The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is rapidly approaching a mini-auction, tentatively scheduled for mid-December 2025. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will approach this auction with a sharp focus on retaining their domestic core and managing their high-value contracts. Given their finish outside the playoff spots (6th position in IPL 2025), retaining a mix of established Indian talent and young, high-potential players is crucial. The strategic decision to potentially release high-priced overseas players, as rumored in reports, will significantly increase their auction purse, allowing for targeted and impactful purchases to plug key gaps in their spin and pace departments.

SRH’s IPL 2025 performance and strategic recalibration

SRH experienced a disappointing IPL 2025 season, finishing in the 6th position despite being strong contenders in the previous year (runners-up in 2024). The campaign was characterized by a lack of consistent contributions from their high-priced signings and issues with team balance. While the explosive opening duo of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head provided blistering starts in some games, the much-anticipated middle-order stability, built around the highly retained Heinrich Klaasen (for INR 23 crore), failed to materialize consistently, often leading to collapses.

On the bowling front, the pace attack, including expensive new signings like Mohammed Shami (INR 10 crore) and Harshal Patelstruggled with both wicket-taking and economy, particularly in the death overs, with Shami picking up just 6 wickets in 9 matches at an economy rate of over 11. The spin department also lacked a reliable, quality performer. To rectify this and build a championship-winning squad, SRH’s retention strategy will heavily favor cost-effective Indian talent and youth with high upside, allowing them to free up capital and strategically purchase a world-class spinner and a death-over specialist in the mini-auction.

5 Indian players SRH can retain ahead of IPL 2026 auction

1. Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek is a non-negotiable retention for SRH. As a dynamic Indian opener and an occasional left-arm spin option, he embodies the aggressive batting philosophy the franchise has adopted. Having grown through the SRH setup, his performance and high-potential trajectory, especially in the opening slot, make him a cornerstone of the team’s future. His retention guarantees an explosive Indian batter at the top of the order for the foreseeable future.

2. Jaydev Unadkat

The experienced left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat is a high-priority retention, especially given his impactful performance in the IPL 2025 season. He managed to provide the control and wicket-taking ability that other pacers lacked. Unadkat offers crucial variety to the pace attack and demonstrated a high level of performance with the ball. Retaining him is a smart move to keep a proven, consistent Indian death-over and middle-over specialist.

3. Nitish Kumar Reddy

The young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy is a key retention, representing a massive investment in SRH’s future Indian all-rounder slot. His ability to hit the long ball in the middle order and provide useful medium-pace overs makes him a valuable asset for team balance. After an impactful performance in the previous season and a high retention price in IPL 2025 (as reported), he has solidified his place as an emerging star that SRH must nurture.

4. Ishan Kishan

The retention of wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan is a calculated risk based on potential, despite his inconsistent run in IPL 2025. Although his high price tag (INR 11.40 crore) and a perceived lack of consistency led to speculation of a release, SRH may retain him for his wicketkeeping ability and the sheer destructive potential he offers at the top of the order alongside Abhishek. As a high-value Indian player who can solve the keeper-batter puzzle, retaining him prevents other teams from acquiring a premium asset.

5. Mohammed Shami

The retention of veteran pacer Shami is a contentious but plausible choice, provided he is retained at a reduced rate or the franchise believes his IPL 2025 performance (6 wickets at over 11 economy) was an anomaly due to fitness. His experience, leadership, and proven ability to swing the new ball and deliver match-winning spells in high-pressure tournaments make him a valuable, if expensive, asset. While rumors suggest he could be released to free up his INR 10 crore salary, SRH may opt to keep an elite, proven Indian pacer if they are confident in his fitness for the long term.