Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) enjoyed a strong campaign in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, finishing third in the league stage and securing a place in the playoffs. However, their journey came to an abrupt end after a defeat to Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator. While SRH were competitive across most departments, there are still a few areas that require attention if they are to take the next step and challenge for the title in IPL 2027.

Here are three changes SRH should do ahead of IPL 2027:

Invest in experienced bowlers and finishers

SRH possess an exciting crop of young talent, particularly in their bowling attack. Players such as Praful Hinge, Sakib Hussain, Harsh Dubey, and Shivang Kumar showed promise throughout the season. However, the burden of leading the attack largely rested on captain Pat Cummins, especially during pressure situations.

Adding one or two experienced bowlers could significantly strengthen the squad. Veteran campaigners not only provide stability in crunch moments but also help in nurturing young talents. The same applies to the finishing department. While Aniket Verma, Salil Arora, and Smaran Ravichandran contributed in patches, SRH lacked a proven finisher capable of consistently closing out games. An experienced lower-order batter could provide the balance and composure needed in high-pressure chases.

Build a strong bowling core

Although SRH’s bowling unit had quality, the depth in the department remains a concern. The team relied heavily on its first-choice attack, and the backup options did not always inspire confidence. Bowlers such as Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari, Dilshan Madushanka, and Gerald Coetzee were available, but the franchise still lacked a well-established bowling core with reliable backup options.

Successful IPL teams often build a bowling group that can deliver consistently over multiple seasons. SRH should focus on strengthening their reserves and creating healthy competition within the squad to ensure sustained success.

Add more right-handed balance to the batting line-up

One of SRH’s biggest strengths is their explosive top order, featuring Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, and Abhishek Sharma. However, the presence of multiple left-handed batters at the top can sometimes make it easier for opposition teams to plan their bowling strategies.

Introducing a right-handed batter into the top order could improve balance and create more tactical challenges for opponents. With Nitish Kumar Reddy capable of slotting in at No. 4, SRH can look to add a right-handed batter higher up the order to maintain flexibility and improve match-ups. A more balanced batting unit could prove crucial in helping SRH turn playoff appearances into championship-winning campaigns.

Expectations were sky-high from Punjab Kings heading into Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 after a complete roster revamp under coach Ricky Ponting and new captain Shreyas Iyer, but the season ended in an underwhelming fashion. 

Despite spending 22 days at the top of the table after a roaring start, a shocking six-game losing streak saw PBKS finish fifth and narrowly miss the playoffs. To bounce back strongly and finally cross the top-four hurdle in IPL 2027, the franchise must address their middle-season collapses and establish a more consistent blueprint.

Here are the three changes PBKS should make ahead of IPL 2027:

3) Strengthen the bowling line-up 

The IPL 2025 finalists will be looking to bounce back after a disastrous season at the end of their 2026 IPL campaign. The first thing they will look to improve is strengthening their bowling line-up. There is a famous saying in cricket – Batters win you games, bowlers win you championships, and this is where PBKS suffered in IPL 2026. It was a bad outing for their bowlers as they conceded 200+ runs seven out of their 14 league games in this year’s IPL. 

Not one bowler from PBKS line-up managed to find a spot in top-10 wicket takers of IPL 2026. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh was their highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets to his name. If they want to come back to winning ways in next year’s edition, the Shreyas Iyer-led side will need to improve with the ball.

2) Revamp the middle-order

In PBKS batting department, it was mostly about their openers, Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh. The duo had yet another memorable IPL campaign, with Arya scoring 364 runs, while Prabhsimran scored 510. Apart from them and Cooper Connolly, no one from their line-up stood out in the middle-order barring their captain Shreyas Iyer, who also scored 498 runs.

In most of the matches, it was Iyer who took on the responsibility with the bat to take his side over the line. But the other batters in PBKS line-up failed to step up. If they want to have a good and consistent season, they will have to improve immensely in the middle-overs. 

1) Focus on finishing well with the bat 

Not just the middle-order, the last overs of the innings also had become a problem for the Punjab-based franchise. The presence of Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis as designated finishers looked good on paper, but the case was different on the field. The Aussie all-rounder showed glimpses of form in a few matches, but was not consistent enough.

Shashank, on the other hand, had a horrid tournament, both as batter as well as fielder. The right-hander scored just 132 runs in 12 matches. The only saving grace was youngster Suryansh Shedge, who smashed 158 runs with a strike rate of 175.55 in seven matches. If they want to improve next year, PBKS has to step-up in the finishing department.  

The last few Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons have been disappointing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The five-time champions have struggled to replicate the consistency and dominance that made them one of the most successful franchises in the tournament’s history.

Expectations were high heading into IPL 2026 after a rebuilding phase, but the season ended in another underwhelming fashion as CSK finished eighth on the points table. To bounce back strongly in IPL 2027, the franchise must address a few key areas and make some important changes.

Here are the three changes CSK should make ahead of IPL 2027:

3) Strengthen and improve the bowling unit

One of CSK’s biggest concerns in IPL 2026 was the lack of consistency in their bowling attack. While young pacer Anshul Kamboj emerged as a bright spot with 21 wickets in 14 matches, the rest of the bowling unit failed to deliver regularly. Bowlers such as Noor Ahmad, Akeal Hosein, Mukesh Choudhary, Spencer Johnson, and Gurjapneet Singh showed flashes of brilliance but struggled to maintain their effectiveness throughout the season.

CSK need to reassess their bowling combinations and focus on developing a more reliable attack. Whether through better planning or fresh recruitment, the team must ensure that their bowlers can consistently pick up wickets and control the flow of runs during crucial phases of matches.

2) Revamp the top order

The opening partnership of Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad did not produce the desired results in IPL 2026. Samson’s aggressive approach often contrasted with Gaikwad’s struggle to find rhythm, putting pressure on the batting unit. To maximise their strengths, CSK should consider pairing Ayush Mhatre with Samson at the top of the order.

Mhatre’s attacking style can complement Samson’s intent, allowing CSK to make full use of the powerplay. Meanwhile, moving Gaikwad to No. 3 position could help him settle into the innings more effectively. As a technically sound batter, Gaikwad can anchor the innings, guide the middle order, and provide stability during challenging situations.

1) Improve injury management and workload monitoring

Injuries severely disrupted CSK’s campaign in IPL 2026. Several key players either entered the tournament carrying fitness concerns or were ruled out during the season. MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis battled injuries before the tournament, while players such as Ayush Mhatre, Jamie Overton, Nathan Ellis, Khaleel Ahmed, and Ramakrishna Ghosh missed significant portions of the campaign.

To avoid a repeat of these issues, CSK must invest more resources in injury prevention and workload management. A fitter squad will provide greater stability and allow the team to maintain consistency throughout the demanding IPL season.