'This is the first time I am seeing that a team needs even fewer players than MI' - Aakash Chopra on SRH's requirements in IPL 2021 auction

Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) need to buy fewer players than defending champions Mumbai Indians to cover all the bases for IPL 2021. Mumbai Indians have won the last two editions of the IPL and looked almost unbeatable. From openers, middle-order batsmen, all-rounders, finishers to bowlers, the five-time champions have quality players in each department.

Given the depth in their squad, it is believed that Mumbai Indians won’t need too many reinforcements in the upcoming auction. And Chopra believes SRH needs even lesser number of new players to get a balanced squad. The former cricketer-turned-commentator said that SRH have a near-complete squad. He also opined that retaining both Mitchell Marsh and Jason Holder is a wrong move.

SRH had roped in Holder midway through the competition to replace Marsh who was ruled out of the tournament with an injury. Holder had totally justified the faith shown in him by impressing with both bat and ball. In seven games, the West Indies star had scored 66 runs while picking up a total of 14 wickets.

“This is the first time I am seeing that a team needs even fewer players than the Mumbai Indians. They just have to fill three slots, including one overseas. They have kept both Holder and Marsh which I believe is wrong,” said Aakash Chopra on his YouTube channel.

SRH’s retained players

Ahead of the auction which is scheduled to take place in Chennai on February 18, all the eight franchises have announced the list of their released and retained players. As far as SRH’s retained players are concerned, they have retained 22 players, including seven overseas cricketers. SRH need three more signings including an overseas player to complete their squad.

The David Warner-led side will be looking to do better in the upcoming season after bowing out at the playoffs stage in IPL 2020. After a slow start to the season, SRH had found momentum in the second half of the season before losing to Delhi Capitals in the second qualifier. SRH have not won the IPL since the 2016 season.

Here is the list of SRH’s retained players:

David Warner (c), Abhishek Sharma, Basil Thampi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jonny Bairstow, Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Shahbaz Nadeem, Shreevats Goswami, Siddarth Kaul, Khaleel Ahmed, T Natarajan, Vijay Shankar, Wriddhiman Saha, Abdul Samad, Mitchell Marsh, Jason Holder, Priyam Garg, Virat Singh