IPL 2025: Sunrisers Hyderabad Sign Karnataka Batter Smaran R as Replacement For Injured Adam Zampa

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Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has confirmed the signing of Karnataka's emerging star R Smaran as replacement for Australian spinner Adam Zampa, who has been sideline for the remainder of IPL 2025.

Zampa had featured only two matches for SRH, including the season opening run feast against Rajasthan Royals, producing figures of 2 for 94 in those appearances having been bought for Rs 2.40 Crore at the mega auction last year.

The Aussie leg-spinner, who has not played since SRH's defeat to Lucknow Super Giants, is now ruled out with an undisclosed injury, paving the way for the Hyderabad-based franchise to rope in Smaran for Rs 30 Lakh for the rest of the ongoing season.

Who is R Smaran, SRH's newest signing?

Smaran was among the breakout stars of the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 433 runs, including 2 centuries and as many fifties, in seven innings at an average of 72.16 and strike rate of just over 100 for Karnataka.

The 21-year-old also starred for Karnataka in the final with a knock of 101 off 92 balls, helping the Mayank Agarwal side lift the title by putting up 348. In a disappointing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy campaign for Karnataka, Smaran scored 170 runs at a strike rate of 170 with one fifty to his name.

The left-handed batter also did well in the Karnataka T20 competition - Maharaja Trophy, representing the Gulbarga Mystics. In the 2024 season, Smaran amassed 302 runs, including 1 century and 2 fifties, in 9 innings at a strike rate of 145.19.

Deserving of a chance in the IPL after a terrific season, the Karnatka batter, however, remained unsold at the IPL mega auction last year. He was recently in action in the DY Patil tournament in Mumbai, in the lead-up to IPL 2025, while he was also involved in some pre-season practice games of Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

SRH may have not gone for a like-for-like replacement for Zampa with emergence of Zeeshan Ansari and the presence of Indian leggie Rahul Chahar. The addition of Smaran adds more strength to the SRH middle order.