Sunrisers Hyderabad
SRH is a cricket team in the Indian Premier League based in Hyderabad, India.
SRH started in 2013 by replacing the Deccan Chargers. They are known for their strong batting every year. The team competes every year to win the IPL.
Owned by: Sun TV Network. The franchise is led by Kalanithi Maran.
Team operations and strategy: Kavya Maran, the ceo of Sun TV Network.
Home ground: Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad.
Coaching Staff of Sunrisers Hyderabad
Head Coach: Daniel Vettori
Batting Coach: Hemang Badani
Bowling Coaches: Dale Steyn.
Mentor/Icon: James Franklin provides experienced guidance to the team.
Sunrisers Hyderabad Team Identity
Team Colors
- Orange: Represents the energy of a sunrise. It shows how passionate the players are.
- Black: Symbolizes the strength they hold in every match.
- Gold: Recent jersey updates have introduced golden accents. It shows how eager the team is to win the championship.
Logo and Symbolism
- The Bird symbolizes flight to rise from the ashes.
- The Rising Sun, positioned behind the bird’s head, represents Hyderabad's endless energy.
Nicknames
- The Orange Army is the most widely used name for the team.
- It is also called the Deccan charges by the older fans.
Fan Support Base
- SRH holds one of the most loyal fan bases in the IPL. The Orange Sea is the name given to the stadium when it is filled with fans wearing orange jerseys.
- The team has a huge following on social media. The fans celebrate the performances of the team over social media platforms.
Key performances and records by Sunrisers Hyderabad
| Season | Captain(s) | League Position | Final Standing | Top Run Scorer | Most Wickets |
| 2013 | K. Sangakkara / C. White | 4th | Playoffs | Shikhar Dhawan (311) | Amit Mishra (21) |
| 2014 | Shikhar Dhawan / D. Sammy | 6th | League Stage | David Warner (528) | Bhuvneshwar Kumar (20) |
| 2015 | David Warner | 6th | League Stage | David Warner (562) | Bhuvneshwar Kumar (18) |
| 2016 | David Warner | 3rd | Champions | David Warner (848) | Bhuvneshwar Kumar (23) |
| 2017 | David Warner | 3rd | Playoffs | David Warner (641) | Bhuvneshwar Kumar (26) |
| 2018 | Kane Williamson | 1st | Runners-up | Kane Williamson (735) | Siddarth Kaul (21) |
| 2019 | Kane Williamson / B. Kumar | 4th | Playoffs | David Warner (692) | Khaleel Ahmed (19) |
| 2020 | David Warner | 3rd | Playoffs | David Warner (548) | Rashid Khan (20) |
| 2021 | D. Warner / K. Williamson | 8th | League Stage | Manish Pandey (292) | Rashid Khan (18) |
| 2022 | Kane Williamson | 8th | League Stage | Abhishek Sharma (426) | Umran Malik (22) |
| 2023 | Aiden Markram | 10th | League Stage | Heinrich Klaasen (448) | Bhuvneshwar Kumar (16) |
| 2024 | Pat Cummins | 2nd | Runners-up | Travis Head (567) | T. Natarajan (19) |
| 2025 | Pat Cummins | 6th | League Stage | Heinrich Klaasen (487) | Cummins / H. Patel (16) |
The Highest Team Total in IPL History
This is one of the most incredible records by SRH. They scored 287 runs with 3 wickets against Royal Challengers Bangalore on 15 April 2024. It is the highest total in Indian Premier League history. The team scored more than 260 runs in five matches in 2024.
Highlights:
- Scored 260+ totals five times in one season.
- Became one of the highest-scoring teams in all T20 cricket
The Highest Powerplay Score in IPL History
SRH scored 125 runs in the first six overs against Delhi Capitals in 2024. It is the highest powerplay score in IPL history. Head scored very quickly during the match. Abhishek played one of the best innings with a high strike rate. Their aggressive batting helped SRH dominate matches right from the start.
Highlights:
- SRH holds multiple 100+ powerplay scores in IPL history
- The partnership of the head and Abhishek made the team stronger.
Highest Individual Score by an Indian in IPL History
Abhishek Sharma scored 141 runs off 55 balls against the Punjab Kings in 2025. It is the highest score made by an Indian player in IPL history. This innings also became one of the highest scores overall in IPL history. It helped SRH make a good total successfully.
Most Sixes by a Team in a Single IPL Season
SRH hit 178 sixes in 2024. This was the highest by any team in a single season. This shows the aggressive batting style of Sunrisers Hyderabad. It made them one of the most dangerous batting teams in IPL history.
