welfare of the side.
The 32-year-old will have to assist Agarwal and Head to reinforce SRH’s top order. Talking about his recent batting display, the star player looked average with his bat for Goa in the domestic tournaments 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and 2023-24 Vijay Hazare Trophy. He will look to regain confidence in the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy to go to the marquee T20 tournament with high morale.
4. Aiden Markram
Aiden Markram. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Aiden Markram captained SRH in the 2023 IPL but couldn’t deliver the desired results. The leadership created pressure on him as he failed to provide his best with the bat as well. Playing 13 contests, he scored 248 runs at a strike rate of 125.88 and an average of 22.54.
Noting his non-performance as a skipper, SRH might pass the captaincy mantle to Pat Cummins and he may be given the task to serve the team as a batter only. In the recently played matches, the Protea has performed superbly and Hyderabad will want him to continue his form in IPL as well.
5. Heinrich Klaasen
Heinrich Klaasen 1. (Photo Source: IPL/ BCCI)
Heinrich Klaasen played a fierce brand of cricket for Hyderabad in the 2023 IPL. The right-handed batter notched up 448 runs in 11 innings of 12 matches at a breathtaking strike rate of 177.07. The 32-year-old will be a vital face in SRH team again in 2024 as he will have to play huge knocks while batting in the middle order.
His aggressive batting style makes him a perfect finisher. Before the 2024 IPL, SRH fans will set their eyes on his performance for Durban Super Giants (DSG) in the SA20 League. The wicket-keeper batter will look to have a great time in the league to be held at home so that he can carry confidence in the IPL.
6. Washington Sundar
Washington Sundar. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Washington Sundar failed to do his job efficiently for SRH in the last season. With the bat, he scored only 60 runs in five innings of seven matches at a low strike rate of 100.00. As a bowler, he got only three wickets at an economy of 8.26 and a horrendous average of 48.66.
Despite his underwhelming numbers, SRH have trusted him for the 2024 season. Sundar will spearhead Hyderabad’s spin-bowling attack in the upcoming competition. Along with that, he will have to assist his senior colleagues Markram and Klaasen with the bat in the middle order.
7. Abdul Samad
Abdul Samad. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Abdul Samad was decent as a batter in the 2023 IPL. The right-handed batter scored 169 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 132.03 and an average of 42.25. Against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Jaipur, he played an unbeaten knock of 17 off seven to take his team home by four wickets.
His swashbuckling batting style makes him dangerous for bowlers in the final overs of the game. Noting his talent, Sunrisers will want him to don the role of a finisher and help the team bag important games. The youngster has struggled to score runs for Jammu & Kashmir in the 2023-24 domestic tournament but before the 2024 IPL, he will back himself to produce impactful knocks.
8. Pat Cummins (c)
Pat Cummins. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)
Pat Cummins was snapped up by SRH for a hefty sum of INR 20.50 crore in the 2024 IPL auction. With this amount, he became the second-most expensive player in the history of the cash-rich league, following his fellow countryman and teammate Mitchell Starc.
The Aussie might be given SRH’s captaincy mantle for the upcoming tournament. Under his leadership, Australia played aggressive cricket and bagged the 2023 World Test Championship mace and the record-extending sixth World Cup title. Noting his spectacular achievement, Hyderabad may trust him to lead the team.
9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneswar Kumar IPL. (Photo Source: INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar will spearhead Hyderabad’s fast-bowling unit. In the previous season, he was out of rhythm in initial matches but came on the right track later. Bagging 16 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 8.33, he ended up as the leading wicket-taker for the team in the competition.
In 2024, SRH will expect their star bowler to wreak havoc on batters and guide the team to the coveted trophy as he did in 2016. Bhuvneshwar will also strive to grab this opportunity with both hands as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) might induct him in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup team if the veteran shines with the ball.
10. Umran Malik
Umran Malik. (Photo Source : Twitter)
Umran Malik’s role will be to provide strength to SRH’s pace attack along with the veterans Cummins and Bhuvneshwar. In the previous season, he lacked discipline and got only five wickets in eight matches at an expensive economy of 10.85. In 2024, he will look to make his journey better in the orange jersey.
Umran will get an opportunity to learn some new skills from Cummins. The speedster is a wicket-taking speedster but he will be expected to improve his economy rate as well. The 24-year-old’s economy rate is 9.33 after serving SRH in 25 matches.
11. Mayank Markande
Mayank Markande. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
Mayank Markande justified his role in the team in 2023, picking up 12 wickets in ten games at an economy of 7.89. Considering his satisfactory numbers, SRH retained him for the 2024 season. His job will be to assist Sundar in serving the Hyderbadad spin attack efficiently.
His recent performance is brilliant as he exuded confidence with the ball for Punjab in the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). In the domestic T20 tournament, he clinched 12 wickets in nine games at an economy of 7.74. The 26-year-old will look to continue his excellent run with the ball in the upcoming T20 extravaganza.
