IPL 2019: 3 fresh faces SRH could play against RR

Sunrisers Hyderabad lost their first IPL match against the Kolkata Knight Riders due to an explosive comeback from Andre Russel. They will next play Rajasthan Royals on 29th March at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

The Hyderabad pitch offers more to the bowlers than the Eden Gardens, and SRH have always had one of the best bowling line-ups in the IPL. In addition to having the number one ranked T20 bowler Rashid Khan in their ranks, SRH also have experienced swing bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Sandeep Sharma.

As both teams have lost their maiden encounters, the match will be crucial for them to make a mark on the points table. With David Warner's form with the bat and Rashid Khan's tight bowling, SRH would like to fancy their chances against RR.

So here are 3 new faces the Sun Risers Hyderabad could play against Rajasthan Royals!

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#3- Thangarasu Natarajan

Thangarasu Natarajan is a left arm medium fast bowler

T. Natarajan was bought by Kings XI Punjab in 2017 for ₹3 crore but he had a rather unimpressive season. He became a part of the SRH squad for the current season when SRH bought him for ₹40 lakh.

The 27-year-old left-arm pacer from Salem is known for his consistent yorkers which could prove very beneficial in the death overs. Many bowlers have incorporated slower balls, back of the hand deliveries and cross-seam deliveries in their repertoire for the death overs but the yorker still remains the most efficient tool.

SRH played four pacers in their match against KKR in the form of captain Bhuvneswar Kumar, all-rounder Vijay Shankar and the frontline pacers - Siddharth Kaul and Sandeep Sharma.

Adding a left-hander to the mix would require the batsmen to adjust their strategies with the changed dynamic of a left-armer.

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#2- Martin Guptill

Martin Guptill is a right-handed batsman from New Zealand

Often counted amongst the best limited-overs batsmen in the world, Guptill would be a great addition to the Orange Army's top order.

In their previous match, Warner played a wonderful comeback inning of 85 runs off only 53 deliveries, whereas Johnny Bairstow played a slow but steady knock of 39 from 35 balls.

The Kiwi batsman has previously played for the Mumbai Indians and the Kings XI Punjab. He is the holder of the second-highest individual score in ODI cricket - 237, which he made against the West Indies at Wellington.

Being an overseas player reduces the available spots for him, Warner and Rashid Khan are key to SRH's success, so Guptill could replace either the all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan or the opening batsman cum wicketkeeper Johnny Bairstow.

The former would disrupt the balance of the side whereas the latter would require someone else to take up the gloves. SRH have two keepers in reserve in the form of Wriddhiman Saha and Shreevats Goswami.

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1- Mohammad Nabi

Mohammad Nabi is an all-rounder from Afghanistan

The former Afganistan captain has played in almost all the major T20 leagues around the world, gaining much experience.

He has featured in the Big Bash, the IPl, the PSL, the BPL, the Carribean T20 League and the maiden Afghan Premier League, making his mark everywhere. A key figure in the rise of Afghan cricket, Nabi was the first from his country to be drafted into an IPL side in 2017.

An all-rounder who can bowl economically in the middle overs and can be an explosive batter in the death overs, Nabi could replace fellow all-rounder Shakib.

He was bought by SRH for ₹30 lakhs in 2017 and played only three matches. He went under the hammer again next year only to become a part of the Orange Army again and yet, he played only two matches in the tournament.

The fierce competition in the SRH squad has resulted in fewer matches for Nabi. This year, his skills could be tested early in the tournament in a spinner friendly pitch in Hyderabad.

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