The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) face several challenges ahead of the highly anticipated Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. While the franchise management assembled a strong squad during the recent auction, certain expensive acquisitions and aging fast bowlers could threaten the overall team balance.
The Sunrisers will begin their campaign against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Bengaluru on Saturday, March 28. Following this opener, Ishan Kishan and his team will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens on April 2 before hosting Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 5.
3 Players Who Could Be SRH’s Biggest Burden in IPL 2026
Liam Livingstone
Sunrisers Hyderabad made a bold late move by signing Liam Livingstone for ₹13 crore after his release from Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. The franchise targeted him to add balance with his all-round ability.
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However, Livingstone enters the season under pressure after a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign. He struggled to make any consistent impact for RCB, scoring just 112 runs in eight innings at a poor average of 16.00 and a strike rate of 133.33.
Notably, he has also fallen out of favor with England, having last played in March last year. His dual role makes him a risky pick, and failure to deliver could turn this expensive signing into a major concern.
Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins remains a major concern for Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of IPL 2026 due to his ongoing injury issues. The Australian skipper has been dealing with fitness setbacks, raising doubts over his availability for the full season.
SRH have heavily relied on Cummins as their pace spearhead and leader. However, his uncertain fitness could disrupt team balance, especially with the franchise already managing multiple bowling combinations. Ishan Kishan is set to lead the team in the absence of Cummins.
Cummins’ absence or limited participation would be a significant blow given his impact with both ball and leadership. If he fails to regain full fitness in time, SRH could struggle to maintain consistency in crucial phases of the tournament.
Nitish Kumar Reddy
Nitish Kumar Reddy is also a concern for Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of IPL 2026 due to his recent dip in form. The young all-rounder has struggled to deliver consistent performances with both bat and ball in recent outings.
In IPL 2025, Reddy managed limited returns, scoring under 200 runs across the season while failing to make a significant impact with the ball. He also featured in T20Is recently but could not convert starts into impactful performances. Reddy last played a T20I match for India in January 2025.
SRH have backed him as a key Indian all-round option. However, his inconsistency could affect team balance in crucial phases. If his form does not improve quickly, it may create selection headaches for the management.
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