Warner was with us in spirit last season: Yusuf Pathan
opener was roped in by Delhi Capitals. Dhawan hit 497 runs and was the team’s second highest run-scorer last year.
Pathan said the team management will have to push someone up the order and as matches go by, the picture would be clearer.
“In Dhawan’s absence, we will have to push someone up the order. With more matches, the picture will become clear,” he said.
Sunrisers will be without many of their foreign recruits, including Afghan spinner Rashid Khan, at the back end of the season as they will leave for international commitments.
Asked if the Kane Williamsonled side would go all out from the outset to make the most of their full set of players, Pathan said: “It won’t be tough only for us. The top overseas players of all the franchises will go back to their respective countries. Every team have their own back-up options ready and we are no different.”
On Rashid, Pathan said besides his brilliant leg-break, his batting is also a huge plus for the team.
“He has the experience of playing in most of the countries, be it Afghanistan, Australia or New Zealand. He is hugely experienced. It’s a big plus point that he is in fine shape, not only with the ball, but with the bat as well,” he said.
Pathan also stressed on SRH bowling coach and legendary Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan’s tips, which are proving very handy as far as his own bowling is concerned.
“He guided me as to where the landing foot should be and also where my right leg should be at the time of delivery. He spoke about the position of my front arm and where I should be looking. He also spoke about the speed of my bowling arm and how it should come down...so that helped,” he said. “When you are in the game, you don’t always realise what are the areas you need to work on. But when someone like Murali guides you, you get an idea. He not only guides me, but everyone in the team.” IANS