In a strategic move ahead of the 2025 IPL mega auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad has confirmed the retention of Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy, solidifying their core lineup from the 2024 season. Sources close to the team indicate that Head will be retained for INR 14 crore, while Reddy is set to receive INR 6 crore.
This latest decision completes SRH’s quota of five capped retained players, following Sunrisers’ previous announcements to retain Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, and Abhishek Sharma. With these retentions, SRH will have allocated INR 75 crore from their total purse of INR 120 crore ahead of the auction.
The IPL has stipulated that franchises can retain up to six players before the auction, which can include a maximum of five capped internationals and two uncapped players. The deadline for teams to submit their retention lists is October 31.
Cummins will continue to lead the side after guiding SRH to the playoffs for the first time since 2018. His captaincy, along with the coaching staff under Daniel Vettori, played a pivotal role in the team’s success last season.
Travis Head’s retention comes on the heels of a breakout IPL season in 2024, where he scored an impressive 567 runs at a strike rate of 191.55. He also achieved the rare feat of scoring over 1000 T20 runs in a single year with an average exceeding 40. While Head’s performance in the IPL final against the Kolkata Knight Riders may not have matched his previous exploits, his track record in high-stakes matches—evidenced by his century in both the World Test Championship final and the ODI World Cup final—underscores his value to the franchise.
Nitish Reddy, only 21, has seen a remarkable rise in his career, having been named the Emerging Player of the Year in IPL 2024. He scored 303 runs at a strike rate of 143 and took three wickets, showcasing his all-round capabilities. Reddy’s journey into international cricket includes recent appearances in T20I matches for India, further elevating his status.
As SRH prepares for the auction, they will have the option to utilize a right-to-match card to reacquire one of their uncapped players, providing them with additional flexibility in building their squad.
With these strategic moves, SRH aims to maintain momentum and enhance their chances of clinching the IPL title in the upcoming season.
Read This:- KKR Retained Players List for IPL 2025