IPL 2025: 3 Capped, 1 Uncapped, 2 RTMs; SRH's Retention Strategy Ahead Of Mega Auction
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SRH players in IPL 2024 (Source: @HydCricGuy/X.com)
The official retentions rules for IPL 2025 are finally out, and each franchise has been allowed to retain six players. They can retain those players before the mega auction or can use RTM (Right to match) cards if they want. There should also be one uncapped player in the list, and the new rules are set to change the dynamics of upcoming mega auction and make it more interesting.
Sunrisers Hyderabad were one of the most exciting teams in IPL 2024 and made it to the final of the competition under the leadership of Pat Cummins. According to the reports, SRH was among the franchises that wanted as many retentions as possible to maintain their successful core, and so let's now see how they will go about their strategy with six options available.
3 Capped Players
Pat Cummins
The Aussie is expected to be the first retention choice of SRH after his charismatic leadership played a big role in SRH's revival last season. He is also a quality bowler and has been very successful in the T20 format in the last year or so. In the 2024 season, the star bowler picked 18 wickets and has the ability to deliver with the bat in crunch situations as well.
So, with leadership coupled with his world-class skills makes Pat Cummins a important asset for SRH and we can expect him to lead the Orange Army again in the 2025 season.
Travis Head
The Southpaw has been the show-stopper in recent times. His ultra-aggressive approach played a big role in Sunrisers' success last year and is one of the top openers in world cricket currently. Head blasted 567 runs in the last IPL season at a strike-rate of over 190 and SRH would be keen to keep the firepower of the Aussie at the top of the order. He is likely to be the number 2 retention for the Orange Army.
Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma, the young left-handed opener surprised everyone in the last season with his belligerent strokeplay. His strike-rate was even better than Travis Head as the southpaw hammered his 484 runs at a strike-rate of 204.22. He is an Indian and a rising star who has just played for India and is a future captaincy option for SRH as well.
Along with the bat, he is a handy bowler as well, and overall, Abhishek Sharma looks set to be retained as the third option by SRH ahead of mega auction.
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2 RTMs
Heinrich Klaasen
Nitish Reddy
The all-rounder caught everyone's eye with his genuine match-winning abilities in the 2024 season. A seam-bowling all-rounder is a rare commodity in Indian cricket, and Nitish brings those skills to the table which makes him a hot asset. The talented lad from Andhra Pradesh played some very important knocks for SRH in the last season, and is now in line to make his India debut after selection for Bangladesh T20Is.
So, with his debut for India expected to come soon, he is likely to turn from uncapped player to capped player soon, so SRH would have to use a RTM card for him in the mega-auction. Just like Abhishek Sharma, he is a long-term option for SRH, and is expected to be back for the Orange Army for the next season.
1 Uncapped
Abdul Samad
The power-hitter from Jammu and Kashmir has been part of SRH's setup for a long time now and was retained before the 2022 mega auction. He has not scored enough runs for SRH over the years, but he played few handy cameos in the last season and he might be backed again by the Orange Army.
He is an uncapped player so retaining him would be a good deal for SRH as well, and with familiarity with the franchise over the years, Samad is likely to the uncapped retention for SRH.
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