IPL 2018: Sunrisers Hyderabad squad analysis

Batting

Pocket size dynamo Warner has performed consistently for the franchise

Skipper David Warner (641 runs in 14 matches in IPL 2017) is the primary source of attack in the batting unit and when he bats through the innings after coming in to open, Hyderabad end up scoring the desirable amount of runs.

Along with him India’s Shikhar Dhawan (479 runs in 14 matches in IPL 2017) will open the innings. Given the form that Dhawan has been in lately, the left-handed duo will make for a wonderful opening pair at the top and the SRH will hope for a lot of runs from these two.

At No. 3 and 4, Manish Pandey and Kane Williamson respectively will find themselves in the middle and are reliable batsmen in the T20 format. Pandey is a good addition in the top order and is an excellent fielder as well.

Williamson, who is often said to be one of the best in the world silently goes about his job. And with Williamson around, the game is not yet over for the opponent team.

Apart from them, SRH has Wriddhiman Saha (famous for his hundred in the finals of IPL 2014) who can play a few cameos later in the innings and is one of the best when it comes to sheer wicket-keeping abilities.

The likes of Shreevats Goswami (average of 39.77 in List A career), Tanmay Agarwal (averaging 38.61 in List A career), Sachin Baby (averaging 39.80 in List A career) will be fighting for a place in the team as the proven match-winning all-rounders may be preferred over these emerging talents.

The inconsistency of big hitters in the batting order like Yusuf Pathan and Carlos Brathwaite seems to be the only area of concern. Also, if one of the starting batmen is injured or not available for selection, the bench does not boast of a suitable replacement in the batting unit.