SRH best batting line-up for IPL 2025: ‘Head’ ache at top, Ishan Kishan & Nitish Reddy blues in middle, ‘Klassy’ finishers

Sunrisers Hyderabad have a promising batting line-up for IPL 2025, having retained the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen. The runners-up of IPL 2024 did not invest heavily on batters in IPL 2025 auction and instead opted to make strategic buys. Post the auction, SRH’s batting order looks quite formidable and intimidating, especially with their explosive opening pair followed by a studded middle-order. In IPL 2025, SRH will be entering as one of the sides with a strong batting order, both on paper and on field.

1. Abhishek Sharma
2. Travis Head
3. Ishan Kishan
4. Nitish Kumar Reddy
5. Heinrich Klaasen
6. Abhinav Manohar

The Headache and Sharma opening combo

SRH struck gold in IPL 2024 as Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma went berserk in the season. The destructive duo provided the perfect start to the team in nearly all the matches and were a pair that the opposition dreaded bowling to. Abhishek has been consistent over the last three seasons, amassing 426, 226 and 484 runs in IPL 2022, 2023 and 2024 respectively. With a strike rate of 155.84, the explosive opener displayed his ability to strike maximums at will and deal with both spin and face efficiently.

His partner Travis Head has been in phenomenal form over the last couple of years. The Aussie batter, who has been quite literally a ‘headache’ for India, has also meted out the same treatment to other teams in the IPL. He made his debut in the league in 2016 and played in 2017 as well but failed to deliver with the bat. With just one stellar season in 2024, Head managed to turn heads with his vicisous hitting. Head went on to amass 567 runs in IPL 2024, including a century and four half-centuries and boasted of a staggering strike rate of 191.55. Along with Abhishek Sharma, Head will look to continue the onslaught in IPL 2025 and quite honestly SRH couldn’t or can’t ask for more.

Player	Matches	Runs	Strike Rate	Average
Travis Head	25	772	173.87	36.76
Abhishek Sharma	63	1377	155.24	25.50

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Ishan Kishan at no.3, Nitish Reddy at 4

One of SRH’s strategic buys was that of keeper-batter Ishan Kishan who was released by Mumbai Indians. Although he played the role of an opener for MI during his stint with the five-time champs, he is expected to be handed a new resposnibility by SRH and that is to bat at number three. Surely, SRH will not tinker with the opening combo of Head and Sharma.

Kishan is an experienced campaigner when it comes to the IPL, having played over 100 matches. He has 2644 runs to his name, with a highest score of 99 and a strike rate of 135.87. Since 2020, Ishan Kishan has consistently clocked 200+ runs in each season of IPL and finished IPL 2024 with 320 runs to his name, although he was poor with the bat this year.

Another asset and a retainee for SRH is Nitish Kumar Reddy who is best suited to bat at number 4. The Andhra Pradesh all-rounder emerged as a breakout star in IPL 2024 and was fast-tracked to the Indian team across formats, with the latest being Tests. Time and again, Nitish Reddy has showcased his ability to come out to bat at number 4 and ace the role. He has the capability to mix his innings up with a fine balance between classic strokeplay and big-hitting.

Player	Matches	Runs	Strike Rate	Average
Ishan Kishan	105	2644	135.87	28.43
Nitish Reddy	15	303	142.92	33.67

Finisher duo of Klaasen and Manohar

Heinrich Klaasen has indeed been the most valuable player for SRH and was rightfully their top retention pick ahead of IPL 2025 auction. The South African has steered SRH to multiple victories with his ability to accelerate in the run-chase. He was aboslutely phenomenal in IPL 2023 and 2024, where he clocked 450+ runs in both seasons. With an insane strike rate of 168.31, Klaasen is one of the best finishers that SRH have.

Another specialist finisher whose services SRH accquired in IPL 2025 auction is Abhinav Manohar. The ex-Gujarat Titans batter is known for his ability to play down the order and most importantly finish run-chases for his team.