Squad analysis IPL 2018: Sunrisers Hyderabad look ominous under David Warner

Heavyweights Sunrisers Hyderabad has assembled a strong looking unit and look very balanced on paper for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018. The 2016 champions have gone for a squad that has all bases covered and look like the team to beat in the upcoming season.

The franchise retained the famed David Warner and under his leadership, they would look to go all the way to finding success. Besides Warner, they also retained 2016 and 2017’s Purple Cap holder Bhuvneshwar Kumar and from there on they did not look back.

Southpaw Shikhar Dhawan and Afghan spinner Rashid Khan was drafted in the side via the Right To Match card and joining them was Deepak Hooda. And all of a sudden the SRH team had five of their star players and it was indeed a smart ploy. They also brought back Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson to add more depth.

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The franchise stuck to their plan of building the team around bowlers. Besides Bhuvi, they have some good performers in Sandeep Sharma, Basil Thampi, and Siddharth Kaul. At the Bengaluru auction, they bolstered their all-round list by getting Carlos Brathwaite, Shakib Al-Hasan, and Mohammed Nabi.

Their biggest purchase was that of batsman Manish Pandey for Rs 11 crore. And the former Kolkata Knight Riders star will be their go-to man in that strong top order.

Here is the analysis of the SRH team under the stewardship of David Warner.

Batsmen: David Warner is the main strength of this unit and the side will depend on his fireworks atop. With the experience under his belt and the success that has come with it, Warner knows he has to get the best out of his side once again. The Aussie star has a reliable partner with him to open the innings in the form of Shikhar Dhawan and together they can put up a mountain atop for their opponents.

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Getting Manish in the auctions for the whopping sum showed their intention of making a statement. The former KKR player is a solid hand in that top order and his fielding is a bonus. Pandey’s success for Kolkata earlier gave the side a belief to go in for him and give him the responsibility as a senior member of the team.

Besides Pandey, there is the ever reliable Kane Williamson. The Kiwi sensation is regarded as one of the ‘Fab Four’ batsmen in world cricket and was handy for the SRH side for the last two seasons. His inclusion came as no surprise as it gives the team solidity in that middle order.

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Besides these top four players, SRH went in for Wriddhiman Saha who adds aplenty as a batsman besides being one of the best in the business behind the stumps. Kerala’s Sachin Baby too is there and will likely be fighting for a place with the veteran Yusuf Pathan in that middle order. Sreevats Goswami and Tanmay Agarwal too is there as a supporting cast on the bench.

Warner: Matches 114, Runs 4014, Best 126, Average 40.45 S/R 142.14

Manish: Matches 103, Runs 2215, Best 114, Average 28.14, S/R 120.12

All-rounders:

The team has quite an interesting bunch of all-rounders and that is a huge plus. West Indies’ Carlos Brathwaite and Bangladesh’s Shakib Al-Hasan comprises of that middle-order list besides the Afghan senior player Nabi. The best of the lot is Shakib with his left-arm spin and prowess as a batsman that makes him dangerous.

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Brathwaite is known for his blitz and this time he will have to be more consistent especially with providing the touch as a finisher. Nabi, on the other hand, could get a look in at times and he is very useful with all the experience under his belt.

Besides the trio, their RTM card Deepak Hooda makes a vital presence in the team. Hooda played some crucial knocks for Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament and has been a familiar face in the SRH set-up.

Shakib: Matches 43, Runs 498, Best 66, Average 21.65, S/R 146.53, Wickets 43, Best 3/17

Bowlers: Like Kolkata Knight Riders, team Hyderabad has gone in for a superb bowling unit that looks well covered in both pace and spin. Bhuvi is the leader of the attack and has been on top of his game both at the opening and at the death for Warner & Co. This season too his impetus will be crucial in guiding the supporting cast as well.

Basil Thampi, Siddharth Kaul, and Sandeep Sharma boast of an energetic pace bowling unit besides Bhuvi. Also in the side is England’s Chris Jordan and that makes the team looks dangerous in the pace unit. Australia’s 23-year-old Billy Stanlake is another player in the squad and he has the experience of the Big Bash League to stake a claim.

The spin department like the pace is very strong for SRH. Leading the line is Afghan sensation Rashid Khan, who impressed one and all last term. Also, the inclusions of Bangladesh’s Mehedi Hasan is a clever ploy. Mehedi has been expressive in the sub-continent and has derived a lot of success for the Tigers. The presence of Shakib and T Natarajan is a big boost as well and credit to SRH for ticking the boxes right.

Bhuvi: Matches 90, Wickets 111, Best 5/19, Economy 7.08

Threats and challenges: Very few and limited as far SRH are concerned. To an extent, one can say lack of firepower in batting in the bench and also a proven finisher especially with Brathwaite and Pathan not very consistent.

Hyderabad’s 23-member squad

A team we can definitely go to war with! Who’s your favourite pick of the lot??#IPLAuction #IPL2018 #OrangeArmy #LiveOrange pic.twitter.com/PfbN6M24qT

— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) January 29, 2018