NEW DELHI:
Sunrisers Hyderabad
is one of those teams who have had an instant impact in the
Indian Premier League thanks to their choice of players and team combinations. Formed in 2012 after the termination of
Deccan Chargers
, Sunrisers Hyderabad is owned by the Sun TV network.
THE RECORD SO FARSRH reached the playoffs in their very first season in 2013, but were eliminated from the tournament after losing against Rajasthan Royals. The 2014 and 2015 seasons saw SRH finishing at the sixth spot in the league stage.
David Warner was appointed captain for the 2015 season and he won the Orange Cap even though his team failed to reach the playoffs.
SRH lost their first match of the 2016 campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore but went on to win their first and till date only IPL title by defeating the same team in the final.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar won the Purple Cap.
SRH reached the playoffs again in 2017 but lost the Eliminator against Kolkata Knight Riders. Warner won the Orange Cap. Warner missed the 2018 season for his involvement in the Australian ball-tampering scandal and
Kane Williamson was named captain. The unflappable Kiwi led SRH to the final of the tournament where they eventually lost to
Chennai Super Kings. Williamson won the Orange Cap.
Warner was back for SRH for the 2019 season but Williamson continued to lead the team. SRH lost the Eliminator against Delhi Capitals and Warner won the Orange Cap for the third time.
This time Warner will be the team captain and his aggressive style could be the X-factor that takes them to their second IPL title.
STRENGTHSTHE BATTING STARS - In David Warner and Jonny Bairstow the team has an extremely attacking opening pair, suited to the needs of T20 cricket. But they will need good support from the likes of Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Micthell Marsh and Wriddhiman Saha
Watch out for youngsters Virat Singh and Priyam Garg.
THE SPIN FACTOR - In Rashid Khan SRH have a genuine match winner and he will be itching to bowl on the UAE tracks. He will be assisted by the likes of his compatriot Mohammed Nabi and Shahbaz Nadeem.
THE FAST BOWLERS - Led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, a pacer who knows how to bowl on slow pitches. Other fast bowlers like Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Marsh, Khaleel Ahmed, Sandeep Sharma, Vijay Shankar and Siddharth Kaul will give captain David Warner plenty of options
THE ALL-ROUNDERS - The likes of Mitchell Marsh, Mohammad Nabi and Vijay Shankar will have to step up to the plate and deliver whenever picked, especially since the middle order looks somewhat fragile
THE COACHING STAFF - In Head coach Trevor Bayliss, assistant coach Brad Haddin, batting mentor V. V. S. Laxman, bowling mentor Muttiah Muralitharan, fielding coach Biju Georg and others SRH have a very good think tank, who know the IPL inside out
CHALLENGESThe inexperienced and somewhat fragile middle order is perhaps the biggest weakness of the SRH team. Apart from Manish Pandey and Wriddhiman Saha, there is hardly any batsman of repute to take the team over the finish line in case the top order comprising Warner, Bairstow and Williamson fails to click.
Expect Williamson to play a floater's role depending on the situation.
THE FOURTH FOREIGNER SLOT - Warner, Williamson and Rashid Khan will take up three of the four foreigner slots in most matches. The challenge will be to pick the fourth foreigner such that the balance of the team is not affected
KEY PLAYERSWarner, Bairstow and Williamson can take on any bowling attack in the world.
Bhuvneshwar brings in tonnes of international experience but it is Rashid Khan who can be the SRH surprise package as he can fox the batsmen with the guile of his deliveries and also smash some useful runs down the order.
CHANCESWith Warner back as captain, the SRH unit looks mostly balanced. Teams can take them lightly at their own peril.
Full Squad: David Warner, Rashid Khan, Sanjay Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha, Khaleel Ahmed, Sandeep Sharma, Abdul Samad, Mitchell Marsh, Shreevats Goswami, Mohammad Nabi, Fabian Allen, Abhishek Sharma, Basil Thampi, Billy Stanlake, Sandeep Bavanaka, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Virat Singh, T Natarajan, Kane Williamson, Shahbaz Nadeem, Jonny Bairstow, Manish Pandey, Vijay Shankar, Siddarth Kaul, Priyam Garg
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