Sunrisers Hyderabad Set to Retain Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy Ahead of IPL Mega Auction
Cummins will continue in his role as captain for SRH after guiding the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, supported by a coaching staff led by Daniel Vettori.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) is poised to retain both Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy as their final two capped players ahead of the 2025 IPL auction. Reports indicate that Head is expected to be retained for INR 14 crore, while Reddy will receive INR 6 crore.
With these additions, SRH will finalize their quota of five capped retained players before the auction, ensuring that the core team that led them to the IPL 2024 final remains intact. This retention will result in a total deduction of INR 75 crore from their auction purse of INR 120 crore. Previously, SRH announced the retention of Heinrich Klaasen for INR 23 crore, Pat Cummins for INR 18 crore, and Abhishek Sharma for INR 14 crore. This leaves them with the option to use a right-to-match card to bring back one of their uncapped players during the auction.
The deadline for IPL franchises to submit their list of retained players was October 31. Teams were permitted to retain up to six players before the mega auction, with a maximum of five being capped internationals and two uncapped. The IPL has stipulated minimum deductions from the auction purse for each retained player, with amounts varying based on their retention order.
Cummins will continue in his role as captain for SRH after guiding the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, supported by a coaching staff led by Daniel Vettori.
Klaasen's retention price of INR 23 crore, which exceeds the IPL's standard amount for a first retained player, has raised eyebrows, but Head's retention amount is likely to garner even more attention. Head enjoyed a breakout season with SRH in 2024, accumulating 567 runs at an impressive strike rate of 191.55, showcasing his prowess at the top of the order. His remarkable performance throughout the year included becoming only the second T20 batter to amass over 1000 runs at a strike rate exceeding 175 while maintaining an average above 40.
Despite not having a significant impact in the IPL final against Kolkata Knight Riders, Head has demonstrated his ability to perform on major occasions, evidenced by his hundreds in both the World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup finals in 2023. His standout innings of 137 in the ODI World Cup final was instrumental in SRH's decision to acquire him for INR 6.8 crore during the IPL 2024 auction. Given his exceptional form, it’s likely he would have attracted an even higher bid had he entered the auction.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, aged 21, has also seen a substantial increase in his value since being acquired by SRH for INR 20 lakh in 2023. He was recognized as the Emerging Player of the Year in IPL 2024, scoring 303 runs at a strike rate of 143 while also contributing with three wickets as a seam bowler. Although Reddy was initially selected for India's T20I series in Zimbabwe, he missed the tour due to injury. He eventually made his international debut during the home T20Is against Bangladesh earlier this month. Reddy is also set to travel to Australia as part of the India A squad for two four-day matches starting October 31.
As the IPL auction approaches, the strategic decisions made by franchises like SRH will be closely watched as teams look to build competitive squads for the upcoming season.
