“They could hit 300-plus this time, but they might be hit for 300 as well” - Aakash Chopra opens up on SRH auction strategy

Former India opening batter and commentator Aakash Chopra has asserted that Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will continue playing an attacking brand of cricket after roping in some dashing batters in the IPL 2026 mini-auction on Tuesday, December 16, in Abu Dhabi.

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra also expressed concern for their bowling unit, adding that they can concede 300 runs, adding that the franchise shouldn’t have released the powerplay bowler Mohammed Shami.

"They have made their batting very strong. It could be 300-plus this time, but they might be hit for 300 as well. The opposing team might also hit 300. I hope it works out, because they will play an entertaining brand of cricket for sure, but is it a great strategy? I don't know," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

"If you have taken Liam Livingstone, it means that you will play him for sure. That implies you won't be able to play Eshan Malinga or Brydon Carse with the new ball, and that leaves you with nobody who actually bowls in the powerplay overs. It was a big takeaway that you let (Mohammad) Shami go. So at some stage, you need a pacer, a new-ball bowler. They have not got it," he observed.

"After that, in spin, they let Rahul Chahar go. Zeeshan Ansari and Shivang Kumar are there. Shivang apparently is bowling well, but is it an upgrade? I don't think so. So I am seeing a slight concern there," Chopra concluded.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) full squad for IPL 2026

Abhishek Sharma, Aniket Verma, Brydon Carse*, Eshan Malinga*, Harsh Dubey, Harshal Patel, Heinrich Klaasen*, Ishan Kishan, Jaydev Unadkat, Kamindu Mendis*, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins*, Smaran Ravichandaran, Travis Head*, Zeeshan Ansari, Liam Livingstone*, Jack Edwards*, Salil Arora, Shivam Mavi, Krains Fuletra, Praful Hinge, Amit Kumar, Onkar Tarmale, Sakib Hussain, Shivang Kumar.

*denotes overseas player.

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