“Why did you not challenge even for someone like Akash Deep?” - Abhinav Mukund questions former champions’ tactics at IPL 2026 auction

Former India batter Abhinav Mukund questioned former champions SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) for their tactics at the IPL 2026 auction. The event took place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, December 16.

Mukund reckoned that SRH did not have proper bowling for the powerplay overs, which was also an area of concern for them last year. They finished the IPL 2026 auction with over ₹5 crore remaining, but did not look to sign a quality pacer who can bowl in the powerplay. Mukund questioned why SRH did not push for Auqib Nabi or even Akash Deep for that matter.

"You've got to at least take a chance. Again, your big problem area is your powerplay bowling. They had Harshal and Unadkat, and you had to force Malinga in because you needed a new ball option. I would have gone heavy for an Auqib for this side. You had so much money in the end. Why did you not challenge even for someone like Akash Deep?," he said on ESPN Cricinfo.

Meanwhile, former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar reckoned that the Delhi Capitals (DC) also did not manage to strengthen their new-ball attack. While they acquired Auqib Nabi for ₹8.6 crore, he felt that they needed another option outside of a domestic uncapped player.

"The only area they have not managed to strengthen is the new ball attack. Yes Aquib has done special things in the domestic circuit but there are some question marks with their bowling abilities at the top and the death," he reflected.

DC also roped in veteran South Africa batter David Miller. While Miller boosts their batting line-up further, Mukund felt that he would not start in the playing 11 and would be a backup in the middle.

"I don't think Miller finds a place in the side to start. I really like the upside of Porel. Maybe Nitish also drops down a number and Stubbs goes there. Miller, I think, just comes in as a replacement for Stubbs."

On the contrary, Bangar picked Miller as their best buy at the IPL 2026 auction. Further, he even reckoned that the left-hander was a better finisher than Tristan Stubbs.

---

Sanjay Bangar feels Gujarat Titans should have roped in David Miller for IPL 2026

Sanjay Bangar also expressed that David Miller would have been a better fit for the Gujarat Titans (GT). Ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, GT traded Sherfane Rutherford to the Mumbai Indians (MI). Therefore, Bangar felt that Miller could have filled the gap in the middle order.

Notably, Miller also played for GT from 2022 to 2024. He even scored 481 runs when they won the title in 2022.

"I think Miller would have fit well into this team having let gone of Rutherford and they had the money as well. Miller would have looked after the deficiencies they have at number four and five. So, probably that was a miss," he said.

Abhinav Mukund highlighted that GT might rely on their top three batters once again. Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, and Jos Buttler were their highest run-scorers last season. However, the only issue he felt with the team was their multiple acquisitions of talented young Indian cricketers who are knocking the door to make the national team.

"I think Gujarat are once again banking on their top three. It looks like that. My problem with this side is that they have got all of these young Indian talents who are knocking on Indian doors. How are you going to keep them content, keeping them on the bench?"

Along with the likes of Manav Suthar and Sai Kishore, GT added Ashok Sharma and Prithvi Raj Yarra to their squad for the IPL 2026 season.

Edited by Rishab Vm