Spin-pace balance gives Hyderabad cutting edge

SUNRISERS HYDERABAD have been dealt a blow with David Warner’s ban but the team’s strategic buys still make them a force to reckon with

NEWDELHI: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), into its sixth year in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has put up fairly consistent show so far. The 2016 champions would again be expected to go the distance in the T20 cricket extravaganza, starting April 7.

Their biggest conundrum even before the league had started was how the team would move forward after the BCCI’S ban on David Warner. That was finally addressed on Thursday when Kane Williamson was chosen the captain.

Among the two players retained by the franchise in this year’s auctions, Warner’s presence could have gone a long way in influencing their fate though Shikhar Dhawan’s recent limited-overs form is encouraging.

The other player retained, and for the right reasons too, is Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The top wicket-taker two IPL seasons in a row, there is probably no one better than Bhuvneshwar Kumar when it comes to T20 bowling. Afghan Rashid Khan too is expected to tweak some magic again.

Hyderabad’s biggest buy in this year’s auction is Manish Pandey who comes with a reputation of winning crunch matches and should fit well in the middle order.

Along with Wriddhiman Saha, who recently scored a century off 20 balls in club cricket, this middle order has the potential to turn around matches in a matter of few deliveries.

And when you consider strategic buys like Yusuf Pathan, Carlos Brathwaite and Shakib Al Hasan, this Sunrisers Hyderabad squad looks locked and loaded to fire.their support staff consisting Tom Moody, VVS Laxman, Muttiah Muralitharan also adds to their strength.