Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa has pointed out a significant bowling issue for Sunrisers Hyderabad, indicating that a lack of young bowlers could adversely affect the franchise in IPL 2026.
Strong Core Squad Retained
The Hyderabad-based franchise has retained a robust core squad for IPL 2025, featuring key players like Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Pat Cummins, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Heinrich Klaasen. Additionally, they made notable signings by acquiring seasoned players such as Salil Arora, Jack Edwards, and Liam Livingstone for ₹13 crore, alongside several promising stars in the mini-auction ahead of IPL 2026.
Bowling Concerns Raised
However, Uthappa expressed doubts about the addition of Livingstone and his potential role in the playing eleven, along with concerns about the overall bowling attack.
“Nothing has really changed. SRH have taken a clear stand; they want to win the championship by relying heavily on their batting. If you examine this auction and their strategy, they’ve remained true to that narrative. They haven’t pursued an Indian bowler to support Pat Cummins, Harshal Patel, or Jaydev Unadkat. We know Harshal can take wickets, but he can also be expensive. The same applies to Unadkat. Pat Cummins is the only bowler who can consistently hold one end. Nitish Reddy is still developing as an all-rounder; how much responsibility will he take on? SRH seems to be batting with the aim of scoring 300 runs every game,” said Uthappa on JioStar.
“But the question is — where does Liam Livingstone fit into this line-up? You already have Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, and Eshan Malinga in the overseas slots. Are they planning to chase every game? Or are they acknowledging that their bowling lacks depth, especially with some bowlers nearing the end of their careers? The youthful aspect in the bowling unit is simply missing right now,” he added.
Kumble’s Take on Bowling Dynamics
Former India cricketer Anil Kumble also weighed in on Liam Livingstone’s acquisition for ₹13 crore, questioning the bowling options available for SRH, along with skipper Cummins.
“I think Liam Livingstone, as a purchase, certainly makes sense in a T20 setup, regardless of his performances last season with RCB. He’s a player who can turn a game around in just a few overs with his batting. Additionally, he’s quite versatile — he can open, bat at No. 3, or play in the middle order. That said, spending ₹13 crore raises an interesting point when you already have a bowling captain in Pat Cummins, who bats lower down the order, alongside Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen — three overseas slots that seem nearly fixed.”