Sunrisers Hyderabad went into IPL 2026 with high hopes and had one of the costliest squads in the competition. But the final result was quite disheartening and ended up in an Eliminator loss, which forced
the management to consider making changes to their team combination going forward. While players like Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, and Ishan Kishan were able to deliver when it mattered, many expensive players did not justify their inclusion in the side. This means that the Sunrisers Hyderabad could go in for some significant changes heading into the upcoming auction for IPL 2027. SRH could release up to five players from their current squad to make way for new additions.
Sunrisers Hyderabad ended up in the third position after qualifying for the playoffs through the league round but faced difficulties with their bowling and middle-order in important matches. In addition, there have been injury issues and inconsistent form from players this year. Therefore, SRH could be looking at young Indian talent and solid foreign players prior to IPL 2027.
Liam Livingstone
Liam Livingstone was among SRH’s biggest signings at the IPL 2026 auction after being bought for ₹13 crore. However, the England all-rounder endured another disappointing IPL season. He played only two matches and scored just 15 runs at an average of 7.50. His struggles continued from IPL 2025 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he managed only 112 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 133.33 while taking just two wickets. Moreover, Livingstone failed to secure a regular place in SRH’s playing XI due to the presence of overseas stars like Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen. With his form declining and his England spot also under pressure, SRH are unlikely to continue investing heavily in him.
Orange Army, make way for Liam Livingstone!🧡 He is sold to @SunRisers for INR 13 Crore 💰👏#TATAIPL | #TATAIPLAuction pic.twitter.com/YMo7f9joGP
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) December 16, 2025
Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel’s IPL 2026 campaign turned into a major setback for SRH. Bought for ₹8 crore, the experienced pacer played only five matches and failed to take a single wicket during the season. His economy rate of 10.83 became a growing concern, especially during death overs where SRH repeatedly lost control. Consequently, he was dropped from the playing XI, including the Eliminator clash. At 35, Harshal also faces increasing competition from younger Indian seamers who impressed during the latter half of the tournament. Therefore, SRH are expected to release him and use the extra purse space for fresh bowling options.
Jaydev Unadkat
Veteran left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat also struggled to maintain consistency during IPL 2026. SRH had signed him for ₹1 crore, expecting experience and control in pressure situations. Although he picked up four wickets in four matches, his economy rate of 10.91 hurt the team badly. Notably, after a strong 3/21 spell against KKR, Unadkat conceded a combined 90 runs without taking a wicket against LSG and PBKS in April. Those performances eventually pushed him out of the playing XI. Reports also suggest SRH now want to focus on younger domestic bowlers like Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain ahead of the next season.
DONE AND DUSTED! ✅ 🎥 Jaydev Unadkat finishes in style and @SunRisers have their ✌️points 🧡 Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/iCMFpDudP7#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #KKRvSRH pic.twitter.com/54FBHNcWAz
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 2, 2026
Gerald Coetzee
Gerald Coetzee joined SRH during IPL 2026 as an injury replacement for David Payne at a price of ₹2 crore after initially going unsold in the auction. The South African fast bowler arrived with momentum after an impressive T20I series against New Zealand, where he produced a match-winning spell of 3/31. However, his IPL stint remained underwhelming. Coetzee managed only two wickets in four matches and leaked runs at a high economy rate. Across his IPL career, he has taken 15 wickets in 14 matches but carries an expensive economy of 10.37. Since he was signed mainly as short-term cover and SRH already have strong overseas options, the franchise may release him before IPL 2027.
Brydon Carse
Brydon Carse’s time with SRH has been heavily disrupted by injuries. Retained for ₹1 crore, the England bowling all-rounder missed the entire IPL 2026 season after suffering a hand injury during a training session. He was later replaced by Dilshan Madushanka and David Payne. This marked the second straight IPL season Carse missed due to injury after a toe problem ruled him out in 2025. Although he entered IPL 2026 after a strong Ashes campaign where he finished with 22 wickets, his T20 record remains modest with 20 wickets in 14 T20Is at an economy of 9.22. Given his repeated injury setbacks and lack of game time, SRH are highly likely to release him ahead of the next auction.
