Aakash Chopra opens up on SunRisers Hyderabad’s requirements in IPL 2026 auction

Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has shed light on Sunrisers Hyderabad’s requirements in IPL 2026 auction. Chopra said the Orange Army would look to rope in the services of Australian all-rounder Cameron Green but they might not be able to do so.

SRH has retained their batting core but they traded out Mohammed Shami to Lucknow Super Giants. SRH have released seven players ahead of the auction and they have a remaining purse of INR 25.50 crore.

“You start asking this question – what do you want to do with the bowling? They will have to upgrade their bowling a little because there is no problem in batting. They have got options in batting, which they always had. The team doesn’t become bad if the form was bad for one year,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

Chopra said the bowlers win you games on batting friendly pitches like the Hyderabad track.

“Bowlers win you matches on pitches where you get hit a lot. Whom will they go towards? I have got no idea. It seemed earlier that they would wish to acquire Cameron Green. They might go after him for some time, but they won’t be able to get him,” he added.

The renowned commentator said SRH will need to buy a wicket-taking spinner in the auction as they can not depend solely on Zeeshan Ansari.

“First and foremost, and very, very important, get spinners. You don’t have spinners. Zeeshan did a good job, but what will Zeeshan do alone? When you have let everyone go, you would have thought about some spinner. Are you bringing in Adil Rashid?” he said. 

“You need a spinner who is a wicket-taker, who takes three wickets even if he concedes 40 runs in three overs. They don’t need a top-order batter. They have no interest in Jonny Bairstow, Tim Seifert and Jamie Smith. They might be interested in Anrich Nortje and the other fast bowlers,” Chopra observed.

The IPL 2026 auction is likely to be scheduled on December 15.