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Sunrisers Hyderabad had an exceptional run in the year 2018. SRH had to deal with a sudden blow as BCCI barred David Warner from IPL 2018 with the reasons best known to us. However, SRH took up the challenge and managed to perform excellently despite Warner's absence.
A trait that defined SRH whole throughout the IPL 2018 was their consistency. With a balanced side up their sleeve, they proved to be lethal for the oppositions across all the departments. Nonetheless, they failed to maintain their consistency in the finals as CSK got better of them on the D-Day and won the silverware.
Despite a settled side at their disposal, SRH made a few changes to their team. The pre-eminent trade that highlighted SRH's 2019 auction season was of letting go the veteran Shikhar Dhawan whom they released to Delhi Capitals in a trade window.
Alongside that, they also released Carlos Braithwaite, Alex Hales, and Wriddhiman Saha. However, they bought back Saha at a lower price in the 2019 IPL Auction. Moreover, the significant deals made by SRH were of acquiring Vijay Shankar, Abhishek Sharma, and Jonny Bairstow.
Thus, having made a look at SRH's dynamics for the upcoming edition, let us have a look at the ideal XI that SRH can field in IPL 2019.
#1 David Warner
David Warner, the Australian left-handed batsman, will be making his comeback to the league after serving a one-year hiatus. Warner's addition will prove to be a big boost for SRH in IPL 2019 as they struggled considerably with their opening combination in IPL 2018.
Moreover, with David on their side, they will not feel the absence of Shikhar Dhawan who was the only positive for Sunrisers in their opening combination at IPL 2018. Although Warner will not be available for the whole of IPL 2019, his presence will unquestionably bolster Hyderabad's top-order. Besides, after David's way back home pending Cricket Australia's guidelines, Sunrisers will have the option of Martin Guptill to fill in the void.
#2 Jonny Bairstow (WK)
One of the areas where SRH didn't fare decently in IPL 2018 was the wicketkeeping slot. None of Shreevats Goswami and Wriddhiman Saha prospered for Hyderabad. Although they didn't do anything evil with the gloves, it was their ineptitude to score runs with the bat that hurt SRH the most.
Thus, having acquired Jonny Bairstow at the auction, it is highly likely that SRH will field Jonny in the opening department alongside Warner. Bairstow along with David will form a fiery pair who will do wonders in the power-play overs. However, Bairstow will head back home after the cut-off date set by English Cricket Board. In Jonny's absenteeism, SRH will bring back any of Goswami or Saha as the gloveman for the remainder of the league.
#3 Kane Williamson (C)
With David Warner's ouster from IPL 2018, no one expected SRH to reach the finals. However, Kane Williamson's brilliant captaincy and batting turned the tables as Hyderabad came out as a force to reckon, under the tutelage of Kane, in IPL 2018.
Williamson amassed 735 runs at an average of 52.50 and a strike-rate of 142.44 - outstanding numbers to have in a league like IPL. With 735 runs to his name, he finished as the highest run-scorer of IPL 2018. Moreover, having taken his team to the finals of IPL 2018, it is very likely that Kane will captain SRH in IPL 2019 as well.
#4 Manish Pandey
Manish Pandey had a forgettable season in IPL 2018 as he failed to deliver the goods for SRH after having bought at a whopping price of INR 11 Crore. He did score 284 runs at an average of 25.81, but it wasn't something that SRH expected of Manish after having made the deal of INR 11 Crore.
Nonetheless, despite his poor run, Hyderabad retained him for IPL 2019. The reason being World Cup 2019 is around the corner, and it would have been difficult to buy back him at a lower price in 2019 IPL Auction. Thus, Manish Pandey will look to perform in IPL 2019 in a bid to get his place back in the Indian team as well.
#5 Yusuf Pathan
Yusuf Pathan, the batting all-rounder from Baroda, had a decent outing, if not the best, with the bat in IPL 2018. Pathan happened to be an influential player in SRH's middle-order at IPL 2018. With an adequate amount of specialist bowlers in their ranks, SRH didn't require Yusuf to bowl much as he just bowled two overs in the tournament.
