SRH might have just have compiled the best squad at the IPL 2025 Auction, that could pose a serious challenge to other teams in next year’s tournament, to get the trophy. After they retained Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen and Travis Head, they managed to get a few players that would fit well into the playing XI + Impact sub.
SRH Bag Mohammed Shami & Ishan Kishan at IPL Auction
But if one really has to find a criticism with the SRH squad for IPL 2025, it has to be dearth of backup players. Look, injuries and poor form is a harsh reality that every cricketer or team has to go through; and if that happens, SRH just don’t have the bench strength to uplift them.
Having bought Ishan Kishan, he will straightaway get into the playing XI, maybe at No. 3. Another buy Mohammed Shami gets in too, and so does Harshal Patel. But let’s assume, if any of the three get injured, or are battling bad form, who will replace them? Every team, with their remaining purse could by a maximum of 25 players, but SRH did the folly of ending their purse on 20 players only.
No Back up Players for Stars
Those vacant spot even had room for an overseas player. Outside the 12 players who would play the match, there isn’t a dependable player. The team also bid for Rahul Chahar, who should be a starter too. Someone like an Adam Zampa can be an impact sub, so..who else?
Shami is coming after a long injury hiatus, will perhaps go to Australia, and play in the Champions Trophy too. That puts him under immense risk of an injury. But can Jaydev Unadkat really fill in Shami’s boots, with the latter’s wicket-taking ability? Similarly, if someone from the retained players, needs to be replaced with — what options does the team have?
Inexperienced Bench
Simarjeet Singh played 10 matches for CSK last year and picked 9 wickets. Zeeshan Ansari has played only one T20 match in his career. Eshan Malinga has 16 wickets in as many matches in T20s. Aniket Verma has played just one, and Sachin Baby is no gifted T20 player.
So SRH would only pray, that none of their players go out of form, or get injured in IPL 2025.
SRH IPL 2025 Squad
Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head, Mohammad Shami (Rs. 10 crore), Harshal Patel (Rs. 8 crore), Ishan Kishan (Rs. 11.25 crore), Rahul Chahar (Rs. 3.2 crore), Adam Zampa (Rs. 2.40 crore), Atharva Taide (Rs. 30 lakh), Abhinav Manohar (Rs. 3.20 crore), Simarjeet Singh (Rs. 1.50 crore), Zeeshan Ansari (Rs. 40 lakh), Jaydev Unadkat (Rs. 1 crore), Brydon Carse (Rs. 1 crore), Kamindu Mendis (Rs. 75 lakh), Aniket Verma (Rs. 30 lakh), Eshan Malinga (Rs. 1.20 crore), Sachin Baby (Rs. 30 lakh).
