After providing a hugely an underwhelming performance in the 2021 IPL season, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have an uphill task this season as they look to bounce back from their lackluster show. They had a dismal season last year, finishing the tournament at the bottom of the points table with three wins out of 14 matches. Despite having some of the best overseas cricketers in their squad, SRH failed to qualify for playoffs for the first time in the past several years.
However, the change in leadership did not impact the results of the games and SRH kept losing matches consistently. SRH's campaign was further impacted when England opener Jonny Bairstow left IPL early to prepare for the T20 World Cup 2021.
Players signed at the mega auction
The Hyderabad-based franchise spent a whopping amount of Rs 10.75 crore for West Indies wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran. Indian all-rounders Washington Sundar (Rs 8.75 crore) and Abhishek Sharma (Rs 6.5 crore) were signed by SRH at the mega auction.
On the second day of the mega auction SRH signed West Indies cricketer Romario Shepherd for Rs 7.75 crore.
The bowling unit was bolstered after SRH roped in Indian bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Rs 4.2 crore), T. Natarajan (Rs 4 crore), Kartik Tyagi (Rs 4 crore). They included two more uncapped bowlers in the form of Shreyas Gopal (Rs 75 lakh), Jadeesha Suchith (Rs 20 lakh).
On the other hand, the batting department of SRH got strengthened after they roped in Indian batters- Rahul Tripathi (Rs 8.5 crore) and Priyam Garg (Rs 20 lakh).
On the second day of the mega auction, SRH signed South African duo of Marco Jansen (Rs 4.2 crore) and Aiden Markram (Rs 2.6 crore).
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Washington Sundar – Rs 8.75 Crore
Nicholas Pooran – Rs 10.75 Crore
T Natarajan – Rs 4 Crore
Bhuvneshwar Kumar – Rs 4.20 Crore
Priyam Garg – Rs 20 Lakh
Rahul Tripathi – Rs 8.50 crore
Abhishek Sharma – Rs 6.50 Crore
Kartik Tyagi – Rs 4 Crore
Shreyas Gopal – Rs 75 Lakh
Jagadeesha Suchith – Rs 20 Lakh
Aiden Markram- Rs 2.6 crore
Marco Jansen- Rs 4.2 crore
Romario Shepherd- Rs 7.75 crore
Sean Abbott- Rs 2.40 crore
R Samarth- Rs 20 lakh
Shashank Singh - Rs 20 lakh
Saurabh Dubey- Rs 20 lakh
Vishnu Vinod- Rs 50 lakh
Glenn Phillips- Rs 1.50 crore
Fazalhaq Farooqi- Rs 50 lakh
Retained players
Kane Williamson
Abdul Samad
Umran Malik
Players retained by SRH
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was retained for Rs 14 crores. Abdul Samad and Umran Malik were also retained for 4 crores each after which they were left with 68 crores in their purse to buy players and build a team. Williamson has been a boon for the Sunrisers as he is the backbone of the middle-order batting lineup. Abdul Samad has got brilliant hitting prowess and Umran emerged as a sensation after clocking 150 kmph in the last IPL with his fast and furious bowling.
Among the big names who the Hyderabad-based franchise released are Jason Roy, Manish Pandey, Wriddhiman Saha, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi.
Going into the IPL mega auction, coach Tom Moody's main aim was to build a strong squad to fight for the trophy in the upcoming seasons where they can bring in players with strong bowling and batting pedigree to ensure they do not finish at the bottom of the IPL table for a second season running.
