Sunrisers Hyderabad
"The Orange KINGS"
"Rise Up to Every Challenge"
#PlayWithFire
"Rise Up to Every Challenge"
#PlayWithFire
History
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) entered the IPL in 2013, after the previous Hyderabad-based franchise, Deccan Chargers, was dissolved due to prolonged financial issues. Sun TV Network bought the SRH franchise for a five-year deal for Rs 85.05 crores (about US$15.9 million) per year. (ESPN Cricinfo)
Foundation and Ownership
Establishment: Formerly known as Deccan Chargers, the defunct IPL franchise was one of the 8 inaugural members of the IPL in 2008 and won in 2009. The owner, Deccan Chronicle Holdings Ltd. put the franchise up for sale in 2012 due to the constant banning of players. BCCI then terminated the franchise for breaching contract terms. On October 25, 2012, BCCI confirmed that the Sun TV Network won the bid for the Hyderabad franchise and was replaced by the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Ownership: Deccan Chargers is owned by Gayatri Reddy. Sunrisers Hyderabad is owned by Kalanithi Maran, the Chairman and Founder of Sun TV Network, one of India’s largest television networks. The franchise operates under the umbrella of the Sun Group, headquartered in Chennai.
Image Courtesy: sportsistan
Homeground
The home ground of SRH is the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad, Telangana. Located in the Uppal area, this stadium has become iconic for the franchise and is known for its lively atmosphere, thanks to the enthusiastic local fan base. It can hold up to 55,000 people and is equipped with world-class facilities that can host international matches like Test Match, ODI, and T20i.
Sunrisers Hyderabad Colors and Logo
The Sunrisers Hyderabad logo is a striking representation of the team’s ethos. It features an eagle with outstretched wings against the backdrop of a rising sun. The eagle, a symbol of power, vision, and freedom, reflects the team’s bold and ambitious nature, while the rising sun represents a new beginning and endless possibilities. The orange and yellow hues convey energy and warmth, which align with the team’s fiery spirit on the field. (See reference logo above)
Early Years and Performances
Deccan Chargers Era (2008-2012)
The Deccan Chargers (DC), representing Hyderabad, were one of the original eight teams in the IPL. Despite finishing at the bottom of the standings in 2008, they dramatically turned things around in 2009, winning the championship under the captaincy of Adam Gilchrist (Nagraj, 2012). However, the team failed to maintain consistency, with fluctuating performances in the following years.
Due to financial troubles, the franchise was terminated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2012. This led to the formation of the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise, which took over the Hyderabad representation in the IPL (Chaudhary, 2012).
Sunrisers Hyderabad Era Begins (2013-2016)
The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) debuted in the 2013 IPL season, retaining some players from the Deccan Chargers squad. Led by Kumar Sangakkara and later Shikhar Dhawan, SRH performed admirably, reaching the playoffs in their inaugural season (Pathak, 2013).
Under the captaincy of David Warner, SRH clinched their first IPL title in 2016 by defeating the Royal Challengers Bangalore in a thrilling final. This victory highlighted SRH's renowned bowling lineup, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mustafizur Rahman playing crucial roles (Mukherjee, 2016).
SRH Consistent Performances (2017-2019)
SRH continued to be playoff contenders in subsequent seasons, largely due to their disciplined bowling attack and consistent batting led by Warner and Kane Williamson. In 2018, they reached the final but lost to the Chennai Super Kings. The team’s strategy of building around key bowlers like Rashid Khan and Kumar kept them competitive (Patel, 2018).
Struggling and Rebuilding (2020-Present)
Despite making the playoffs in 2020, SRH faced challenges in the following seasons, including leadership changes and Warner's departure in 2021. The team’s performance dipped in 2022, prompting a rebuilding phase focused on young talents and a new leadership structure under Aiden Markram in 2023 (Chakraborty, 2022).
In 2023, they had a challenging campaign. Despite making notable changes to their team in the auction by acquiring top players to strengthen their lineup, SRH struggled to find consistent form. The team only won 4 matches concluding the IPL 2023 in 10th place.
In 2024, After finishing the IPL 2023 edition in 10th spot, they managed to have a remarkable comeback this year (IPL 2024). Under the leadership of Pat Cummins, SRH shifted its approach and became known for an aggressive, record-setting batting style. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma emerged as their dynamic opening duo, setting multiple IPL records, including achieving two of the highest-ever team scores in the league, with totals like 277/3 and 287/3 in some matches. This explosive batting helped them dominate games, and they made it to the IPL 2024 finals. However, they fell just short of securing the title, losing to the Kolkata Knight Riders in the final.