Shahbaz Nadeem IPL 2020: Has SRH spinner played for them in the past?

Shahbaz Nadeem: Sunrisers Hyderabad have included a tried an tested spinner in the Indian domestic circuit in their lineup.

During the 29th match of the ongoing 13th season of the Indian Premier League between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Dubai, Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has won the toss and chose to bat for the first time this season.

“We’re batting first. Yes, for a change. Last few games we wanted to bat first, but never got the opportunity. The thing with stats is that you can get it any way you want to. It’s a process and it’s quicker if the guys buy into it, and follow the process. As I said, each game will have new problems.

“Today it will be about how we counter the shorter boundary one on side. Cricket is very close to life and it doesn’t always go the way you want. It teaches you what you want to follow as a process,” Dhoni said during the toss.

As far as the changes for Chennai are concerned, they have included veteran spinner Piyush Chawla in for batsman Narayan Jagadeesan to strengthen their bowling unit. In six IPL 2020 T20s, Chawla’s six wickets have come at an average of 25.16, an economy rate of 8.88 and a strike rate of 17.

Has Shahbaz Nadeem played for SRH before?

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner also expressed an intention to bat first at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Having defeated Super Kings earlier in the tournament, SRH would be hoping to produce a similar result tonight.

“Yes, that’s probably how everybody is going around these days. Interested to see how the wicket is going to play. There is a bigger boundary on one side and need to make the batters play there.

“I’m really enjoying it [captaincy] and having Kane [Williamson] also helps. Really enjoying the group that we have,” Warner said during the toss.

Much like CSK, Hyderabad have also made a lone change in the form of including spinner Shahbaz Nadeem for all-rounder Abhishek Sharma. While the move will weaken Sunrisers’ batting unit by a bit, it undoubtedly bolsters their bowling unit.

In the 10 overs that Sharma bowled for SRH in seven matches this season, he had picked a couple of wickets at an average of 45.50, an economy rate of 9.10 and a strike rate of 30.

Nadeem, who had made his Test debut against South Africa a year ago, will be playing his fourth match for Sunrisers. After spending eight season at Delhi Capitals, Nadeem had joined SRH last year. In three T20s for Hyderabad last year, the left-arm spinner had dismissed two batsmen at an average of 45, an economy rate of 10 and a strike rate of 27.