Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) delivered another thrilling but ultimately heartbreaking campaign in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Despite assembling
an absolute powerhouse squad featuring global superstars like Pat Cummins, Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head, and Ishan Kishan, the franchise narrowly missed out on a top-two finish on net run rate (NRR).
They fell short in the Eliminator, losing to the Rajasthan Royals at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh, extending their wait for a second IPL title.
While the team’s ultra-aggressive batting lineup shattered multiple records and provided several unforgettable performances, the fierce competition for spots meant that a few highly talented individuals spent most of the season on the bench, deprived of enough opportunities to showcase their abilities in IPL 2026.
Here are 3 players who were underutilised by SRH in IPL 2026:
3. Smaran Ravichandran
The high-intent batter from Karnataka, Smaran Ravichandran, only featured in six matches for SRH in IPL 2026. He was not included in the playing XI in the first few matches of the season but gained a place in the later half of the tournament. In those six matches, he failed to make a mark, scoring a mere 19 runs with a strike rate of 76.00. But, with age on his side, he can be a good prospect for SRH in the upcoming seasons.
2. Harsh Dubey
The left-arm spinner from Vidarbha, Maharashtra, HarshDubey, played eight matches for SRH, picking up as many wickets, with an economy rate of 10.36, and with a bowling average of 28.50. For the majority of the season, SRH used the spin services of Shivang Kumar; hence, Harsh could not get many regular chances.
He could have been handy with the bat too, if needed, since he is a genuine all-rounder. After an impressive domestic season, he was selected in the Indian Test and ODI squads for the series against Afghanistan. This shows that Harsh could have been a genuinely good option for SRH throughout their 2026 campaign.
1. Praful Hinge
Praful Hinge, the right-arm pacer from Vidarbha, had a debut to remember when he absolutely destroyed the Rajasthan Royals (RR) batting order on his own. The 24-year-old should have been given more opportunities with the ball by the 2016 IPL champions in the 2026 edition. He featured in seven matches for them, picking up 14 wickets at an economy rate of 11.73.
They started the season with the experienced duo of Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat, but after they failed to live up to the expectations, SRH brought in Hinge, and he did not disappoint, taking an amazing four-wicket haul on debut. Hinge also became the first bowler to take three wickets in the first over of an innings in IPL history.
