SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) led by David Warner recently became the fourth and final team to qualify for the IPL 2020 playoffs with a resounding 10-wicket win over defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) on Tuesday in the last group match.
SRH have reaped the benefits of performing brilliantly in their last three matches winning all three to bag a playoff spot. SRH would play against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Eliminator at Abu Dhabi on 6th November.
David Warner Feels Good After Dreadful Loss Against Kings XI Punjab
Winning captain David Warner, who after a quiet start is now placed second in the list of leading run-getters in the tournament by amassing 529 runs in 14 matches averaging 44.08, has revealed that they tried their best to turn off a string of impressive performance following a 12-run loss to Kings XI Punjab, which promised to jeopardize their playoff chances.
“It feels good now after that dreadful loss against KXIP. They rested a few players but to hold them to 150 on this ground was great. A lot of credit goes to the bowlers, Nadeem was superb. We were trying to be as clinical with the bat then, and it feels good. We try and put our best foot forward, and that stems from the franchise owners,” David Warner said after the match.
Kings XI Punjab won by 12 runs after successfully defending a paltry 126/7 while SunRisers Hyderabad came back strongly in the next two games defeating Delhi by 88 runs and Mumbai by 10 wickets.
“They are great people and it is like a family. We have a never say die attitude and that is how we approach each game. We had a couple of injuries but they are here in spirit and we are doing it for them. Kane missed out due to injury last year and Jonny took his place, and was absolutely fantastic. But that happens in franchise cricket, we can play only four overseas players.”
David Warner’s team have been plagued by injury concerns to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mitchell Marsh and Vijay Shankar. Still, the replacements like Jason Holder have delivered on every occasion whereas the bowlers led by spinner Rashid Khan have been economical. Rashid Khan is their leading wicket-taker with 19 wickets in 14 matches averaging 15.57 conceding runs at an exceptional economy rate of 5.28 which is the least among bowlers.
David Warner Cited Example Of 2016 When They Lifted The Title
David Warner mentioned how SRH face a scenario similar to the one they did in 2016, the first and the only year they lifted their maiden IPL title. Like this season, four years ago, SRH were placed similarly and finished 3rd tied on points with Bangalore and Kolkata with 16 points. They performed splendidly in the playoffs to win the title, beating a team they will face in the Eliminator on Friday, Royal Challengers Bangalore.
“We looked at 2016, we were in the same situation where we had to win every game to win the title. A dropped chance by Rashid Khan and his reaction shows how much it means to him. If we can take this performance and momentum into the next game, we’ll be really happy,” Warner said.
“I pride myself on getting my team to a great start. That is my duty, my job. Fortunately, the last few games have been great and we have been able to go in a positive manner. RCB are a great team, very well led by Virat. They have a lot of danger in their side. We beat them in the final in 2016 and I am excited for the challenge in a do or die game.”
SunRisers Hyderabad beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 22 runs in the eliminator and then beat defunct Gujarat Lions by four wickets before beating Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by eight runs in a thrilling final where RCB fought but ended nine runs short of the target of 209. Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli scored the fifties to propel Bangalore but failed to see their team cross the winning line.