IPL: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) all-time greatest XI in league history

Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants. (Photo Source: IPL)

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) came into existence after Deccan Chargers’ termination in 2012. Under the Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara, they concluded their maiden season in the playoffs. In 2016, they won their first and only Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy under David Warner.

The Hyderabad-based outlet became the sixth team to win the distinguished trophy. In 2023, they completed 10 years in the cash-rich league. Noting their performance from 2021 to 2023,  it can be said that the Orange Army has gone from riches to rags. In the IPL 2024 auction, Sunrisers strived to renovate their team with some quality buys and they will look to bring their old form back in the upcoming competition. Following their 10-year journey in the league, let’s create SRH’s all-time greatest XI.

Here’s the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) all-time greatest XI in league history:

1. David Warner (Captain)

David Warner. (Photo Source: Twitter)

David Warner joined SRH in 2014 and ended up as the fourth-leading run-getter in the seventh season, scoring 528 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 140.80. Following this performance, the SRH team management appointed him the captain of the side in 2015. In 2016, he led the team from the front and guided it to its maiden title win.

The Australia southpaw notched up 848 runs in 17 games at a stellar strike rate of 151.42 and ended up as the second-leading run-scorer. In 2021, he struggled to be among the runs, and noting his dry run with form, Sunrisers parted ways with him after the season. In his seven-year association with SRH, he notched up 4014 runs in 95 games at a strike rate of 142.59.

Also check: CSK all-time greatest XI in IPL history

2. Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan plays a shot. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Ferocious India opener Shikhar Dhawan served SRH as an opener from 2013 to 2018. In Sunrisers’ notable trophy win in 2016, Dhawan also made a crucial contribution along with his captain Warner. The left-handed batter hit 501 runs in 17 games at a strike rate of 116.78 and emerged as the joint-fourth-highest run-scorer with Gautam Gambhir, who was Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper then.

Dhawan continued his excellent form in the 2017 and 2018 seasons but Hyderabad didn’t extend his contract before the 2019 auction. In his five-year stint with the Orange Army, he scored 2768 runs with 21 half-centuries in 91 matches. 

3. Kane Williamson

Kane Williamson. (Source: Twitter)

New Zealand veteran Kane Williamson became an essential member of SRH after the 2017 season. In 2018, Warner failed to mark his presence for Sunrisers after facing a one-year ban due to the infamous ball-tampering scandal that took Australia’s tour of South Africa in March. Following this incident, SRH handed the captaincy mantle to Williamson and he handled the responsibility brilliantly.

Under his effective leadership, the Orange Army topped the points table with nine wins off 14 games in the round-robin stage. SRH concluded the competition as runners-up, losing to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the final and Williamson received the Orange Cap for scoring the most runs. The Kiwi stalwart chalked up 735 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 142.44.

Also check: SRH Team 2024 Player List

4. Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

In the 2018 IPL auction, SRH acquired Manish Pandey for a huge sum of INR 11.00 crore. With this amount, Pandey became the costliest player for Sunrisers at the business event. The right-handed batter failed to leave an impact in the 2018 season but looked decent in the next edition of the tournament in 2019.

He scored 344 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of 130.79 and kept the confidence of the SRH team management intact in him. In 2020, he looked at his best, scoring 425 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 127.62.

5. Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh. (Photo Source: BCCI)

India legend Yuvraj Singh also served SRH for a couple of seasons. The illustrious batter went to the franchise for INR 7.00 crore in the 2016 auction. He chipped in with 236 runs in 10 matches in Sunrisers’ maiden trophy win.

In the eight-run victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the final, Yuvraj also made a crucial contribution. His rapid 38-run innings off just 23 deliveries helped the side to post a massive total of 208 runs on the board. Yuvraj put up a decent show with his bat in 2017 again. In his last season for Hyderabad, the veteran scored 252 runs in 11 innings of 12 matches at a strike rate of 142.37.

Also check: SWOT Analysis of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for IPL 2024

6. Heinrich Klaasen

Heinrich Klaasen 1. (Photo Source: IPL/ BCCI)

South Africa’s aggressive wicketkeeper batter Heinrich Klaasen has played only one season for Sunrisers but his performance clearly shows that he is the best stumper-batter for the Orange Army. Appearing in SRH colours in 2023, he racked up 448 runs in 12 matches at a remarkable strike rate of 177.07. 

He is also one of the SRH batters who scored a century in the league. Against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, he hit an extraordinary 104 off just 51 and broke into the record books.

7. Abdul Samad

Abdul Samad. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Abdul Samad is an important member of SRH due to his batting talent. In 34 matches for Hyderabad, he has scored 395 runs in 28 innings at a strike rate of 137.63. The Jammu and Kashmir-born player hit the headlines during the 2023 IPL, for his unbeaten 17-run innings off just seven deliveries against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium.

Riding on his spunky batting, SRH pulled off a huge target of 215 runs on the last delivery of the game. The match will be remembered for Samad’s match-finishing maximum which came at the time when his team needed four runs off the final delivery of the match.

Also check: SRH Retained and Released Players List for IPL 2024

8. Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan (Photo Source: Twitter)

Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan spearheaded SRH’s spin-bowling unit from 2017 to 2021. In his four-year stint, he looked magnificent with the ball. The spin wizard grabbed 93 wickets for the side in 76 matches at a frugal economy of 6.33. In 2018, SRH reacquired the Afghan spinner for an enormous sum of INR 9.00 crore. 

Rashid justified his amount with his blockbuster bowling performance. Bagging 21 wickets in 17 matches at an economy of 6.73, he ended up as the second-leading wicket-taker in the competition. In the 2020 and 2021 installments, Rashid was the most successful bowler for Sunrisers.

9. Amit Mishra     

Amit Mishra. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Amit Mishra gave his services to Sunrisers in the initial two editions of the franchise. In those two years, he brought cheers to the faces of the team’s supporters numerous times with his disciplined bowling. The leg-break bowler took 30 wickets in 33 matches at an economy of 7.26. 

In SRH’s maiden season, Mishra emerged as their most successful bowler, scalping 21 wickets in 17 contests at an economy of 6.35. The leggie also claimed a hat-trick against Pune Warriors India in that season, dismissing Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rahul Sharma, and Ashok Dinda. With the scintillating performance, he became the bowler with the highest number of hat-tricks (3) in the cash-rich T20 tournament.

Also check: Strongest Playing XI for SRH in IPL 2024

10. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been a fast-bowling spearhead of SRH since 2014. The veteran India bowler is the most successful bowler of the Orange Army with 146 wickets in 129 matches at an economy of 7.53. Bhuvneswar played an instrumental role in SRH’s only title triumph in 2016.

With 23 wickets in 17 matches at an economy of 7.42, he became the recipient of the Purple Cap. The speedster is also the only bowler who has won the Purple Cap twice in the history of the league as he retained the distinguished bowling award again in 2017. 

11. Sandeep Sharma

Sandeep Sharma. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Sandeep Sharma was seen in SRH colours for four seasons from 2019 to 2021. In his three-year stint with the franchise, the paceman clinched 41 wickets in 43 matches at an economy of 7.78. Under Kane Williamson’s captaincy, Hyderabad concluded their campaign as runners-up in 2018. In this competition, Sandeep looked decent with the ball, scalping 12 wickets in 12 games at an economy of 7.56.

The paceman again exhibited his bowling talent in 2020, claiming 14 wickets in 13 matches at a frugal economy of 7.19. In crucial playoff matches such as the eliminator game and the second qualifier contest, he delivered economical spells to his side.

Also check: Mumbai Indians (MI) All-Time Best XI in IPL History