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.Â
Here are 3 players who were underutilised by SRH in IPL 2026:
3. Smaran RavichandranÂ
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.
