Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are currently at the ninth position on the points table with only 2 wins out of 7 matches in IPL 2023. And one of the biggest reasons for the team's poor performance this year has been the failure of big players, whom the team owners had roped in for crores.
With 7 games just left in the group stage, Hyderabad’s prospects look in trouble and their chances of it qualifying for the playoffs is very bleak. The team will have to win all the seven matches from here if they want to reach the playoffs.
If the team finished the season near the bottom of the points table, it might decide to cut down the salaries of some of the big players who couldn’t deliver this year.
Here are 3 SRH players who might face pay cuts next year:
1. Washington Sundar: The allrounder, who has been ruled out of the tournament due to an injury now, turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments for Sunrisers Hyderabad this season. Acquired at Rs 8.75 crore, Sundar has been outright disappointing with the bat as well as the ball.
In seven matches he has played so far, Sundar could score only 60 runs at a strike-rate of 100, and averaging just 15. In the bowling department also, Sundar was wicketless in the first six matches and only returned with 3 wickets in his spell in the last match against Delhi Capitals.
Sundar’s massive pay, however, was not justified last year also as the left-handed batter scored only 101 runs in 9 matches at a strike-rate of 146.38, averaging just 14.43.
The team may decide to either release him or cut down his pay.
2. Mayank Agarwal: Another big-purchase at of Rs 8.75 crore by Sunrisers Hyderabad was Punjab’s Mayank Agarwal. He too has been poor with the bat so far this season.
Agarwal has made only 164 runs in 7 matches at a strike-rate of 111.56. Mayank has crossed the thirty-plus scores only twice so far. SRH showed confidence in Agarwal even though he had a poor season with the bat last year as the skipper of Punjab Kings. In 2022, Mayank had scored 196 runs in 13 matches at a strike-rate of 122.50.
Like Washington Sundar, Mayank Agarwal too might be released or given big pay-cut before the next year’s auctions.
3. Harry Brook: This might come as a surprise for many, but Harry Brook might be one of the big guns who can expect a pay cut next year. The England batter hasn’t quite been consistent apart from one match against KKR where he slammed a century.
In seven outings so far, Brook has made only 163 runs at a strike-rate of 127.34 and an average of 27.17.
He was roped in by SRH after his brilliant run with the bat in Test cricket. But Brook hasn’t been able to provide good starts to the team as an opener and has been one of the biggest reasons for SRH's dismal show this season.
Acquired at Rs 13.25 crore, Harry Brook might not be released, but he could face pay cut next year.