The Orange Cap King
David Warner is the most successful batter in SRH history. He won the Orange Cap three times in the years 2015, 2017 and 2019. He also crossed 500 runs in most of the seasons he played for SRH. This made him one of the most reliable players in the team’s history.
Double Purple Cap Winner
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been the backbone of SRH’s bowling attack. He won the Purple Cap two times in 2016 and 2017. This is how he became one of the few bowlers to win it in consecutive seasons. His ability to take wickets made him one of the most important players in SRH history.
Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL History
Season 2013: The Debut Defiance
Sunrisers Hyderabad entered as a replacement for the Deccan Chargers with a squad that wasn’t considered among the strongest on paper. But the team quickly built a reputation for being bold in play. Their strategy was to restrict opponents rather than outscore them. This led the team to reach the playoffs in the tournament.
Highlights:
- Dale Steyn led a dominant pace attack that troubled every batting lineup
- Amit Mishra played a crucial role as a wicket-taking spinner in the middle overs
Season 2016: The Maiden Championship
This season stands as the most iconic chapter in SRH history. They transformed into champions under the smart leadership of David Warner. SRH had a tough road to the title. But they didn’t give up and won three consecutive knockout matches. They faced Royal Challengers Bangalore in the finals and finally got their first title.
Highlights:
- David Warner scored 848 runs in the tournament.
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar won the Purple Cap with consistent wicket-taking.
Season 2018: The Defensive Masters
SRH entered 2018 under the calm leadership of Kane Williamson. The expectations from the captain were relatively low. But the team exceeded all predictions by finishing at the top of the points table. This season became the best example of their philosophy of bowling first. Although they reached the final, at last they were defeated by Chennai Super Kings.
Highlights:
- Kane Williamson won the Orange Cap with a highly consistent season.
Season 2020: The Comeback in the UAE
The team was playing well in the early games. But their star bowler, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, got injured during the tournament. He had to leave the further matches. Most people thought SRH was out of the race. But Sunrisers Hyderabad beat all three top teams in a row to snatch a spot in the playoffs. It proved that SRH could win even without their best players.
Highlights:
- Defeated top sides like the Mumbai Indians and the Delhi Capitals in important matches.
- Overcome the absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar due to injury.
2024: The Record Breakers
The 2024 season marked a dramatic transformation in SRH’s playing style. The captain of the team was Pat Cummins. The team depended more on strong bowling in the early days, but they decided to attack from the start while batting in 2024. Sunrisers Hyderabad aimed for big totals instead of playing it safe. SRH often scored over 200 runs, which is very high in T20 cricket.
Highlights:
- SRH scored 287 runs with 3 wickets against Royal Challengers Bangalore. It was a record-breaking score.
- Reached their first IPL final since 2018. It was the start of a new era for the team.
All-Time Greatest Batters of Sunrisers Hyderabad
| Player | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Key Achievement |
| David Warner | 95 | 4,014 | 49.55 | 142.59 | 3-time Orange Cap winner; All-time leading scorer. |
| Shikhar Dhawan | 91 | 2,768 | 35.03 | 125.13 | Most consistent Indian batter; 2016 champion. |
| Kane Williamson | 76 | 2,101 | 36.22 | 126.03 | 2018 Orange Cap; Led the team to 2018 Final. |
| Manish Pandey | 51 | 1,345 | 35.39 | 123.62 | Core middle-order anchor for several seasons. |
| Abhishek Sharma | 63+ | 1,314+ | 24.79 | 150+ | Youngest to reach 1,000 runs for the franchise. |
All-Time Greatest Bowlers of Sunrisers Hyderabad
| Player | Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy | Key Achievement |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 145 | 157 | 26.81 | 7.56 | 2-time Purple Cap; Franchise's greatest bowler. |
| Rashid Khan | 76 | 93 | 20.55 | 6.33 | Lowest economy rate in SRH history. |
| T. Natarajan | 55 | 65 | 28.52 | 8.83 | SRH’s premier "Death Over" specialist. |
| Siddarth Kaul | 43 | 52 | 26.92 | 8.35 | Crucial part of the 2018 finals run. |
| Sandeep Sharma | 43 | 41 | 30.78 | 7.78 | Master of Powerplay swing for the franchise. |
Leadership
The leadership of Sunrisers Hyderabad focuses on guiding the team on the field. It involves making important decisions during matches. The main thing is helping the team stay competitive each season. SRH is led by a main captain who guides the team during most matches. There has been little difficulty that the team faced this season in leading.
Captain: Pat Cummins is the main captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad for 2026.
Interim Captain: Ishan Kishan was leading the team in early matches when Cummins was injured.
Key Players of Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026
Here are some of the most impactful players in the SRH squad this season:
Top Batting & All‑Round Stars
- Pat Cummins: He is the captain of the team. Also a pace bowling all‑rounder.
