2013 Champions League T20 team preview: Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Last year the BCCI terminated the Hyderabad IPL franchise, Deccan Chargers due to some irregularities in the IPL management. Soon Sun Network won the rights for owning the Hyderabad Franchise.

But when the 2013 IPL arrived, they proved the T20 bullies that test match bowling will be effective in the shortest form of the game as well. They finished fourth in the IPL standings and lost the eliminator against Rajasthan Royals making things difficult for themselves in qualifying for the 2013 Champions League T20.

The team finishing fourth in the IPL will have to finish in the top 2 in the qualifying tournament in order to take part in the main rounds of CLT20. Now the Sunrisers have to fight Kandurata Maroons, Otago Volts and Faisalabad Wolves for a spot in the main round.

They will be without their regular skipper Kumar Sangakara who opted to represent Maroons instead of Sunrisers. So Cameron White will lead them in the tournament. Here is the preview of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2013 CLT20.

Squad:

Captain: Cameron White

Coach: Tom Moody

Batsmen: Shikhar Dhawan, Hanuma Vihari, JP Duminy, Biplab Samantray, Cameron White.

All Rounders: Darren Sammy, Thisara Perera.

Bowlers: Dale Steyn, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra, Karan Sharma, Anand Rajan, Asahish Reddy.

Wicket Keepers: Parthiv Patel.

Strengths:

• Presence of two quality all-rounders who can change the outcome of the match in a matter of a few balls.
• The new ball pair of Dale Steyn and Ishant Sharma forms a deadly force together.
• Sunrisers posses a strong top-order that comprises of Shikhar Dhawan, Parthiv Patel and Cameron White.
• Their spin-twins Amit Mishra and Karan Sharma will be useful in Indian conditions.

Weakness:

• Playing their matches outside Hyderabad could prove costly for Sunrisers.
• Chasing huge totals will be a difficult task for Sunrisers.
• Absence of quality Indian middle order batsmen.

X-Factor:

After the consistent failures of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir in the national team, the selectors had a tough time in picking the replacement for the seasoned openers. After an exceptional 2012 IPL and domestic season, the selectors chose Shikhar Dhawan as the suitable replacement for Sehwag.

That decision by Sandip Patil and co. proved to be master stroke as Dhawan made the opener’s slot his own with some breath-taking performances. He was the leading run scorer of ICC Champions Trophy and continued his good form in the recent A tour in South Africa where India A took on Australia A and South Africa A in a triangular tournament. In that the dashing southpaw stroked his way to a scintillating 248 off 150 balls in a 50 over game.

He is in the form of his life and he holds key in Sunrisers chances of having a decent outing in CLT20. The Sunrisers would expect Dhawan to fire at the top and set the platform for the batsmen down the order to finish the innings in style.

Players to watch out for:

All Rounders plays an important role in T20 cricket. Sunrisers are lucky enough to use the services of two destructive all rounders in the world at present. The presence of Thisara Perera and Darren Sammy in their squad gives them a much needed stability and team balance. They are hard hitters of the cricket ball and can hit the balls miles into the crowd. They are responsible for finishing Sunrisers’ innings with a flourish. Apart from their hard hitting strengths, they are also decent bowlers who not only check the run flow but also account for some crucial wickets. Darren Sammy is an acrobatic fielder whereas Perera is a decent fielder who has safe pair of hands. The all round twins needs to work in tandem to lead Sunrisers’ charge in CLT20. Darren Sammy might also be used as the skipper of the side in case the management wishes to go in JP Duminy ahead of their regular skipper Cameron White.

With the leg spinners disappearing gradually from the cricketing scene, Amit Mishra provides a new lease of life for the dying art. At present, he is the most underrated spinner in the country. He catches everyone’s eye during each and every season of the Ranji Trophy as well as the IPL and later disappears from the scheme of things due to the presence some world class spinners in the Indian lineup. He always believed that he can make a comeback into the national side and didn’t give up in the process.

After a sensational 2013 IPL, he was drafted into the Indian side that won the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy and the tour to Zimbabwe would be the turning point in his career. He finished the series with 18 wickets and was declared the Player of the Tournament. In the 2013 IPL, he led Sunrisers’ to a top 4 finish and the team management will hope similar kind of effort from the Haryana tweaker in the CLT20 as well.

Possible Playing XI:

Shikhar Dhawan, Parthiv Patel, Hanuma Vihari, Cameron White, Biplab Samantray, Thisara Perera, Darren Sammy, Dale Steyn, Amit Mishra, Karan Sharma, Ishant Sharma.

Sunrisers Hyderabad Schedule:

Tuesday 17 September v Maroons in Mohali

Wednesday 18 September v Wolves in Mohali

Friday 20 September v Otago in Mohali