Nitish Reddy’s undefined role and...? 3 strategic steps SRH should take ahead of IPL 2026

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Source: AFP)

After finishing as runners-up in IPL 2024, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) had a disappointing 2025 campaign. The 'Orange Army' failed to qualify for the playoffs and finished in sixth place  in the points table. Despite a star-studded squad led by Pat Cummins, the team underperformed, highlighting several areas that require urgent attention before the IPL 2026 mini-auction.

Having said this, in this article, let's take a look at key decisions SRH should take before IPL 2026.

1) Need for a stronger attack bowling attack

• It is important to note that SRH’s over-reliance on batting-heavy strategies backfired in 2025. The bowling department failed to deliver when it mattered most and the team suffered. The pace unit, in particular, struggled with both wicket-taking ability and economy, especially during the death overs.
• Expensive signings like Mohammed Shami (₹10 crore) and Harshal Patel (₹8 crore) underperformed, failing to justify their price tags. Shami, for instance, managed just 6 wickets in 9 matches at an economy rate above 11. Meanwhile, Pat Cummins remained consistent but needed more support to from the other bowlers.
• To address this major problem, SRH should focus on getting cost-effective Indian talent and young prospects while freeing up funds for a death-over specialist in the mini-auction.

(SRH's bowlers performance in IPL 2025)

2) Spin department remains weak link

• The spin attack was another area of concern for SRH in the last season. It is worth noting that none of the spinners made much of an impact in IPL 2025.
• Rahul Chahar, SRH’s only frontline Indian spinner, played just one match and failed to pick a wicket. Zeeshan Ansari played 10 innings and took six wickets at an economy of 9.84.
• Limited opportunities for young talent like Harsh Dubey showed promise. Dubey impressed in three matches as an injury replacement, picking five wickets at an economy rate of 9.8. However, SRH's spin department looked weak and fragile.
• So to tackle this problem, SRH will likely look to acquire a quality frontline spinner in the upcoming mini-auction.

3) Middle order concerns and Nitish Kumar Reddy’s role

• SRH’s batting has been strong at the top with Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, but the middle order has struggled to accelerate or anchor innings under pressure. Nitish Kumar Reddy, who mostly batted at Nos. 5 or 6, scored only 182 runs in 11 innings with a strike rate of 118.95 in IPL 2025. 

(Nitish Kumar Reddy’s record in middle-order for SRH)

• It would not be wrong to say that for the upcoming season, SRH should fix Nitish Kumar Reddy's batting position at No. 4. This could give him more deliveries to face and allow him to make a bigger impact. While he also bowls occasionally, his primary role could be that of a specialist middle-order batter. SRH will also need to invest in another middle-order hitter who can hit the ball right from the start and support Reddy in the middle-order.

Conclusion

Ahead of the mini-auction, SRH faces critical decisions: retain a balanced core, revamp the pace attack, and acquire world-class spinner to address weaknesses in the middle overs. With these changes, SRH will aim to make a remarkable comeback in the upcoming season.

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