In a major development ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have traded veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The big move comes as part of SRH’s larger restructuring plan as they unveiled their squad for the upcoming season.
Sunrisers Hyderabad enter IPL 2026 with the aim of building on their promising performances from recent editions while addressing areas of inconsistency that affected their previous campaigns. With player retentions now finalised, SRH have opted to keep their core group intact—led by captain Pat Cummins, explosive opener Abhishek Sharma, and marquee overseas batter Travis Head. This trio continues to form the backbone of the franchise and remains central to Hyderabad’s strategy going into the new season.
Cummins’ leadership and bowling stability remain invaluable to the side, while the aggressive opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head has been one of SRH’s biggest strengths. Last season, Travis Head scored 374 runs in 13 matches at a strike rate of 162.61, consistently giving the team flying starts. On the other hand, Abhishek Sharma smashed 439 runs in 14 matches, averaging 33.77 with a blistering strike rate of 193.39, making him one of the most impactful young Indian batters in the league.
The retention of Cummins, Head, and Abhishek ensures SRH retain a strong balance of experience, explosive firepower, and youthful energy heading into IPL 2026.
Shami Traded to Lucknow Super Giants
One of the most notable decisions from SRH this year is the trade involving Mohammed Shami. The veteran pacer, who was signed by SRH for ₹10 crore in the IPL 2025 auction, struggled to deliver impactful performances. Shami managed only 6 wickets in 9 matches and recorded an expensive economy rate of 11.23, prompting the franchise to reconsider its investment.
Before joining SRH, Shami was a key player for Gujarat Titans, where he won the Purple Cap in 2023 with a remarkable 28 wickets in 17 matches. However, injury ruled him out of the 2024 season, and he couldn’t regain his best rhythm with Hyderabad. Lucknow Super Giants, in need of an experienced spearhead for their fast-bowling unit, have acquired Shami hoping he will rediscover his peak form.
SRH Release Spinners Zampa and Rahul Chahar
In addition to the Shami trade, SRH have also released star spinners Adam Zampa and Rahul Chahar as part of their pre-auction reshuffle. The franchise aims to rethink its spin options and create room for new match-winning possibilities in the upcoming auction.
Sunrisers Hyderabad Squad for IPL 2026
Players Retained:
Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aniket Verma, R. Smaran, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kamindu Mendis, Harshal Patel, Brydon Carse, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga, Zeeshan Ansari.
Players Released:
Adam Zampa, Rahul Chahar, Wiaan Mulder, Abhinav Manohar, Atharva Taide, Sachin Baby, Simarjeet Singh.
Traded Out:
Mohammed Shami — traded to Lucknow Super Giants.