The Sunrisers Hyderabad have played a pivotal role in transforming T20 cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL) with their explosive batting approach, which really took off in 2024. During the 2026 auction, they bolstered their lineup by bringing in players like Liam Livingstone, who not only adds more firepower to the middle order but also strengthens the overall depth of their squad. Even though their team is nearly set, they’re facing some challenges with injuries to skipper Pat Cummins, Eshan Malinga, and Jack Edwards, who has been ruled out for the season. Still, there are a few players who might not see much action for the Orange Army in the upcoming edition of the prestigious 20-over tournament, kicking off on March 28 in Bengaluru. Kamindu Mendis Kamindu Mendis has made quite a name for himself as one of Sri Lanka’s standout batters in the longer formats, but he’s still working on finding his groove in T20 cricket. With his elegant stroke play, Kamindu shines as a middle-order batter, though he faces tough competition in the SRH lineup. It’s going to be a challenge for him to secure regular playing time given the caliber of players he’s up against. On top of his batting skills, Kamindu brings a unique edge with his ambidextrous bowling. Being able to deliver both left-arm spin and off-spin adds a nice twist to any team he’s part of. However, with the strong batting lineup in SRH, his opportunities to play might be quite limited. Read also: How much do umpires earn from Indian Premier League? Ravichandran Smaran Ravichandran Smaran has emerged as one of the standout talents in India’s domestic cricket scene. Leading the run charts in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy marked a significant milestone in his journey toward becoming a key player for Karnataka across all formats. He was brought on board as an injury replacement for Adam Zampa in 2025, but unfortunately, he ended up getting injured before he could even step onto the field. Nevertheless, he was kept on by SRH for the 2026 season. Now, Smaran is vying for a place in a highly competitive batting lineup filled with stars. As a middle-order batter, he’s up against tough competition from established players like Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone, and Aniket Verma, all of whom have made their mark at SRH. Krains Fuletra Krains Fuletra joined the Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2026, following a successful run as a net bowler for the team in 2025. This left-arm wrist spinner caught the eye after his impressive performances in the Saurashtra Pro T20 League, where he took 10 wickets in nine innings, boasting a solid economy rate of seven. He has also played two T20 matches for Saurashtra. In the lineup ahead of Fuletra is Madhya Pradesh’s Shivang Kumar, another unconventional bowler who can hold his own with the bat. Shivang has been a regular feature for his state team lately, even taking five wickets in a match during the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Karnataka. Fuletra's position is further challenged by leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari, who made his debut for the franchise in 2025.