Aakash Chopra, a renowned cricket boffin, has revealed the loopholes Sunrisers Hyderabad team has as they enter to play the 13th edition of the IPL in the UAE from 19 September.
While doing the SWOT analysis of the Hyderabad-based team in his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra explained that SRH has no proper finisher in their batting line up though they have a heavy top-order.
He also observed that the franchise can not place all their main overseas players David Warner, Jonny Bairstow, Kane Williamson in the playing XI. The reason being to create space for Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan.
“The lack of a finisher is a problem for this team because you have Warner, Bairstow, Williamson and Manish Pandey in the top order. And all four of them will not play because if all three of Warner, Bairstow and Williamson play, then only one out of Rashid and Nabi can play,” Aakash Chopra said.
Aakash Chopra also expressed that they don’t have depth in their batting line up because of inexperienced players. He explained that Vijay Shankar, Virat Singh, Priyam Garg are all young guns but not trusted finishers. So, it a serious concern for the franchise.
“After Manish Pandey they have Vijay Shankar, Virat Singh, Priyam Garg – all Indian names and none of them is a big name who could prove to be trusted finisher. So, they are a top heavy side but do not have much depth in their batting order.”
SRH’s bowling unit has petered off a little of late: Aakash Chopra
As for the bowling attack of SRH, the former Indian cricketer expressed that they have lost the old shine. He said that bowlers like Sandeep Sharma, Siddarth Kaul, Khaleel and Basil Thampi had not given up to the scratch performances in past seasons.
“Even the bowling has been very good on paper but they have petered off a little of late. They are not the same bowling unit. Bowlers like Sandeep Sharma, Siddarth Kaul, Khaleel and Basil Thampi have not been producing enough match-winning performances.
Aakash Chopra also noted that SRH has also no proper match-winning team combination. As per him, the franchise has to still finalize the four overseas players to be fielded in their playing XI, with Billy Stanlake and Mitchell Marsh also being potential candidates.
“Sunrisers Hyderabad’s potential threat is the combination they are going to use, regarding which four overseas players to be played. They will even want to play Billy Stanlake because he has pace and they have Mitchell Marsh as well who is an all-rounder.
He remarked that SRH would have to sooner find out the best playing XI to register a victory in IPL 2020.
“But if those two play, what will happen to Nabi and Rashid and how will you play Kane Williamson. So deciding the right combination would be the biggest threat for them. Because teams that figure out their ideal combination early are successful in the IPL,” Aakash Chopra said.
Meanwhile, David Warner led SRH will play their first match of the tournament against Royal Challengers Bangalore on 21 September.