IPL 2020: Match 3, SRH vs RCB – SRH Predicted Playing XI

The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), in the last few seasons, has been one of the best performing teams in the IPL. After winning the title in 2016, they haven’t been able to go the distance. However, they managed to make it to the playoffs in the next three seasons of the tournament. In 2018, they were the runners-up. With a strong team on the paper, they look set for another season.

At the IPL auction held last year, they tried up plug a few holes in the squad. The team has got a few exciting, young players in their ranks. Moreover, there is a change in the leadership group. After two seasons, David Warner is back as the skipper of the side. Tom Moody is now replaced by Trevor Bayliss as the Head Coach. This duo will be hoping to bring about some positive changes in this season.

Here is the Predicted Playing XI for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH):

Openers (David Warner (c), Jonny Bairstow (wk))

The duo of David Warner and Jonny Bairstow instantly clicked as an opening pair. Last year, till the time they were available, the consistently provided SRH with some brilliant starts and also broke a few records in the process. This England-Australia pair, contrary to what many imagined, have complemented each other quite well.

Jonny Bairstow is coming into this game off a wonderful century in the 3rd ODI against Australia. He will draw a lot of confidence from that knock. David Warner, on the other hand, irrespective of how he does in the other games, is a different beast altogether in the IPL. The skipper will have a massive role to play for SRH as always.

Middle Order (Manish Pandey, Priyam Garg, Abdul Samad)

Manish Pandey has done quite well for the team at number three last year. It is pretty much likely that he will continue at that position. Two of SRH’s latest young recruits, Priyam Garg and Abdul Samad, might get an opportunity in the middle order. Garg scored 227 runs in 10 T20 innings thus far and can look to play the anchor at number four.

As far as Abdul Samad is concerned, there has been a lot of talk about him. He is known to be a big hitter of the ball and can either be used as a floater or a finisher. The youngster from Jammu and Kashmir is expected to provide a solution to the SRH finishing woes.

All-Rounders (Vijay Shankar, Mohammed Nabi)

Vijay Shankar might bat at five helping Priyam Garg to be sandwiched between Pandey and himself. Shankar didn’t reach the expectations with the bat last year. He is expected to perform better this season and help provide a solution to the middle-order problems. He could have a role to play with the ball as well.

Mohammed Nabi could get preference over Kane Williamson. Nabi provides the team with the flexibility as he can bat lower down the order and score some quick runs. Moreover, he can bowl three overs in the powerplay and save someone like Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the death overs.

Bowlers (Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Shahbaz Nadeem)

Rashid Khan will be the fourth overseas player in the SRH eleven. He is an invaluable asset to them and can chip in with the bat too. Teams have often looked to play it safe against him in recent times which means he’ll give at least four economical overs if not the wickets. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, meanwhile, will be handling the death overs and one or two overs at the top.

Khaleel Ahmed was picked up in the eleven after a few games last season but boy, he created a huge impact. He picked up 19 wickets in 9 games and will definitely be in the starting eleven. The last spot in the side, however, is slightly tricky. Siddarth Kaul, Shahbaz Nadeem and Sandeep Sharma are the options. They are likely to go with the spinner considering the pitches. Otherwise, they would most probably go with Kaul since he hits the deck hard.