SRH: All eggs in one basket?
SRH entered the IPL 2026 mini-auction with the retained core of Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen and Abhishek Sharma. The bowling was the weak link for them last season and everyone expected them to sort it out in the auction. With ₹25.5 crore to spend and genuine gaps in the bowling department, SRH had an underwhelming auction.
The Fundamental Problem
SRH's strategy is built on a simple bet - try to out bat the opposition and the bowlers scrape through enough to defend it. It worked well in 2024 when they had the bowling depth to back it up. In 2025 it started to unravel, and in 2026 they might have fielded the worst bowling attack seen in the IPL for a long time. Apart from Cummins, SRH don't have a bowler who plays for their national team. This attack leaves them with no margin for error - if the batting has an off day, there is nothing to fall back on.
Liam Livingstone - A Strange Pick
SRH's biggest move at the auction came in late - Livingstone for ₹13 crore. When given the chance to address their bowling, it seemed strange that SRH splurged ₹13 crore on a backup batter. But maybe this sums up their mindset perfectly.
The other 20 overs
On their day, SRH are the most destructive batting order in the tournament and even 300 is on the cards when they are in full flow. But cricket is played across 40 overs, not 20. They found that out in 2025 but this season they have doubled down on their philosophy with a weaker bowling attack than the previous season.