IPL 2020: Aakash Chopra Didn’t Expect Sunrisers Hyderabad To Qualify For Playoffs

Nov 7, 2020 at 5:56 PM

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IPL 2020: Aakash Chopra Didn’t Expect Sunrisers Hyderabad To Qualify For Playoffs

Aakash Chopra, the former Indian batsman and commentator, has acknowledged that he did not expect the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) to make it to playoffs in IPL 2020. He lauded the efforts of the team, who have made it through to Qualifier 2 after going on an admirable winning run.

Aakash Chopra made this observation while reviewing the David Warner-led side’s win against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in a video shared on his YouTube channel.

Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra (Image Credit: Facebook)

Aakash Chopra: Felt SunRisers Hyderabad Didn’t Have Potential

Aakash Chopra acknowledged that he never thought the SunRisers Hyderabad would be one of the contenders for the IPL 2020 title, considering that the team is heavily dependent on its top order. A couple of bowlers, one of whom was injured and ruled out of IPL 2020.

“To be very honest, I didn’t feel that the Sunrisers Hyderabad had the potential. I had felt that it was an okay team, that they are dependent on the top two or three in the batting and in the bowling they had Rashid and Bhuvi but no one else,” Aakash Chopra said.

Rashid Khan and Wriddhiman Saha.
Rashid Khan and Wriddhiman Saha. Image Credit: IPL.

The renowned commentator pointed out that the SunRisers Hyderabad have played well as a unit and beaten RCB twice and won 4 consecutive matches which is an accomplishment to be praised and proved him to be wrong.

“But it is cricket, whoever plays well proves everyone wrong. And I admit I was not feeling that Hyderabad will reach this far and play in this fashion but they have done that. They have won their fourth consecutive match and have defeated RCB twice in their last four matches. They are a team which is a sum of all parts.”

He added that the SunRisers Hyderabad did not let the injury-induced absence of Wriddhiman Saha hamper them as the duo of Kane Williamson and Jason Holder saw the team through after initial hiccups.

“It felt like the Sunrisers Hyderabad will get stuck in the absence of Saha but that was not the case. They were clinical, they work with such precision. They were outstanding in their bowling.”

Another Bengal wicket-keeper batsman Shreevats Goswami replaced Wriddhiman Saha and opened the innings but failed to score.

Aakash Chopra: Bowling Of Hyderabad Have Been Phenomenal

Aakash Chopra observed that it was an all-round bowling effort by the SunRisers Hyderabad as none of the bowlers conceded more than 35 runs in 4 overs. Sandeep Sharma and Rashid Khan didn’t pick wicket but were economical while pacer T Natarajan picked 2 scalps and spinner Shahbaz Nadeem picked 1 wicket. Jason Holder was the wrecker in chief accounting for 3 wickets to restrict RCB to 131/7.

“Holder took the early wickets with the bounce he was getting. Shahbaz Nadeem bowled very well and no one is able to hit Rashid Khan. They have been phenomenal.”

Talking about the SunRisers Hyderabad run-chase, the former KKR player credited batsman Kane Williamson and Jason Holder for leading them to a win after they were in a spot of bother while batting being 67/4 in 12th over while chasing 132 to win.

“They stumbled a little in their batting but Kane Williamson was there and Jason Holder was there with him, who has taken the onus of finishing the match with the bat. He had hit the winning shot in the last match and this match as well.”

Jason Holder
Jason Holder (Image Credit: IPL)

“I am going with gentle giant Holder. He has been a very good acquisition. He was included after Mitchell Marsh had got injured.”

The 43-year-old pointed out that the lanky pacer made the best use of his height of 6 ft 7 inches to derive extra bounce from the pitch and cause difficulties for the batsmen.

“He gets extra bounce in his bowling and troubles the batsmen by pitching the ball in the right areas and picks wickets. He is not that fast but that pace is not required as he bowls from really high.”

Aakash Chopra signed off by praising all-rounder Jason Holder for remaining calm in the run-chase and steering the SunRisers Hyderabad team to victory.

“He has the temperament to finish the game with the bat. He has the experience and has been outstanding.”

Jason Holder was the standout performer for the SunRisers Hyderabad in an encounter against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. He first accounted for three RCB batsmen, including the prized scalp of Virat Kohli besides Devdutt Padikkal and Shivam Dube. He then saw the team home with an unbroken 65-run partnership with Kane Williamson by remaining unbeaten on 24 besides hitting the winning runs through two consecutive boundaries.

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