Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have announced the injury replacement of promising youngster Smaran Ravichandran for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season. The Karnataka batter, who had joined SRH just last month as a replacement for the injured Adam Zampa, has now been ruled out himself due to injury. His departure paves the way for Vidarbha all-rounder to join the struggling Hyderabad side, who are desperately looking to revive their faltering campaign.
The new signing for Sunrisers Hyderabad
SRH have signed Harsh Dubey as the replacement for Smaran. Dubey has been signed for ₹30 lakh — the same amount SRH had paid for Smaran earlier. Dubey’s rise has been a story of consistency and perseverance. The 24-year-old left-arm spin all-rounder recently led Vidarbha to a historic Ranji Trophy title in the 2024–25 season, claiming 69 wickets and scoring 476 runs to bag the prestigious Player of the Tournament award. His all-round heroics on the domestic circuit, across formats, caught the attention of several franchises during trials, including Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
While his T20 numbers may not jump off the page yet — with 127 wickets and 941 runs across T20, List A, and First-Class games combined — his recent form in red-ball cricket, adaptability across formats, and left-arm spin variety have made him a valuable late-season addition for SRH. Given the team’s dire situation with just three wins from 11 games, Dubey might find himself thrown straight into the mix, especially as the Hyderabad outfit seeks to explore new options with little left to lose.
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Smaran Ravichandran’s short stint with SRH
Smaran’s brief association with SRH showed glimpses of promise, though he didn’t get a long enough run to cement his place. A breakout star from Karnataka, Smaran had earned his IPL call-up on the back of a stellar Vijay Hazare Trophy where he amassed 433 runs at an average of 72.16, including a title-clinching century in the final. His domestic credentials were already turning heads — over 500 runs in just seven first-class matches at a stunning average of 64.50, including a double century, and a T20 strike rate of 170.
Unfortunately for both player and franchise, injury has now cut short his maiden IPL journey. The back-to-back replacement scenario — first Zampa by Smaran, now Smaran by Dubey — reflects the injury-laden challenges SRH has faced in IPL 2025.
As they prepare to host Delhi Capitals in a crucial clash, SRH will hope Dubey’s inclusion can spark some late-season magic. While a playoff berth looks increasingly unlikely, new faces like Dubey could offer a glimpse into SRH’s future core — and perhaps, salvage some pride before the curtain falls on their campaign.
Also READ: IPL 2025: Here’s how SRH can still qualify for the playoffs mathematically
