Former RCB player AB de Villiers raised a huge concern regarding SRH skipper Pat Cummins ahead
of the IPL 2026 auction as well. Cummins’ fitness will be a major concern for SRH as well. Notably, Cummins has been ruled out of the first Ashes 2025-26 Test due to a back injury.

“They’ve kept some of their key players. Big question mark on Pat Cummins. Will he be ready after the Ashes? Will he be fresh and fit? With Shami gone, they will need some experience and firepower with the ball in there. They’ve played some decent cricket but ran out of steam. They’ve kept a decent bulk and no real reason to panic, I believe,” he said on his YouTube channel.

READ HERE: Shubman Gill Breaks Silence On ODI Futures Of Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli

“Huge news was Andre Russell. He has been the main couch for many years. lt seems they want to freshen up the side and shake things up. It will be interesting to see how they get the balance right alongside the spin twins Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy. Get a fast bowler or two in there,” he shared.

Ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, LSG traded in Mohammad Shami from SRH and Arjun Tendulkar from the Mumbai Indians (MI) as well. AB de Villiers also stated that having a left-arm pacer like Arjun will be helpful.

“Nice to have Arjun in the mix. Hopefully, this will be a breakthrough season for him. I think Shami will be a win. Even though he is in the back end of his career, we know he loves the pressure. He can be consistent and bowls wicket to wicket. I think he will be really good at the wicket there. A good signing there I believe. I’m not incredibly excited about the bulk of the team. They’ve got some work to do at the auction. Not bad players but I don’t think it is a tournament-winning retention group. Nothing that makes me feel like they will go all the way so they will have to be smart at the auction,” he concluded.