Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowling coach Varun Aaron has given credit to the fast bowlers for the franchise’s success in the ongoing IPL 2026. The likes of Praful Hinge, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ehsan Malinga and Sakib Hussain have delivered consistently for the Orange Army.

Malinga has scalped 16 wickets in 12 matches of the season at an average of 25.50 and an economy rate of 9.53. Furthermore, Sakib Hussain has snared 12 wickets in eight games of the season.

Pat Cummins has also led from the front since he has returned to take over the captaincy baton from Ishan Kishan.

“I’ve been seeing Praful, Sakib, and Eshan [Malinga] for the past three years. Going into this season, the discussion we had within the management was to have bowlers who could provide that X-factor on any surface… especially on the surface we play in Hyderabad, which doesn’t really offer too much for the bowlers,” Aaron said on the eve of Sunrisers’ IPL 2026 clash with Chennai Super Kings here.

“So, if you have bowlers who can actually take the surface out of the equation and have an X-factor — be it high pace, really good slower balls, or even the skill to move the ball when the conditions are not helping you. That’s exactly what we went for. And I’m glad whoever we went for has come good so far,” he added.

Aaron lauded Heinrich Klaasen for his ability to adapt seamlessly in the middle-order. The South African has amassed 508 runs in 12 matches of the tournament.

“I think it’s pretty obvious that Klaasen shouldn’t have retired (laughs)! Playing for us, especially coming in to bat after our explosive top three, to maintain the same tempo or even shift a gear down and then go up towards the end, is not easy at all. He makes it look unbelievably easy.”

SRH will take on CSK at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Monday.