5 players SRH should target in the IPL 2021 auction

The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) got off to a horrendous start in IPL 2020 as they could win only three of their first nine matches. However, the Orange Army made a miraculous comeback in the latter half of the competition to finish in the top 3. The IPL 2016 champions defeated the Royal Challengers Bangalore to advance to Qualifier 2. Unfortunately, the Delhi Capitals ended the David Warner-led outfit’s campaign by beating them in Qualifier 2. Still, the team management would be satisfied with their squad’s performance. It is pertinent to note that SRH had many injury problems in IPL 2020. They did not have their star pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar in many matches, while the in-form Wriddhiman Saha missed the playoffs. Besides, all-rounder, Mitchell Marsh was ruled out of IPL 2020 after picking up an injury in the first match itself. The think tank of the Hyderabad-based franchise will have the onus of ensuring that the squad has enough back-up options. In this article, we will look at those five players that SRH should sign in the 2021 auction: 1. KS Bharat KS Bharat. (Photo Source: Twitter) If the Sunrisers Hyderabad bench Jonny Bairstow and Wriddhiman Saha is unavailable at the same time, they need another reliable Indian wicket-keeper batsman. While Shreevats Goswami is a seasoned campaigner present in the SRH squad, the former Royal Challengers Bangalore player has not fired all cylinders for the Orange Army so far. Goswami had a chance to become a hero for SRH in the playoffs. Unfortunately, he failed to make the most out of the opportunity that he received. Someone like KS Bharat could have been handy for Hyderabad in that situation. The wicket-keeper batsman has made a name for himself with his top-class performance in the domestic arena. Bharat has a good knowledge of the conditions in Hyderabad. When IPL returns to India, he could be a solid batting option for them. Also, he could help solve the middle-order issues that the Sunrisers faced during IPL 2020. 2. Shai Hope Shai Hope. (Photo Source: Twitter) This year, the Sunrisers Hyderabad’s middle order was very brittle. However, the fans should laud the team management for taking a massive risk and allowing Priyam Garg, Abdul Samad, and Abhishek Sharma to bat in the middle order. But there needs to be a proper blend of experience and youth in that section. Also, Manish Pandey could not play with consistency for the Sunrisers. Thus, Shai Hope could be a possible solution to SRH’s middle-order woes. Hope has the talent to build an innings. In case, the openers return to the pavilion early, he can rebuild the innings with his skills. The Caribbean wicket-keeper batsman has a strike rate of 136 in T20I cricket. Hope has impressed a lot with his performances in the subcontinental conditions. He could be a great addition to the Sunrisers’ middle order in the 14th edition of the IPL. 3. Andile Phehlukwayo Andile Phehlukwayo. (Photo by Anesh Dibiky/Gallo Images/Getty Images) The Sunrisers Hyderabad had Mitchell Marsh as their lead fast-bowling all-rounder in IPL 2020. But as mentioned ahead, Marsh suffered an injury in the team’s season opener which did not allow him to play further in the tournament. SRH roped in Jason Holder later as Marsh’s replacement. The West Indies Test team captain played a colossal role in SRH’s turnaround. Holder led the fast bowling attack and scalped 14 wickets in only seven matches. Besides, he also contributed his bit with the bat and won a couple of games for his franchise. Andile Phehlukwayo is a similar type of player. The South African all-rounder has scalped 34 wickets in 27 T20I matches. Also, he can hit a few big shots in the slog overs. Phehlukwayo could be a solid back-up fast-bowling all-rounder for SRH in the next season. 4. Mustafizur Rahman Mustafizur Rahman. (Photo Source: Twitter) If the Sunrisers Hyderabad continue using only David Warner and Kane Williamson as their foreign batsmen, there will be room for two overseas players in the bowling unit. Rashid Khan holds one of the two spots, while Jason Holder played as the fourth foreign player for SRH in the second half of IPL 2020. Holder had an excellent season, but his numbers in Indian conditions are not so great. There are high chances that he might be a little more expensive with the ball while playing at the Wankhede Stadium or the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. In that situation, SRH would need a top-quality foreign quick to replace Holder in the bowling attack. Mustafizur Rahman had achieved much success with the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the past. The Bangladesh Cricket Board did not allow him to compete in IPL 2020. The Mumbai Indians and the Kolkata Knight Riders tried to sign him as a replacement player. But if SRH manage to sign him for IPL 2021, he can form a deadly trio with T Natarajan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Rahman is the only overseas cricketer to win the Emerging Player of the Season award, which shows his terrific IPL record. 5. Kedar Devdhar Kedar Devdhar. (Photo Source: Sportstarlive) Wriddhiman Saha performed incredibly well for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2020. But as noted in this season, Saha is a little injury-prone, and also, he has not been that consistent in the middle order. Since Shreevats Goswami could not match the expectations this year, the Orange Army will hunt for a back-up Indian wicket-keeper batsman in the auction. Parthiv Patel could have been a great option. However, the Royal Challengers Bangalore are unlikely to release him. Apart from KS Bharat, there is also Gujarat’s wicket-keeper batsman Kedar Devdhar, who could play the back-up Indian keeper’s role for the IPL 2016 winners. For the record, Devdar has been playing domestic T20 cricket since 2011. He has scored 1866 runs in 67 T20s at a strike rate of 122.84. His highest score of 100 highlights that the 30-year-old can play big innings for his team. Thus, SRH should try to gain his services.

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5 players SRH should target in the IPL 2021 auction

The Sunriders bowed out of IPL 2020 after DC beat them in the Qualifier 2.

3. Andile Phehlukwayo

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