The Baroda all-rounder notched-up 260 runs at an average of 28.88 and a strike-rate of 130.00. Thus, with up to the mark performance in IPL 2018, Pathan will hope to contribute more in IPL 2019 with the bat and with the ball as well if the need be.
#6 Vijay Shankar
It will be a homecoming for Tamil Nadu all-rounder, Vijay Shankar, who happened to be part of SRH in the year 2017 and moved to Delhi Capitals (Delhi Daredevils then) in the year 2018. Shankar had a pretty decent season with Delhi as he scored 212 runs at an average of 53.00 and a strike-rate of 143.24.
However, he wasn't utilized with the ball much as he bowled just five overs in IPL 2018. Nonetheless, in IPL 2019, he can prove to be a perfect all-around option for SRH while extending SRH's batting order and contributing a few overs in the middle. Shankar will look forward to IPL 2019 as an apt opportunity to cement his case in the Indian team (after World Cup) as well.
#7 Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma, a player of the same peer group as of Vijay Shankar, was acquired by SRH in the trading window. He can turn out to be a useful option in Hyderabad's line-up. Sharma would be serving Sunrisers in IPL 2019 as a lower order batsman and a spinner who could bowl sharp left-arm spins. His addition will bolster SRH's batting while adding a bowling option too.
He had a chance to feature in a limited number of matches for Delhi Capitals (Delhi Daredevils then) in the year 2018. Having played three games for Delhi in IPL 2018, he scored 63 runs at an excellent strike-rate of 190.90.
#8 Rashid Khan
The only player that SRH cannot afford to lose at the moment is Rashid Khan who lit up IPL 2018 with his exceptional bowling performances. He played an influential role in Hyderabad's road to the finals and was a vital cog in Sunrisers' bowling department.
In the year 2018, he scalped 21 wickets at an average of 21.80, strike-rate of 19.42, and an economy of 6.73. With 21 wickets against his name, he also happened to be the second highest wicket-taker in IPL 2018. Moreover, in IPL 2018, he also developed an able batting hand while performing essential cameos for SRH. Hence, in IPL 2019, Rashid will look to work on the same lines for Hyderabad.
#9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was SRH's weak link in IPL 2018 owing to his injury, and as a result, he failed to perform for the team. Due to injury concerns, he only played 12 matches in IPL 2018 while picking up just nine wickets - pretty ordinary performance as per the standards of Kumar. Nonetheless, after having gained full fitness, he will look to improve the numbers in IPL 2019.
However, it is worthy to note that with the 2019 World Cup around, Bhuvneshwar will get an adequate amount of rest in IPL 2019. But it will not impact SRH much as they have quality backup options in their ranks. Be that as it may, to kick-off, Kumar will undoubtedly field a place in the playing XI.
#10 Siddarth Kaul
Siddarth Kaul, a fiery paceman from Punjab, happened to be one of the best bowlers - only second to Rashid Khan - for SRH in IPL 2018. With Bhuvneshwar's injury, he took the onus upon himself in the previous season. Pending his performances in IPL 2018, Kaul also made it to the Indian side as well.
In IPL 2019, having played 17 games, the Punjabi paceman took 21 wickets at an average of 26.04, strike-rate of 18.85, and an economy of 8.28. With this tally of wickets, he also finished as the second highest wicket-taker (tied with Rashid Khan) in IPL 2018. Thus, SRH will expect Kaul to perform with the same potential in IPL 2019 as well.
#11 Khaleel Ahmed
Khaleel Ahmed, a left-arm pacer from Rajasthan, has been on an exponential curve in the recent things of cricket. And much so, he proves to be a prospective addition for the coming World Cup as well.
However, IPL 2018 didn't go on the same lines for Khaleel as failed to get chances in the playing XI for Hyderabad. Ahmed just featured in a single match - the finals - for SRH in the whole of IPL 2018. Nevertheless, with some decent form and confidence up his sleeve, he will be a definite in SRH's playing XI in IPL 2019.
