SRH Predicted Playing XI vs KKR: Sportsrush presents before you SRH’s Predicted Playing XI for their first match of IPL 2019 against KKR.
Playing uber-smart in the auctions this year, Sunrisers Hyderabad complemented their wealth in the bowling department by purchasing two overseas top-order batsmen in Martin Guptill and Jonny Bairstow and and an re-buying an Indian wicket-keeper batsman in Wridhiman Saha.
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It is these smart and calculated decisions which make Hyderabad one of the most dominant forces on paper in the IPL. Having covered most bases, the think tank has now left it on the players for if they play to their potential, they should end up winning the title.
Having won their maiden title in 2016, the franchise would be looking to repeat the feat this year. Below is their Predicted Playing XI for the first match of 2019 against KKR at Eden Gardens, Kolkata:
Top-order
There is not even an iota of doubt in Sunrisers Hyderabad being bolstered by the return of their former captain in David Warner. Despite him not likely to be available for the whole season, his presence will aid SRH at the top of the order.
Accompanying Warner to face the new ball will be Hyderabad’s captain in Kane Williamson. Williamson not just took the reigns from Warner last year, but also took the responsibility of scoring runs consistently from him. Having scored 735 runs in 17 matches at an average of 52.50 and a strike rate of 142.44 including eight half-centuries, Williamson was the highest run-scorer in the last season.
Wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha missed the a major chunk of cricket after he got injured in the IPL. Back fit in the same tournament, he would be looking to make a mark for selection at the highest level. While Saha’s batting position is debatable, him batting at No. 3 seems the best possible option for the whole team.
Middle-order
Having scored 284 runs in 15 matches at an average of 25.81 and a strike rate of 115.44, Manish Pandey had a mediocre 2018 season. With him also not part of the Indian team anymore and Sunrisers backing him, Pandey would be desperate to payback their faith in him. Moreover, leading Karnataka to Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is highly likely of giving him the much-needed confidence.
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will continue to perform his dual duties at Sunrisers. Given his expertise, he will unequivocally hold the key in both the divisions for the franchise.
With all that he has done for India in the last two months, this season of the IPL has it in it to be career-defining for Vijay Shankar. A stellar performance in the season will not just earn him a ticket to England but should also see him finding a place in India’s playing XI during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.
At No. 7, Sunrisers Hyderabad have the cushion of picking one out of the Baroda all-rounder duo of Yusuf Pathan and Deepak Hooda. Given the impact which he can create in the slog overs, there is a feeling that the former is likely to win this battle.
Bowlers
Currently No. 1 and No. 3 in ICC T20I and ODI Rankings respectively, Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan will be looking to contribute with another sound performance in IPL 2019. With Shakib already likely to be in the playing XI, the pair has it in it to dominate the opposition batsmen.
Other than Rashid, Hyderabad also have plentiful Indian pacers. With vice-captain Bhuvneshwar Kumar leading their bowling attack for quite sometime now, Siddarth Kaul and Khaleel Ahmed would be hoping to continue doing the good for the franchise. Having played a lone IPL match till now, it will be a testing season for the latter.
SRH’s Predicted Playing XI for their first match against KKR – 1) David Warner 2) Kane Williamson (c) 3) Wriddhiman Saha (wk) 4) Manish Pandey 5) Shakib Al Hasan 6) Vijay Shankar 7) Yusuf Pathan 8) Rashid Khan 9) Bhuvneshwar Kumar 10) Siddarth Kaul 11) Khaleel Ahmed
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