SRH in IPL 2026: A season of redemption and renewed belief

2026 appeared to head in the same direction as 2025—SRH lost their first game and three of the opening four. Skipper Pat Cummins was unavailable, with doubts over his participation. But Cummins returned, performances improved, and SRH remained in contention for a top-two spot before settling for the Eliminator, where their campaign ended.

Still, 2026 is a success given they missed the playoffs in 2025. While they didn't reach 2024's heights, SRH have positives heading into the final year of the cycle. Heinrich Klaasen was among the runs again, Nitish Reddy contributed with both bat and ball, and SRH found two young uncapped Indian fast bowlers for the future.

Player of the season: Heinrich Klaasen

The South African wasn't in great form coming into the tournament, but he showed why form is temporary. Klaasen was at his best in IPL 2026, battling for the Orange Cap despite batting in the middle order. For the first time in his IPL career, he made over 600 runs, with only four players finishing above him.

SRH's over-reliance on their top four was again highlighted. Their success was built on Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Klaasen. Two scored over 600 runs, Abhishek finished with 563, and Travis Head, despite a middling campaign, breached 400.

A mini auction pick that…

Looked a million bucks: Sakib Hussain

Bought for INR 30 lakh, Sakib Hussain hit the headlines alongside Praful Hinge. They nailed down spots ahead of seasoned campaigners like Jaydev Unadkat and Harshal Patel. Sakib was impressive with his variations, finishing with 15 wickets from 11 games.

Didn't work out: Liam Livingstone

Livingstone featured just twice and made no impression. Purchased for INR 13 crore, he became one of the most expensive bench warmers in IPL history. Even when Cummins wasn't available, Livingstone couldn't get into the team.

Best match of the season: 244-run chase against MI at Wankhede

SRH proved chasing 229 against RR was no fluke by backing it up with another mammoth chase against Mumbai Indians. Chasing 244 at Wankhede, SRH's batters put on a collective effort, with uncapped Salil Arora making an impact.

On a scale of 1-10, IPL 2026 for SRH: 7

Barring one bad outing against Gujarat Titans, SRH looked impressive despite not being billed as favourites. Their batting unit put up massive totals and chased targets well. The well-executed chase at Chepauk showed their willingness to adapt. If a domestic talent steps up in 2027 in the middle order, SRH can fancy their chances.