Sunrisers Hyderabad will enter the Indian Premier League 2026 season with a powerful and clearly defined lineup built around aggressive batting and a balanced bowling attack.
The top order of Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan forms one of the most explosive combinations in T20 cricket, with Head and Abhishek already scoring 1,110 runs together at a run rate of 12.37 in the last two IPL seasons.
The middle order will add more strength with Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, and newcomer Liam Livingstone, while the lower order and bowling unit are led by captain Pat Cummins. With players delivering strong numbers across batting and bowling, SRH enters IPL 2026 with a lineup capable of scoring big totals and controlling games with the ball.
SRH Predicted Playing XI For IPL 2026
| Player Name | Player Role |
|---|---|
| Travis Head | Batter |
| Abhishek Sharma | Batting All-Rounder |
| Ishan Kishan | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | Batting All-Rounder |
| Liam Livingstone | Batting All-Rounder |
| Heinrich Klaasen | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Aniket Verma | Batter |
| Pat Cummins (c) | Bowling All-Rounder |
| Harsh Dubey | Bowler |
| Harshal Patel | Bowler |
| Jaydev Unadkat | Bowler |
Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan as the Top 3
Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma will continue as the opening pair for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League 2026 season. Over the last two IPL seasons, the pair has scored 1,110 runs together at a run rate of 12.37.
They have also built four partnerships of 100 or more runs in two seasons and have provided an explosive start in the powerplay. In the last 2 seasons, Abhishek has scored 923 runs at a strike rate of 198.8, while Travis Head is ahead of him with 941 runs at a strike rate of 177.08.
At No.3, Ishan Kishan completes the left-handed top order. He scored a century on debut for SRH against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025 and finished that season with 354 runs in 13 innings. He also scored 103 off 43 balls against New Zealand in January 2026, his first T20I century.
No.4 to No.6: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Liam Livingstone, Heinrich Klaasen
Nitish Kumar Reddy is expected to bat at No.4 and provide an all-round option. In IPL 2024, he scored 303 runs at a strike rate of 142 and won the Emerging Player of the Year award. SRH retained him for ₹6 crore.
At No.5, Liam Livingstone adds power to the middle order. SRH signed the England all-rounder for ₹13 crore at the IPL 2026 mini-auction. Along with his finishing ability, he can bowl both off-spin and leg-spin, giving the captain an extra bowling option.
Heinrich Klaasen will likely bat at No.6 and continue as the main finisher. In IPL 2024, he scored 479 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 171.07. SRH retained him for ₹23 crore, showing his importance to their batting strategy.
Aniket Verma and Pat Cummins At the Lower Middle Order
Aniket Verma is expected to bat at No.7. SRH signed him for ₹30 lakh after his performances in the Madhya Pradesh League. In his first IPL season, he showed strong six-hitting ability. In 12 innings, he hit 20 sixes and only 12 fours.
At No.8, captain Pat Cummins leads both the team and the bowling attack. SRH bought him for ₹20.50 crore before IPL 2024. He led the team to a runners-up finish in his first season as captain. Cummins has also taken 79 wickets in the IPL, making him a key strike bowler with the new ball.
Indian Bowling Trio: Harsh Dubey, Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat
| Player Name | Player Role |
|---|---|
| Pat Cummins | Fast-Bowling All-Rounder |
| Harsh Dubey | Left-Arm Spinner |
| Harshal Patel | Right-Arm Fast Bowler |
| Jaydev Unadkat | Left-Arm Fast Bowler |
The Indian bowling unit adds balance to SRH’s attack. Harsh Dubey, a left-arm spinner from Vidarbha, enters IPL 2026 after taking 69 wickets in the Ranji Trophy 2024–25 season.
Harshal Patel brings experience in the death overs. He is a two-time Purple Cap winner and the fastest bowler to reach 150 IPL wickets, known for his slower balls and yorkers.
Jaydev Unadkat completes the trio with left-arm pace. He has played 112 IPL matches and taken 110 wickets, giving SRH a dependable option in both the powerplay and death overs.
Impact Players
Shivam Mavi will be the 1st-choice impact player for SRH to add a pace option to the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling attack. The right-arm fast bowler first gained attention during the 2018 U19 World Cup. He has played 32 IPL matches, taking 30 wickets.
Zeeshan Ansari is a leg-spinner who can surprise batters. The UP spinner became well known after finishing as the top wicket-taker in the first UP T20 League with 24 wickets in 12 matches and an economy rate of 7.60.
Salil Arora will provide a strong batting option as a wicketkeeper. The 23-year-old Punjab batter scored a huge 125 runs from 45 balls in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which caught SRH’s attention. In SMAT 2025, he scored 358 runs at a strike rate close to 198.88, showing his ability to finish games quickly.
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Conclusion: SRH Targets Second IPL Trophy With Balanced Lineup
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s probable XI for IPL 2026 has only one mantra: hit the ball from the 1st over. The Head–Abhishek, the most lethal pair; Kishan at number 3; Klaasen; and Liam Livingstone, with finishing power, can threaten any bowling lineup.
Captain Pat Cummins leads with 79 IPL wickets, while Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, and Harsh Dubey add experience and form, including Dubey’s 69 Ranji Trophy wickets. With strong numbers across the lineup, SRH has a balanced team to defeat in the IPL 2026.
