Pujara Flags Major SRH Concern Ahead of IPL 2026: Away Record Could Cost Them Everything

Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has raised a serious concern about Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of IPL 2026, saying their away record is very poor and that this weakness could stop them from going deep in the tournament. IPL 2026 starts on March 28 with SRH facing defending champions RCB in the season opener. Check the Sunrisers Hyderabad full squad for this season to see how they have built their side around these concerns.

What Pujara Said About SRH’s Biggest Problem

Pujara was direct when speaking to Jio Hotstar. He said SRH are a very destructive side at home in Hyderabad where they regularly pile up big totals, but the moment they travel away from Hyderabad, their batting intent completely falls apart.

His point was simple. Every team in the IPL now knows that SRH rely entirely on their top three to set totals. Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, and Heinrich Klaasen carry the batting. Once these three are dismissed, SRH have no one capable of maintaining the same scoring rate, and opposition sides have figured this out completely.

“When they play away matches, they fail to maintain their destructive batting intent. That is where the opposition teams take advantage and prevent them from putting up big totals,” Pujara said.

This is not just an opinion. The numbers back it up. SRH finished sixth in IPL 2025 with only six wins from 14 matches, and a large portion of their losses came in away fixtures where the conditions did not suit their go-big-or-go-home approach.

The Head and Abhishek Problem

Here is where the SRH situation gets interesting. Pujara was not all criticism. He called the opening pair of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma one of the most destructive in IPL history, even comparing them favourably to the iconic Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli opening combination from the past.

“SRH has consistently crossed the 250-run mark in the last couple of seasons thanks to them. No other team in the IPL has done that consistently,” Pujara said.

That praise carries weight. Head and Abhishek do not just attack occasionally. They attack from ball one, every single time, on every ground. When it works, no team can stop SRH from posting totals that feel impossible to chase.

The problem is that it only works consistently at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, where the pitch is tailor-made for their style. On slower tracks, on turning wickets or on seaming surfaces away from home, the same approach has repeatedly unravelled.

SRH Batting Core at a Glance

SRH’s Bowling Concerns Run Deeper

The batting overdependence is not even the only worry heading into this season. SRH’s bowling attack beyond Pat Cummins looks thin. Cummins is a proven match-winner with both bat and ball but he cannot do everything alone.

Mohammed Shami was a major part of the squad last season and completely failed to perform. His absence from the bowling attack leaves a serious gap. Harshal Patel and Zeeshan Ansari had decent seasons in 2025 and will be relied upon heavily again, but experienced T20 pace bowling remains a concern at the death and in the powerplay outside of Cummins himself.

The spin department is another area that worries analysts. Kamindu Mendis carries responsibility as the primary spin option but lacks IPL experience at the highest level. Beyond him, young spinners like Zeeshan Ansari are still developing and could be exposed in big away matches.

SRH’s Key Bowling Options for IPL 2026

SRH IPL 2026 Season Outlook

SRH open their season on March 28 against defending champions RCB at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. That is an away fixture from the very first ball of the season, which makes Pujara’s concern feel even more relevant right now.

The good news for SRH is that they have added Liam Livingstone to the squad this season. Livingstone is a genuine power hitter who can bat anywhere from three to six and scores at a massive rate on any surface in any conditions. He could be exactly the kind of middle-order support that Head and Abhishek desperately need when they fall early.

Daniel Vettori as head coach understands T20 cricket deeply and will have worked on specific game plans for away conditions. The question is whether the players can actually execute a slightly different approach when the surface is not Hyderabad-flat.

Track how SRH perform in home and away matches through the IPL 2026 live points table updated after every game. Catch every SRH match live using the complete IPL 2026 broadcast and streaming details across all platforms in India.

FAQs

What concern did Pujara raise about SRH ahead of IPL 2026?

Pujara said SRH’s away record is very poor and that their batting falls apart outside Hyderabad because opposition teams specifically target and dismiss their top three early to shut down the scoring.

Who are SRH’s main batters in IPL 2026?

Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen are SRH’s core batting trio. Ishan Kishan and Liam Livingstone have been added to provide more depth and middle-order support.

How did SRH perform in IPL 2025?

SRH finished sixth in IPL 2025 with only six wins from 14 matches, missing the playoffs completely after reaching the final in 2024.

Who is the captain and coach of SRH in IPL 2026?

Pat Cummins remains captain and Daniel Vettori continues as head coach for the third consecutive season together.

When is SRH’s first match in IPL 2026?

SRH open the entire IPL 2026 season on March 28 against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

What new players did SRH sign for IPL 2026?

Liam Livingstone is the biggest new addition, along with Ishan Kishan, Kamindu Mendis, Brydon Carse, Jack Edwards and several young Indian players to strengthen depth across all departments.