5 most expensive buys for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL auctions

#4 David Warner (US$820,000)

Warner led from the front last year

Warner was bought by the Hyderabad franchise in 2014 even though he had a hefty price tag attached to him. The team mentored by VVS Laxman needed a swashbuckling opener to help them get off to fliers. And Warner did precisely that.

In2015 Warner managed to score 562 runs from 14 matches but could not help his team qualify for the playoffs. However, last year he led from the front as a captain by tonking it to all parts of the ground with his bat.

At times he was devastating but on several occasions, he donned the hat of a sheet anchor. The 30-year-old smashed 848 runs in 17 games last year with a mean of 60.57. He scored 9 fifties in the tournament with a best score of 93 not out.

In the final, it was Warner’s 69 of 38 balls which paved the way for the Sunrisers to get to a massive 208/7 in 20 overs. This season too he will be a key player for the franchise who have high hopes of defending the trophy.