IPL 2020: 3 players who could be surplus for SRH

The IPL 2020 is less than three months away and the fans are already excited to see their favorite franchises on the field. Given the history of the league, there are just a few teams who have performed consistently, and Sunrisers Hyderabad are one such team, having made it to the playoffs five times out of seven, winning the tournament once in 2016.

Their squad have always been the most sorted with David Warner and Kane Williamson taking charge of the batting, while the Rashid Khan-Bhuvneshwar Kumar duo have led the attack with the ball. After making it to playoffs in 2019, the team looks settled with sufficient bench strength.

Let us take a look at three players who could prove to be surplus for SRH:

#3 Wriddhiman Saha

Wriddhiman Saha

Wriddhiman Saha has been one of the best wicket-keepers in the country in recent times. Apart from his performances for the national team, he has been a successful player in the IPL. He has played for four franchises accounting to 120 matches. Currently he is with the Sunrisers Hyderabad, who bought him in the 2019 IPL auction. Despite being the go-to keeper, he might not be able to play in all the matches as they have Jony Bairstow and Shreevats Goswami, who are solid behind the stumps.

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Bairstow will probably play all the matches because of the success he found in the previous season along with Warner at the top. If he is given the gloves, there is every possibility that they will play an extra batsman. This rules out Saha’s spot in the starting XI. Given there are injury concerns or a clash in the schedule, Saha or Goswami might be included in the playing squad. This makes him a surplus player for the team.

#2 Fabian Allen

Fabian Allen

SRH have one of the most sorted spin departments for the 2020 IPL. They have the likes of Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Shahbaz Nadeem, who can take on any batsman. Rashid has been the find of IPL in recent times and has single-handedly turned games for the team. Not only has he been effective with the ball, but he is also known for his cameos down the order at an imperious strike rate.

Coming all the way from the Caribbeans is Fabian Allen. Keep an eye out for this man before, during and after the IPL! #IPLAuction #SRH2020Unlocked #OrangeArmy pic.twitter.com/4zj17636BS

— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) December 20, 2019

This means that he is expected to play most games. The other two aforementioned spinners are equally potential if they are given a chance. But as weird as it seems, SRH went for Fabian Allen in the IPL 2020 auctions. The West Indian all-rounder is a left-arm spinner and is an exciting talent who is expected to make it big in the international arena. But with already three top-class spin bowlers and a restriction on a number of foreign players in the playing eleven, it remains to be seen where Allen fits in.

#3 T Natarajan

T Natarajan

The SRH pace attack looks solid led by Bhuvaneshwar Kumar. The other pacers are mostly Indian players, apart from Billy Stanlake. The pace attack has usually consisted of Kumar, Siddharth Kaul and Sandeep Sharma. Kumar has been the most effective quickie with the new ball as well as in death. On the other hand, Kaul has been a rare find for the team as he beats the batsmen with sheer pace.

Sharma is another bowler who is known for his variations which can deceive the batsman. With all these in the attack, it is very difficult to find a place for another pacer. Given that Kumar has been struggling with injuries, someone like Khaleel Ahmed would fill the spot which leaves Basil Thampi and T Natarajan on the bench. Thampi, on one hand, has played more games for the team than Natarajan. Despite being a talented youngster, the team with so many quality fast bowlers will have to consider him as a surplus.