Sunrisers Hyderabad’s most expensive players at any IPL auction: from Harry Brook to Pat Cummins

The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have built a reputation as a highly analytical and bowling-focused franchise since their inception in 2013, replacing the defunct Deccan Chargers. Their auction strategy has often prioritized stability and the acquisition of world-class bowlers and high-impact all-rounders, a philosophy that underpinned their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016 title. After a period of change, SRH made two huge, franchise-defining bids in 2024 and 2025 Pat Cummins And Hendrik Klaasensignaling a clear shift towards assembling a core of explosive overseas competition winners. This history of strategic, often high-stakes spending is critical to understanding current team composition.

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Most Expensive Players in Every IPL Auction

1) 2013 to 2017: Building a bowling and all-rounder core

Year	Player	Price (in INR)	Meaning of the purchase
2013	Thisara Perera	INR 3.6 crore	In their first auction, SRH secured the Sri Lankan all-rounder, prioritizing a player who could contribute with explosive lower-order batting and medium-fast bowling.
2014	David Warner	INR 5.5 crore	The Australian opener was the most expensive auction buy (keep Shikar Dhawan was technically higher), securing the star batsman who would become their most successful captain and lead them to the 2016 title.
2015	Trent Boult	INR 3.5 crore	SRH invested in the New Zealand left-arm quick, with the aim of adding genuine swing and a high-impact pace bowler to complement their strong existing attack.
2016	Yuvraj Singh	INR 7 Crore	A statement signing for the World Cup winner, brought in for his match-winning pedigree, experience and explosive mid-range batting to add depth to the title-winning side.
2017	Rashid Khan	INR 4 Crore	SRH secured the services of the Afghan leg-spin sensation, which turned out to be one of the most cost-effective signings in IPL history, and defined their bowling attack for years to come.

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2) 2018 to 2025: Invest in big players and expensive leaders

Year	Player	Price (in INR)	Meaning of the purchase
2018	Manish Pandey	INR 11 Crore	A huge investment in the experienced Indian middle-order batsman, aimed at strengthening their domestic batting core at the mega auction.
2019	Jonny Bairstow	INR 2.2 Crore	In a highly targeted auction, the England wicketkeeper-batsman was secured at an affordable price, immediately creating a devastating opening partnership with David Warner.
2020	Mitchell Marsh	INR 2 Crore	The Australian all-rounder was the top buy and was sought after for his ability to bowl fast and bat explosively, although his season was curtailed by injury.
2021	Kedar Jadhav	INR 2 Crore	SRH targeted the Indian veteran batsman to add experienced domestic depth to their middle order in a cautious auction.
2022	Nicholas Pooran	INR 10.75 Crore	The franchise tackled the West Indian power hitter in a big way, aiming to solve their long-standing middle-order finishing woes in the mega auction.
2023	Harry Brook	INR 13.25 Crore	SRH made a bold, huge investment in the young English star, betting on his potential as an aggressive mid-table of the future.
2024	Pat Cummins	INR 20.5 Crore	SRH made a record bid (at the time) for the Australian captain, securing a world-class bowler and leader who would fundamentally reshape the team’s approach and culture.
2025	Hendrik Klaasen	INR 23 Crore	In one of the biggest auction purchases in IPL history, SRH secured the South African wicketkeeper-batsman, rewarding his explosive finishing ability and becoming the most expensive player in their squad heading into 2026.

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