Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has picked Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowling to be their biggest challenge in IPL 2026. With Pat Cummins all set to miss the initial matches of the upcoming season, SRH’s bowling does look weak.
Chopra said if SRH can score 250, they can also concede 250 runs with the ball. The Hyderabad pitch is known to be a paradise for the batters but even then the team’s batting could not deliver as per the expectations in IPL 2025.
SRH have bowlers like Pat Cummins (set to miss the initial matches), Jaydev Unadkat, Harshal Patel, Shivam Mavi, and Ehsan Malinga.
“There will be challenges because the bowling has been dealt a serious blow. Pat Cummins was already not there. So the bowling was already slightly weak, and if Eshan Malinga is also not there, it means you will have to play Brydon Carse, or else you won’t be able to play with Indian bowling,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Furthermore, the Orange Army has the services of Amit Kumar, Praful Hinge, Sakib Hussain, Omkar Tarmale, and Zeeshan Ansari.
“When I see their bowling, it has Amit Kumar, Praful Hinge, Sakib Hussain, Omkar Tarmale, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari, Harshal Patel, Shivam Mavi, Shivang Kumar and Harsh Dubey, but the bowling is weak. How they manage the bowling will be a challenge because if they score 250, they might concede 250. Their bowling looks like that. Unfortunately, that much might is not being seen in their bowling,” he added.
The renowned commentator said that SRH bowling coach Varun Aaron has confidence in his bowlers and he is hopeful that the former Indian pacer is proven right.
“When I was speaking to Varun Aaron, he said I haven’t seen the boys, but he has seen them. He said he has seen Shivang, Harsh, and all other bowlers, that Shivam Mavi is bowling very well, and that they would be fine, and I will find out when I see them. I am hoping I find out,” he said.
The former Delhi cricketer said SRH’s spin bowling line-up is their kryptonite.
“However, at this point in time, when you see the team on paper, you see their entire bowling unit as a challenge, in which spin, especially, gets highlighted because with Zeeshan Ansari and Shivang Kumar, I really don’t think they are going with a very strong bowling attack. Spin is a definite, definite weakness. You cannot ignore that at all,” Chopra observed.
The IPL 2026 season will begin with reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Ahmedabad, on March 28.