- Ishan Kishan: Ishan Kishan is a very strong batter who can also keep wickets.
- Heinrich Klaasen: An aggressive middle‑order batter who is also a wicketkeeper.
- Travis Head: A left‑handed power hitter on the team. He plays at the top.
- Abhishek Sharma: top order left-handed batsman. He is an important Indian player in the batting lineup.
- Liam Livingstone: Recently added as a big‑hitting all‑round asset.
- Nitish Kumar Reddy: A batting all-rounder making the team stronger.
- Kamindu Mendis: A flexible finisher, important for crucial matches.
- Aniket Verma, R. Smaran, Jack Edwards and Shivang Kumar are the backup/rotation batters.
Bowling & Support Players
- Harshal Patel: An experienced pace bowler of the team.
- Mohammed Shami: Premier fast bowler
- Jaydev Unadkat: He is a left‑arm pace option.
- Zeeshan Ansari and Nitish Kumar Reddy are both young Indian talents who are ready to show their skills in the field.
- Eshan Malinga, Brydon Carse, Kamindu Mendis: Three of them are contributing to bowling depth.
Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL Auction 2026
The team built its squad with a clear strategy of retaining its core players. The auction approach was aggressive but targeted. SRH also traded one player from Lucknow Super Giants to strengthen their bowling side.
Retained Players of Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Pat Cummins: ₹18.00 Cr
- Abhishek Sharma: ₹14.00 Cr
- Travis Head: ₹14.00 Cr
- Heinrich Klaasen: ₹23.00 Cr
- Ishan Kishan: ₹15.25 Cr
- Nitish Kumar Reddy: ₹6.00 Cr
- Harshal Patel: ₹8.00 Cr
- Jaydev Unadkat: ₹1.60 Cr
- Eshan Malinga: ₹1.50 Cr
- Kamindu Mendis: ₹1.50 Cr
- Brydon Carse: ₹1.00 Cr
- Aniket Verma: ₹20 Lakh
- R. Smaran: ₹20 Lakh
- Harsh Dubey: ₹20 Lakh
- Zeeshan Ansari: ₹20 Lakh
Bought the players of Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Liam Livingstone: ₹13.00 Cr
- Jack Edwards: ₹3.00 Cr
- Salil Arora: ₹1.50 Cr
- Shivam Mavi: ₹75 Lakh
- Shivang Kumar: ₹30 Lakh
- Sakib Hussain: ₹30 Lakh
- Onkar Tarmale: ₹30 Lakh
- Amit Kumar: ₹30 Lakh
- Praful Hinge: ₹30 Lakh
- Krains Fuletra: ₹30 Lakh
- RS Ambrish: ₹30 Lakh (injury replacement for Shivam Mavi)
Traded Players of Sunrisers Hyderabad
Mohammed Shami: ₹10 Cr (Lucknow Super Giants)
Key Strengths of Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Explosive batting identity: SRH have turned into one of the most aggressive T20 batting teams with high scores from the top order.
- Powerful opening combinations: The pairing of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head gives SRH a fast start in every play.
- Strong overseas core: Players like Pat Cummins provide the best leadership to the team.
- Consistent talent development: SRH has a strong track record of nurturing Indian talent by introducing new players to the ground.
- Strong bowling foundation: The franchise has been built on disciplined bowling attacks that have the power to control games under pressure.
Weaknesses of Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Over-reliance on top order: The team’s performance heavily depends on big starts from players like Abhishek Sharma.
- Weak spin department: SRH have struggled to find a spinner since the departure of Rashid Khan, who can lead the middle overs.
- Inconsistent bowling depth: sometimes it's difficult to defend totals when the batting fails for the team.
- Poor chasing consistency: Sunrisers Hyderabad struggle to pace run chases under pressure due to their aggressive approach.
- Fielding inconsistency: There are multiple dropped catches and inconsistent ground fielding that have led the team to lose matches.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. When was Sunrisers Hyderabad founded?
SRH was founded in 2013 as a replacement for the Deccan Chargers.
Q2. Has SRH ever won the IPL?
Yes. SRH won the IPL once in 2016 under captain David Warner. The team defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final.
Q3. What is SRH’s highest team total?
SRH scored 287 runs out of 3 wickets against RCB in 2024. This is one of the highest totals in IPL history.
Q4. Who is SRH’s captain in IPL 2026?
Pat Cummins is the main captain for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Ishan Kishan led the team during his absence.
Q5. Who has the highest IPL score by an Indian player?
Abhishek Sharma holds the record with 141 off 55 balls. He scored this for the team Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Q6. Where does SRH play its home matches?
At the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad.