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IPL 2021 Sunrisers Hyderabad Preview: Afghan Spin Giants, Trans-Tasman & English Batting, & Indian Fast Bowling Strength

Sunrisers Hyderabad Preview IPL 2021 Edition.

One of the most consistent franchises in recent IPL history, expect no different this year around.

Except they have more options, fitter players, and a schedule that suits their style of play. Add the intelligent buy of Kedar Jadhav, and all pieces are slowly falling into place. Here is my SRH preview.

Also Read: IPL 2021 Auctions Review, SRH All-Time XI

IPL History

2016 (Champions), 2018 (Runners Up), 2020 (3rd), 2013, 2017, 2019 (4th)

How Did They Do Last Year?

3rd. Losing to the Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 2. Lots of positives from last year:

  • David Warner among the top 3 yet again & Saha, the opener, giving SRH’s campaign much needed intent
  • Kane Williamson-Jason Holder (replacement for Mitchell Marsh last year) playing crucial mature knocks
  • Youngsters like Abdul Samad, Priyam Garg, & Abhishek Sharma all shining at certain points during the tournament
  • Batting collapses the worry

Injury & COVID-19 News

Mitchell Marsh has pulled out of IPL 2021. Poor guy. Seems to be more out more often than not. Jason Roy is the replacement.

Complete Sunrisers Hyderabad Squad

Batsman: Manish Pandey, Priyam Garg, Kedar Jadhav, Virat Singh

WK: Shreevats Goswami, Wriddhiman Saha

All-Rounders: Abdul Samad, Abhishek Sharma, Vijay Shankar, Jagadeesha Suchith

Spinners: Shahbaz Nadeem

Fast Medium: T Natarajan, Khaleel Ahmed, Basil Thampi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma

Overseas: David Warner*, Jonny Bairstow, Jason Holder, Mohammad Nabi, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Rashid Khan, Jason Roy, Kane Williamson

Withdrawn Mitchell Marsh

Predicted SRH XI

  1. David Warner (C), 2. Wriddhiman Saha (WK), 3. Manish Pandey, 4. Kane Williamson/Jonny Bairstow5. Vijay Shankar/Kedar Jadhav, 6. Priyam Garg/Abdul Samad, 7. Rashid Khan8. Jason Holder/Mohammad Nabi/ Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman, 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. T Natarajan, 11. Sandeep Sharma

Watch Out For

Horses-for-courses strategy.

  • Given their first 5 games are at Chennai (and 7 more at Delhi/Kolkata), expect SRH to deploy their spin regime. They have the Afghan trio Rashid Khan-Mohammad Nabi-Mujeeb Ur Rahman along with Shahbaz Nadeem & part-timers Abhishek Sharma/Kedar Jadhav.
  • The other option is to go top heavy with Warner-Roy-Williamson-Bairstow. Droolworthy batting order.
  • If the pitch demands pace, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Natarajan, Sandeep Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed, Thampi, & Kaul will be key with all-rounders in Jason Holder & Vijay Shankar readily available.

Where Can Things Go Wrong For the Sunrisers?

With multiple options, come multiple warnings. Do not give enough chances or confidence to the players and instability can creep in. With staff of VVS Laxman, Muralitharan and co, this should not be the case.

Multiple options – always a blessing or a curse.

Also Read: Indian Cricket’s Abundance of Talent: Blessing Or Curse?

Venues

Chennai – 5, Delhi – 4, Kolkata – 3, Bangalore – 2

Fixtures

  • 11 April: SRH vs KKR (Chennai)
  • 14 April: SRH vs RCB (Chennai)
  • 17 April: MI vs SRH (Chennai)
  • 21 April: PBKS vs SRH (Chennai)
  • 25 April: SRH vs DC (Chennai)
  • 28 April: CSK vs SRH (Delhi)
  • 2 May: RR vs SRH (Delhi)
  • 4 May: SRH vs MI (Delhi)
  • 7 May: SRH vs CSK (Delhi)
  • 9 May: RCB vs SRH (Kolkata)
  • 13 May: SRH vs RR (Kolkata)
  • 17 May: DC vs SRH (Kolkata)
  • 19 May: SRH vs PBKS (Bangalore)
  • 21 May: KKR vs SRH (Bangalore)
  • 25 May: Qualifier 1 (Ahmedabad)
  • 26 May: Eliminator (Ahmedabad)
  • 28 May: Qualifier 2 (Ahmedabad)
  • 30 May: Final (Ahmedabad)

Prediction

Probably the most balanced side of the tournament, but just think that RCB, PBKS, and KKR have a bit more firepower.

Prediction4th
Most Runs Jonny Bairstow
Most WicketsRashid Khan
Emerging PlayerAbdul Samad
Surprise PackageKedar Jadhav
X FactorDavid Warner
Broken Cricket DreamSiddharth Kaul – Final SRH season for Kaul?
Sunrisers Hyderabad Preview Predictions

What do you think of the Sunrisers Hyderabad Preview? Your First XI? Will they make the IPL 2021 qualifiers?

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Copyright (2021: 4/3/2021)– @Nitesh Mathur, aka Nit-X – bcd@brokokencricketdreams.com

SRH All-Time XI: Fast Bowlers Galore


Let us continue the IPL Party with SRH All-Time XI!

Ever since Deccan Chargers became SRH, they have been ultra consistent. With the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner, and Kane Williamson, their top order has been in safe hands.

Their most unique characteristic, though, is their bowling. Regularly in slow Hyderabad pitches, they have defended scores between 140-150. Most Indian fast bowling internationals have been acquired by SRH at some point or another – Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar as well as the up and coming Siddharth Kaul, Barinder Sran, Khaleel Ahmed, and Basil Thampi.

With so many choices available, who makes it in YOUR SRH All-Time XI? VOTE BELOW AND SHARE YOUR XI WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

*Note: We are NOT including players from Deccan Chargers since SRH has been pretty successful since 2013 (even though players like Rohit Sharma, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, and RP Singh were instrumental in their 2009 win).

The Catch

  • As mentioned above, great top order, foreign players, and fast bowlers – but what about the Indian batsmen? Manish Pandey/Vijay Shankar/Yusuf Pathan maybe?
  • Warner, Williamson, Bairstow? Shakib, Nabi, Rashid Khan, and the Fizz? All great international players. Pick 4 now. The struggle SRH still faces—the problem of plenty.

The Highlights

  • 2016 (Champions), 2018 (Runners Up), 2013, 2017, 2019 (4th)

My SRH All-Time XI

  1. David Warner (2014-2019)
  2. Kane Williamson (2015-2019)Captain
  3. Shikhar Dhawan (2013-2018)
  4. Manish Pandey (2018-2019)
  5. Naman Ojha (2014-2017) – WK
  6. Deepak Hooda (2016-2019)
  7. Mohammad Nabi (2017-2019)
  8. Rashid Khan (2017-2019)
  9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2014-2019)
  10. Siddharth Kaul (2018-2019)
  11. Sandeep Sharma (2018-2019)

Honorable Mentions: Karn Sharma (2013-2016), Dale Steyn (2013-2015), Khaleel Ahmed (2018-2019), Moises Henriques (2014-2017)

Audience Poll – SRH All Time XI

  • Pick 11 players from the list – with 4 foreign players maximum.
  • You need to have a wicketkeeper and at least 5 bowling options.

[yop_poll id=”3″]

Thank you for voting! 

For other IPL All-Time XIs, check this page out.

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Sources: Cricinfo StatsCricinfo IPL All-Time XI

Image Courtesy: Bhuvneshvar Kumar – Dee03 / CC BY-SA 3.0; Kane Williamson – Mark Lockett / CC BY-SA 2.0; Jonny Bairstow – Mcadge / CC BY-SA 4.0; David Warner – Original photograph: NAPARAZZICrop: Ham105 / CC BY-SA 2.0