IPL 2024: SWOT Analysis of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

After the disastrous performance in the last three seasons, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will strive to clinch the coveted Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy in 2024 as even three different captains David Warner, Kane Williamson, and Aiden Markram, could not change their fortunes.

In the 2024 IPL auction held in Dubai, the Orange Army invested INR 20.50 crore in Australia’s 2023 World Cup-winning skipper Pat Cummins. Witnessing Cummins’ exceptional captaincy in the World Cup, the SRH team management might hand the Aussie the reins of the team in the times to come.

Along with Cummins, Hyderabad acquired five more players which include star players such as Australian star Travis Head and Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga. Meanwhile, here is a SWOT analysis of SRH.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Strengths:

A fierce pace trio

The addition of Pat Cummins could revitalise SRH's fast-bowling unit. In the previous IPL edition, only veteran Bhuvneshwar Kumar looked decent in the team. The India veteran did not get support from any speedster which went against the side. In 2024, Cummins will not only provide fine support to Bhuvneshwar but will also form a formidable trio with him and Umran Malik.

Star overseas batter

SRH got Australia stalwart Travis Head in the auction for just INR 6.80 crore. The southpaw might be given the responsibility to open innings with Mayank Agarwal. In the middle order, they have star South Africa batters Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen, who are known for their aggressive batting styles.

Markram might also be relieved from as captain in IPL 2024 to reduce some pressure off him. Without leadership, he will get a chance to serve the team freely as a batter. Klaasen will be expected to don the role of finisher in the team. Another notable name in their squad is New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips. Like Klaasen, the Kiwi player is also known for dominating batters with his ferocious batting attitude and he can also contribute with the ball if needed.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Weaknesses:

Out-of-form domestic players

SRH have renowned domestic players Abhishek Tripathi, Mayank Agarwal, Abdul Samad, Umran Malik, and Washington Sundar. These names struggled in white-ball competitions such as the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) and the 2023-24 Vijay Hazare Trophy. Their struggle might give chills to the SRH team management.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Opportunities:

Consistent international stalwart

SRH have international players who have been performing exceptionally for a long time. Cummins led his side from the front in the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) and 2023 World Cup while Head has also done a marvellous job for the Aussie side in the last two years across formats.

Markram and Klaasen have looked stunning for the Proteas side throughout 2023 while Phillips has also performed well for New Zealand in this year. Furthermore, Marco Jansen showcased his all-round mettle for South Africa in the 2023 World Cup and grabbed a lot of eyeballs.

All these international names have performed consistently in the international circuit and if they continue their excellent work in the cash-rich tournament, Sunrisers might get a chance to lift the trophy after eight years.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Threats:

Underutilisation of players

In the last two seasons, SRH failed to utlise their players properly. Spinners like Adil Rashid and Akeil Hosein were in the headlines in the 2023 IPL auction after getting sold to Hyderabad. However, the SRH team management did not give enough chances to either of them and eventually released them.

Similarly in 2022, they gave only one game to the Australia pacer Sean Abbott and parted ways with him before the 2023 auction. This year too, with a long list of overseas players in their squad, there is a chance they might end up struggling in giving games to all.