Sunrisers Hyderabad’s journey in Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) came to an end after a disappointing 47-run defeat in the Eliminator on May 27 at the New Chandigarh Stadium.
Even though SRH had a strong league stage campaign and finished third on the points table with nine wins, the team could not reach the final. Therefore, the franchise is now expected to rethink its squad combination ahead of the IPL 2027 auction in December.
Under the captaincy of Pat Cummins, SRH showed great fighting spirit throughout the season. Moreover, several players like Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen stepped up during important matches.
Still, the team lacked consistency in a few areas, especially in bowling and middle-order batting. As a result, the management might take some bold decisions and release a few big names to build a stronger squad for the next season.
Players SRH Might Release After IPL 2026 Season
Liam Livingstone
Liam Livingstone was one of the most talked-about signings for Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of IPL 2026. The England all-rounder was bought for a huge amount of INR 13 crore. Furthermore, fans expected him to play aggressive cricket and provide balance to the team with both bat and ball.
Criterion
Data
Matches
2
Runs scored
15
Batting strike rate
60.00
Batting average
7.50
(Liam Livingstone in IPL 2026)
However, things did not go according to plan. Notably, Livingstone played only two innings and scored just 15 runs at an average of 7.50.
In addition, he failed to make an impact during important moments. Since SRH invested a large amount in him, the franchise might now look at other overseas options who can perform more consistently.
Therefore, releasing Livingstone could help SRH free up a significant portion of their purse ahead of the IPL 2027 auction.
Harshal Patel also had a disappointing season with the Orange Army. Notably, SRH bought the experienced pacer for INR 8 crore with hopes that he would strengthen the bowling attack. Moreover, his experience in pressure situations was expected to help the younger bowlers in the squad.
Criterion
Data
Matches
5
Wickets
0
Economy
10.83
(Harshal Patel in IPL 2026)
Sadly, Harshal could not deliver the expected performances. He played five innings this season and remained wicketless. Along with that, his economy rate of 10.83 became a major concern for the team management.
SRH’s bowling unit struggled in several matches this season. Consequently, the franchise might decide to invest in younger pacers during the next IPL auction. Releasing Harshal Patel could allow the team to rebuild their bowling attack with fresh talent.
Jaydev Unadkat
Another player who might not continue with SRH next season is Jaydev Unadkat. The left-arm pacer was bought for INR 2 crore and played four matches during IPL 2026. Although he managed to take four wickets, his economy rate of 10.91 remained on the higher side.
Criterion
Data
Matches
4
Wickets
4
Economy
10.91
(Jaydev Unadkat in IPL 2026)
In addition, SRH needed bowlers who could control runs during the middle and death overs. Unfortunately, Unadkat struggled to maintain consistency in those phases. Therefore, the franchise may consider releasing him and searching for more reliable bowling options.
Meanwhile, he will be close to 36 years old in IPL 2027, and playing intense matches every few days can become challenging. At the same time, many young players are entering the league every season. Therefore, IPL 2026 could possibly turn out to be his final season with SRH as a player.