IPL 2020: SWOT Analysis of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

Over the last few years, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have grown to be one of the most consistent sides in the Indian Premier League (IPL). They won the tournament in 2016, beating Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the final. Since then, they’ve made it to the top four every season, and even finished second in 2018. This year too, Hyderabad will be looking to maintain their consistent run.

Like most teams that get to the top and stay there, SRH too have realised the importance of keeping their ‘core’ intact. That core has only gone from strength to strength, with the likes of David Warner, Kane Williamson, Rashid Khan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar establishing themselves in the set up. Add the Manish Pandeys and Jonny Bairstows, and SRH have a team to beat.

The Sunrisers finished fourth in the 2019 edition of the India IPL to qualify for the playoffs, but tasted defeat in the Eliminator against the Delhi Capitals (DC). For IPL 2020, they have made a few changes to their squad and appear ready to firmly contend for the title.

SRH will be without their star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who was released after being banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for failing to report approaches from bookies. In the auction, they made some smart buys while focusing on acquiring young Indian talent.

Before David Warner’s side attempted to win their second title in IPL 2020, we carefully analyse the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of the SRH squad.

New Additions: Priyam Garg, Virat Singh, Mitchell Marsh, Fabian Allen, Sandeep Bavanaka, Sanjay Yadav, Abdul Samad

Players bought: Seven

Full squad: Kane Williamson, David Warner, Manish Pandey, Virat Singh, Priyam Garg, Abdul Samad, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Sandeep Sharma, Siddharth Kaul, Billy Stanlake, T Natarajan, Abhishek Sharma, Shahbaz Nadeem, Mitchell Marsh, Fabian Allen, Vijay Shankar, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Sanjay Yadav, Jonny Bairstow, Wriddhiman Saha, Shreevats Goswami, Bavanaka Sandeep.

Strengths

Opening combination

Captain David Warner and Jonny Bairstow are arguably the best opening combination in IPL 2020, and both batsmen are expected to be absolute nightmares for opposition bowlers over the course of the tournament.

While Warner is the leading run-scorer among overseas players in IPL history, Bairstow had a splendid debut season last year. The Englishman forms a dangerous right-left combination with his captain, and SRH might win many games while the field restrictions are still in place.

Potent and well-rounded spin-attack

One of the major factors behind teams’ success in IPL 2020 will be their spin-attacks, given the characteristics of the pitches on offer in the UAE. And SRH have a very well-rounded spin attack that is spearheaded by Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan. Rashid is ably supported by countryman Mohammad Nabi, who was in incredible form for the St Lucia Zouks in the 2020 Caribbean Premier League.

Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem is very accurate with his lines and lengths, and has an arsenal of variations for a finger-spinner. SRH also have spin-bowling all-rounders in Fabian Allen, Sanjay Yadav, Abdul Samad and Abhishek Sharma.

Enviable blend of youth and experience

A quality of SRH’s IPL 2020 squad that stands out is their near-perfect blend of experience and youth. In David Warner, Kane Williamson, Mohammad Nabi and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, they have players who have been playing international cricket for a very long time, and know the ropes as well as anyone in the game of cricket.

And on the other hand, they have a host of young players who could shine when given chances – Virat Singh, Sanjay Yadav, Abdul Samad, Abhishek Sharma, Priyam Garg and Khaleel Ahmed to name a few.