Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has high expectations for Salil Arora, the latest addition to the Sunrisers Hyderabad roster for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Pathan, a seasoned expert who hails from the same cricketing circles in Punjab, has not hesitated to compare Arora’s raw talent to established IPL stars like Abhishek Sharma, Ramandeep Singh, and Naman Dhir. Such high praise from a veteran suggests that Arora is viewed as the next big breakout star from the northern talent pipeline.
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Salil Arora is on similar level with the likes of Abhishek Sharma: Irfan Pathan
The excitement surrounding the 23-year-old uncapped player was reflected in a tense bidding war between SRH and the Mumbai Indians, with Hyderabad eventually securing his services for INR 1.50 crore. This big investment is backed by staggering statistics from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where the right-hander amassed 358 runs at a phenomenal average of 71.60. Most impressively, he maintained a strike rate near 200, headlined by a blistering unbeaten 125 off just 45 balls against the eventual champions, Jharkhand.
Pathan believes Arora’s arrival will drastically shift the internal dynamics of the SRH dressing room. Beyond his individual scoring potential, his presence is expected to serve as a wake-up call for established domestic players like Aniket Verma and Nitish Kumar Reddy. With a high-caliber finisher like Arora waiting in the wings, the pressure is on the existing lower-middle order to perform consistently, knowing that their spots in the starting XI are no longer guaranteed.
"Salil Arora. He comes from the Punjab cricket system and has already delivered strong performances, which is why he has made a name for himself in domestic cricket. Players like Abhishek Sharma, Naman Dhir, and Ramandeep Singh have come from Punjab, and Salil Arora looks to be of a similar level,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel.
“He has been picked by SRH for around INR 1.5 crore as a backup player. So, if Nitish Kumar Reddy is not in form, or if Aniket Verma is not performing well, he can step in as a backup option. The good thing is that both the main players will also feel the pressure to perform because they know there is a talented domestic player waiting in the ranks,” he added.
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