Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are facing many challenges ahead of the much-awaited Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. While the franchise management assembled a strong squad during the recent auction, some expensive acquisitions and aging fast bowlers could jeopardize the overall team balance.
Sunrisers will begin their campaign against defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Saturday, March 28 in Bengaluru. After this opener, Ishan Kishan and his team will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens on April 2 before hosting Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 5.
3 players who can be the biggest burden for SRH in IPL 2026
liam livingstone
Sunrisers Hyderabad made a bold move by signing Liam Livingstone for â‚ą13 crore after he was released from Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. The franchise aimed to add balance to his all-round ability.
However, Livingstone enters the season under pressure after a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign. He struggled to make a consistent impact for RCB, scoring only 112 runs in eight innings at a poor average of 16.00 and a strike rate of 133.33.
Notably, he has also been out of favor for the England side, having last played in March last year. His dual role makes him a risky selection, and failure to perform 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 problem. The Australian captain has been battling fitness issues, raising doubts over his availability for the entire season.
SRH have relied heavily on Cummins as their fast bowler and leader. However, his uncertain fitness could upset the team’s balance, especially when the franchise is already managing multiple bowling combinations. Ishan Kishan is ready to captain the team in the absence of Cummins.
Cummins’ absence or limited participation would be a significant blow given his impact on both the ball and leadership. If he fails to regain full fitness in time, SRH may struggle to maintain consistency in the crucial stages of the tournament.
Nitish Kumar Reddy
Nitish Kumar Reddy is also a matter of concern for Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of IPL 2026 due to his recent decline in form. The young all-rounder has struggled to deliver consistent performances with both bat and ball in recent matches.
In IPL 2025, Reddy managed to deliver limited returns, scoring less than 200 runs in the entire season, while failing to make a significant impact with the ball. He also featured in the T20Is recently but could not convert the start into an impressive performance. Reddy played his last T20 match for India in January 2025.
SRH have backed him as a key Indian all-round option. However, his inconsistency can affect the team balance at crucial stages. If his form does not improve quickly it could cause selection headaches for the management.
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