IPL 2018: 3 key players behind Sunrisers Hyderabad's run into the playoffs

Sunrisers Hyderabad have done it again! Following another dominant group phase, the 2016 champions have cantered into the playoffs for the third year running.

The Orange Army made light work of Delhi's otherwise formidable target of 188, to storm past it by losing only a single wicket and with one more over still to go.

Shikhar Dhawan and Kane Williamson combined to produce an unbeaten knock of 175 between them, but the outcome is only the tip of the iceberg.

Hyderabad have been firing at all cylinders throughout the season. Barring a few glitches here and there, they've been at the top of their game.

That's down to several players conjuring their best. But let's focus on the top three players who fostered the dominant run, and propelled SRH into the last four.

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#1 Kane Williamson

Williamson has successfully led his side into the playoffs

Let's start from the top. The New Zealander is enjoying his best spell in the Indian Premier League, storming to 493 runs in 11 innings, bettered only by Delhi's Rishabh Pant.

Having endured a slow start to the campaign that saw him amass only 41 runs from the first two games, Williamson has upped the ante thereafter.

He currently boasts an average of 61.62 and is also the player with most half-centuries for the season thus far with six.

Retained for a lucrative price of Rs.3 crore, Williamson was also entrusted with the captaincy role for this edition.

Two-third of the season in, it suffices to say he's shouldered it with aplomb.

Hyderabad fell at the last hurdle in 2017. But under Williamson's leadership and rich vein of form, stand a good chance to go one better this term.

#2 Rashid Khan

The Afghan icon has continued to discombobulate batsmen with his magical spells of spin

The Afghan spin king is on course to replicate the 2017 form that saw him plunder 17 wickets.

His current stat reads 13 from 11 outings, and it holds him in good stead to surpass that mark.

Another late bloomer, Khan took his time before kick-starting his spin machine. But he went from three wickets from the opening four games to 10 in the next seven - his 3 for 19 in four overs against Punjab in the last game of April truly testified his return to the throttle.

Hyderabad splashed in the excess of Rs.9 crore to retain his services after a stellar debut campaign last year. And Khan is leaving no stones unturned in a bid to repay every penny of it.

#3 Siddharth Kaul

Kaul has built on the promise of 2017

The Pathankot native has continued from where he left off in 2017, spewing more venom with each delivery.

In 11 games, he's tied with Khan as the most prolific bowler in the squad with 13 wickets, and also maintained an economy of 7.50, the fifth-best figure in the competition for bowlers with at least 11 innings.

Bought by the franchise for Rs.3.8 crores, his on-field heroics helped him earn only his second international call-up with the Blues, but he isn't done yet.

Kaul lost his Purple Cap in the recent weeks due to a patchy run of form of late that saw him gift 110 runs in the last three games for only two wickets in return.

However, that doesn't undermine his terrific run earlier in the campaign that helped Hyderabad off to a flyer in IPL 2018.

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