Strengths
Sunrisers Hyderabad batting line-up comprises quality Indian batsmen - Shikhar Dhawan, Manish Pandey, Deepak Hooda - arguably one of the best Indian batting trio among eight IPL franchises. Dhawan is coming at the back of a successful Nidahas Trophy where he was India's highest run-scorer. Manish Pandey, bought for Rs 11 crore, is adept at rotating strike plus will bring a wealth of experience, having now been a consistent part of India's limited over setup. His calm mind and proven match-winning abilities will lend stability to Sunriser's middle order. In Deepak Hooda, SRH posses one of India's most explosive uncapped batsman who can also roll his arm over.
In the bowling department, SRH have two of world's foremost T20 bowlers - Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rashid Khan. Bhuvneshwar adroitness combined with the dexterity of Rashid Khan will keep batsmen honest and will make sure that opposition will have to hit the ground running.
Wriddhiman Saha's presence behind stumps will make sure that no effort of bowlers goes in vain. The presence of Shakib Al Hasan, Carlos Brathwaite, Mohammad Nabi, Chris Jordan provides SRH quality all-rounders who worth their weight in gold.
Sunrisers Hyderabad batting line-up comprises quality Indian batsmen - Shikhar Dhawan, Manish Pandey, Deepak Hooda - arguably one of the best Indian batting trio among eight IPL franchises. Dhawan is coming at the back of a successful Nidahas Trophy where he was India's highest run-scorer. Manish Pandey, bought for Rs 11 crore, is adept at rotating strike plus will bring a wealth of experience, having now been a consistent part of India's limited over setup. His calm mind and proven match-winning abilities will lend stability to Sunriser's middle order. In Deepak Hooda, SRH posses one of India's most explosive uncapped batsman who can also roll his arm over.
In the bowling department, SRH have two of world's foremost T20 bowlers - Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rashid Khan. Bhuvneshwar adroitness combined with the dexterity of Rashid Khan will keep batsmen honest and will make sure that opposition will have to hit the ground running.
Wriddhiman Saha's presence behind stumps will make sure that no effort of bowlers goes in vain. The presence of Shakib Al Hasan, Carlos Brathwaite, Mohammad Nabi, Chris Jordan provides SRH quality all-rounders who worth their weight in gold.
Weaknesses
With BCCI banning David Warner from participating in this year's IPL due to his part in ball tampering scandal that hit the sporting world - means that SRH will not only be without the explosive southpaw from Australia but will also be devoid of his services as a captain - around which their 2016 IPL triumph was built. In Warner's absence, Kane Williamson will do honors as a captain. The problem lies in the fact that from time to time Kane's abilities as a T20 cricketer has been questioned. Though Kane Williamson comes across as a smart player but captaining in world's best T20 league will be a challenge. Especially, if his own form wanes and he no longer commands a place in the team as one of four overseas picks then SRH can be in a heap of trouble. The last thing that an IPL team will want is changing of captain mid-season.
Opportunities
Deepak Hooda can use the eleventh edition of IPL to showcase selectors his power-hitting prowess. With Indian team management searching for players who can play finishing role in the long term, they will surely have an eye on this prospect from Baroda who had a good Vijay Hazare tournament amassing 352 runs at an average of 50.28.
Barring Bhuvneshwar Kumar, none of SRH bowlers have quite established themselves. So, IPL will provide an opportunity to likes of Sandeep Sharma, Basil Thampi, T Natarajan, Siddarth Kaul to exhibit their potential and push a case for Indian call-up. Especially, Siddarth Kaul who has been around the domestic circuit for the last eleven years will be itching to use this season of IPL to manifest his cricketing acumen to larger Indian IPL consuming audience.
Threats
Absence of an outright, proven T20 finisher can prove to a major obstacle in Sunriser's Hyderabad quest for second IPL triumph. Though they have likes of Deepak Hooda, Shakib Al Hasan, Carlos Brathwaite, Yusuf Pathan to fill up that coveted role but none of these have a reputation of being a consistent finisher.
Likely first XI
1. Kane Williamson(Captain), 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Manish Pandey, 4. Deepak Hooda, 5. Shakib Al Hasan, 6. Carlos Brathwaite/ Mohhamad Nabi, 7. Wriddhiman Saha(Wicketkeeper) , 8. Rahid Khan 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar 10. Basil Thampi/ T Natarajan 11. Bipul Sharma/Sandeep Sharma/Siddarth Kaul
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