Aaron Finch reveals players SRH should release and retain before IPL 2026 auction

Former Australian captain Aaron Finch has opined that Sunrisers Hyderabad should release Mohammed Shami ahead of the IPL auction. Shami was bought for a huge amount of INR 10 crore but his performances in the shortest format haven’t been promising.

Shami scalped six wickets in nine matches of IPL 2025 at an average of 56.16 and an economy rate of 11.23 and thus could not deliver for Pat Cummins’ team. The veteran fast bowler has scalped 15 wickets in three Ranji Trophy matches for Bengal, but he has been ignored by the selectors.

Finch highlighted that Shami struggled with his fitness in the previous season of the IPL.

“Just can’t stay on the park enough at the moment and when he does come back, he takes a while to get going again,” Finch said on Star Sports, suggesting his release.

The former Australian opener said the Orange Army should also release Rahul Chahar, who was bought for INR 3.20 crore. The leg-spinner played a solitary match but went wicketless in the last edition.

Finch added that SRH should retain Heinrich Klaasen, who was roped in for INR 23 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. The South African was SRH’s highest run-getter in the previous season with 487 runs in 13 games at an average of 44.27 and a strike rate of 172.69.

“I would hold him. High price, isn’t it? But you know that if you put him back in there, you’re going to have to pay as much because teams get specific,” he said.

Meanwhile, SRH had failed to qualify for the playoffs in the previous season as they had finished in sixth place in the standings with six wins, seven losses, and one no-result.

The IPL 2026 retention list deadline is November 15.