IPL 2025: 4 overseas players to start in the playing 11 of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are considered the most decorated team in IPL 2025. A major reason for this is the big investment they have made on their overseas talent. After the success of IPL 2024 where they finished runners-up, they retained Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins and Travis Head being the team with most overseas retentions heading into IPL 2025 auction.

At the IPL 2025 auction, they managed to sign Australia’s ace spinner Adam Zampa, England’s new gen pacer Braydon Carse, Sri Lanka’s rising star Kamindu Mendis and the relatively unknown Lankan pacer Eshan Malinga. 

Among these seven quality talent, here are four possible starters in the overseas slot in the first game of IPL 2025.

PAT CUMMINS

Pat Cummins is currently the most followed non-Indian cricketer as the success he has achieved over the last two years have been fantastic.

He was the captain that led Australia to win World Test Championship and ICC World Cup in 2023. He recently has managed to win the Border-Gavaskar trophy 2024/25 after 10 years. He had a terrific first IPL season as captain as he led Sunrisers Hyderabad to the Finals of IPL 2024. 

He also has been the reason behind the ultra-aggressive approach that SRH took during the previous edition of the IPL which resulted in them beating opponents one sided in multiple matches. 

HEINRICH KLAASEN

Heinrich Klaasen has been the best overseas batter in IPL over the last two years. The ability of his to attack spinners and accelerate in the middle overs resulted in him playing many match winning knocks for the Hyderabad franchise. 

This match winning ability is what resulted in SRH retaining him as the first priority for a whopping 23 crores which is the most expensive retention in the history of IPL. 

In his time at SRH since 2023, Klaasen has been the highest run scorer smashing 927 runs at 174 SR with six fifties and one hundred. He also provides the wicket keeping services and a key figure in the middle order making him a sure shot feature in the playing 11 across the tournament.

TRAVIS HEAD

Travis Head is easily second most followed non-Indian cricketer currently. His performances in the international events specially against India has given him a moniker ‘Headache’ among Indian cricket fans. 

In IPL, he has been a treat to watch as the swashbuckling left hand opener took the bowlers to the cleaners in IPL 2024 scoring 567 runs in 15 games at a terrific strike rate of 192. He strikes at 208 in the first six overs making him the most destructive batters who takes the opposition head on. 

His partnership with Abhishek Sharma for the first wicket was appointment viewing as the two lefties hammered bowlers all over the ground across various venues. This aggressive approach is the reason behind his definite inclusion in the playing 11 for SRH in IPL 2025.

ADAM ZAMPA

The fourth overseas is the position that will be on a rotation basis. For the first game, the team management might go with a safe bet on Adam Zampa as he can individually handle the spin department that was lacking for SRH in IPL 2024. 

There are other Indian spin bowling options in Rahul Chahar and Zeeshan Ansari who can possibly come in if Adam Zampa fails to make an impact or the team would want to lengthen the batting line up by including Kamindu Mendis.

In his limited experience in IPL, Zampa has done a decent job picking 29 wickets in 20 games representing RCB, RR and RPS with the best figures of 6/19 against SRH in IPL 2016 which is the best figures for a spinner in IPL till date.