IPL 2019: 3 players who could replace Shikhar Dhawan at SRH

The action for the twelfth edition of Indian Premier League (IPL) is already underway much before the start of the cricketing action on the field. The teams have geared up themselves for another exciting season which lies ahead in prospect. With IPL auctions scheduled for next month in Jaipur, teams have begun to figure out their best possible combinations in terms of releasing, trading or retaining their players.

With the venue of the league still undecided, franchises might look to release a few more players and opt for a safer option to fill in the void left in the team in the auction.

One of the most talking trades from the first trading window saw Shikhar Dhawan being traded from Sunrisers Hyderabad to his home franchise Delhi Daredevils. It was an unexpected move by SRH but it was in the best interests of both the parties as the Southpaw was unhappy with the amount for which he was bought in the IPL auction 2018.

Now with Dhawan not being a part of the Sunrisers anymore, it will be a tough task in hand for the franchise to look for a like-to-like substitution at the top of the order.

Here's a look at some of the players who can replace Shikhar Dhawan at SRH:

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#3 Brendon McCullum

The Former Kiwi skipper who scored a century in the first ever game of the IPL, Brendon McCullum could be the perfect foil to fit into Hyderabad's scheme of things.

McCullum who was roped in by RCB last year was released ahead of the IPL auctions this year. He was unsure of his batting position last year with the Bangalore-based franchise and thus displayed a poor run of form for the men in red.

McCullum who boasts of a plethora of experience of playing in the T20 leagues is a smart campaigner who brings a lot to the table. He can be the leader within the team and can bring his experience into play. An attacking opener by all sorts, McCullum could bring stability at the top of the order with his ability to play longer innings from the beginning of the match.

#2 Shimron Hetmyer

West Indies' recent entrant in their stock of hard-hitting batsmen, Shimron Hetmyer has well and truly registered himself in that elite list of players. The southpaw who grabbed eyeballs after his spectacular run in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), soon became the talk of the town after he played a few game-changing innings in the recently concluded series against India. He showed his ability to hit gigantic sixes and play a fast-paced knock at any point in the game.

He is taking the West Indian culture forward and making everyone sit back and enjoy his batting from distant corners of the world. There might be no surprise if he's the next million-dollar baby in the upcoming auctions next month. Hetmyer might fetch huge attention as franchises would look to add more firepower courtesy the attacking left-hander.

He might also fit in Hyderabad's scheme of things as someone who could make the best utilization of the power play early on in the innings.

#1 Jason Roy

The flamboyant English opener who did well for Delhi last season, Jason Roy can also be one of the major contenders to open for Hyderabad in the forthcoming season. Roy, who has an attacking approach with a rare ability to score runs at will, can walk into any T20 side on his mere ability to strike the ball.

His contribution lately to English cricket has been second to none. His pairing with Alex Hales at the top of the order has brought glory to their limited overs cricket. The duo has stitched long partnerships at regular intervals for their national side.

Often Roy is the aggressor and accelerates to take the attack on the opposition. It will be interesting to see if Roy's exploits in the past can impress the think-tank at the Sunrisers or will he find another franchise with better plans in store for him.