Batting a major Concern for srh
IPL with
The first week of the tournament has been hugely disappointingng for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Two defeatsefeats in two matches – both of which couldd have been won – does not reflect well on thehe team’s tactics or de-determination. On Saturday, the Sunrisers play defend-defending champions Mumbai Indians, a dauntingdaunting task to get their first points in this tournament. Against the Kolkata Knight Ridersers in the first match, Hyderabad at least made a fist of a stiffiff run chase (188 was the target), falling 10 runs short despitepite losing openers Da-david Warner and Wriddhiman Saha cheaply.heaply.
But in the next game against the Royaloyal Challengers Ban-bangalore, it was an ignominious collapsepse from 96-1 to 143 for nine, chasing 150.
A brittle batting line-up seems to bee at the core of Hydera-hyderabad’s problems. They are heavily dependentpendent on three bats-batsmen – David Warner, Jonny Bairstoww and Manish Pandey – for runs, which means at least two off the three must score big for the team to win. That hasn’t happenedappened so far.
Warner made a blistering half-centurytury against the RCB, Bairstow had a decent outing againstt the KKR, and while Pandey made runs in both matches, he’s taken some flak for his failure to take the team to victory.ory.
In fact, some former players and commentators are of the view that Pandey should make way for some other batsman.
Where can SRH look for batting sustenance? The squad is rich with talent, but findingng the best combination has become a vexing issuessue for the team management.
The classy Kane Williamson andd the aggressive Jason Roy, would walk intoto any side, but the problem for SRH is that theyhey can field only four overseas players.
With Warner and Rashid Khan as certainties,ertainties, and given Bairstow’s prowess in whitee ball cricket, it limits opportunities for changes.
Even if some changes in batting aree to be considered, it can’t come at the cost of Jason Holder/er/mohammad Nabi as this would weaken the bowling attack.ck.
The Sunrisers bowling has been impressive,pressive, though the fast bowlers went for plenty in the openingening match against the KKR on a flat track.
Rashid Khan, expectedly, has beenn the linchpin of the attack, but the others also came good against the RCB only to be let down by the batting.
Mumbai also haven’t hit their best form in batting, but their bowling has been quite superb, especiallyspecially against the KKR, when they fought back from a virtual no-win situa-situation through the leg spin of Rahul Chaharhahar and the swing and seam mastery of Jasprit Bumrah andnd Trent Boult.
There are no selection issues for Mumbai. The right combination, at least for this phase of the tournament, has been found, and players are finding theireir groove swiftly.
Big scores from Rohit Sharma, Kieronn Pollard and Hardik Pandya are awaited, but overall, the defendingefending champions have begun to flex their muscles.
Of course, T20 is a topsy-turvy format,mat, and no team can take results for granted. But it will take some-something special from the struggling Sunrisersisers to win this match.