Sakib Hussain is set to make his debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Rajasthan Royals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Monday. The Bihar pacer was bought by SRH for Rs. 30 lakh at the IPL auction, after first being signed by Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the IPL 2024 season. The 21-year-old right-arm quick now gets his first chance in the IPL after spending a year on the sidelines with KKR.
From Bihar to the IPL stage
Sakib Hussain comes into the match with a brief but noticeable domestic record. He made his T20 debut for Bihar in the 2022-23 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and in his second game, at the age of 17, he returned figures of four for 20 runs. In the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, he picked up his maiden five-for with 6/41 against Arunachal Pradesh.
For Sunrisers Hyderabad, the timing is straightforward: a new bowling option is available on a night when the team faces Rajasthan Royals in Hyderabad. The move gives Sakib Hussain an opening that never came during his earlier stint with Kolkata Knight Riders.
Sakib Hussain and the wait for a first IPL game
The story around Sakib Hussain is defined by patience. He was first brought into an IPL setup ahead of the 2024 season, but did not play that year, leaving him waiting for a debut that has now arrived with Sunrisers Hyderabad.
That path makes his inclusion notable for Bihar cricket as well, with a young fast bowler from the state stepping onto one of the league’s biggest stages. The next question is whether Sakib Hussain can turn this first opportunity into a sustained run in the XI.
What comes next for Sakib Hussain
All eyes will now be on team selection and the role he is given in Hyderabad. If Sakib Hussain is trusted with the ball against Rajasthan Royals, it will mark the first chapter of his IPL career under pressure and on a high-profile night. For a bowler who has waited through one auction cycle and one season on the sidelines, Sakib Hussain finally has the chance to show why Sunrisers Hyderabad backed him.
