'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Sunrisers Hyderabad come into the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) with a very strong roster that is seriously capable of contending for the title.
Their overseas contingent is one of the best among all IPL 2020 teams, while the famous SRH bowling attack is as solid as ever. With match-winners in all departments, there's no reason why David Warner's side can't go all the way and clinch their second IPL title.
SRH face off against Royal Challengers Bangalore in their first IPL 2020 game on the 21st of September, and ahead of the highly anticipated clash, we take a look at how the Orange Army could line up.
SRH's predicted playing XI for IPL 2020
Note: All players from England and Australia have been assumed to be available, with no official word yet regarding their participation in the first few games of IPL 2020.
Openers: David Warner (c), Jonny Bairstow
Perhaps the only part of SRH's team combination that is not under any doubt whatsoever is the opening partnership. Captain David Warner and Jonny Bairstow will open the innings for SRH in IPL 2020, and they form one of the most fearsome opening combinations in the tournament.
Warner is the leading run-scorer among overseas players in IPL history, while his English partner had a splendid debut season last year. Both Warner and Bairstow will come into IPL 2020 with some match practice, as they are currently battling it out against each other in a 3-match ODI series in Manchester.
Before this ODI series, as well, England and Australia played a 3-match T20I series, in which both batsmen registered fifties and looked in decent nick.
Middle Order: Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Vijay Shankar, Manish Pandey
This is a prediction that might raise a few eyebrows, but the SRH middle order looks very weak in the absence of Kane Williamson, who might have to warm the bench during IPL 2020.
Wriddhiman Saha could be just the man to strike the right balance in the middle order and the gloveman's skill behind the sticks, especially against spin, will be invaluable in the UAE. He would be coming in at an unfamiliar No. 3 position, but could anchor of the innings to perfection.
The No. 4 role is a toss-up between Vijay Shankar and Manish Pandey, and it could go to the former given that Pandey has played the finisher's role for India in the T20 format. The Tamil Nadu man could also chip in with a few overs and is an excellent player of spin, making him ideal for the position.
Manish Pandey will be one of SRH's most important players in the middle order, and with more responsibility in this IPL season, he could elevate his game exponentially.
All-rounders: Mohammad Nabi, Abhishek Sharma
Mohammad Nabi played 8 games for SRH in IPL 2019, and bowled economically in the powerplay. This year, he is set to be one of the team's most trusted performers, and might even push New Zealand captain Kane Williamson to the bench by taking up the final overseas slot.
SRH have a host of young Indian spin-bowling all-rounders such as Abdul Samad and Sanjay Yadav, but the man who is most likely to play is Abhishek Sharma. The young left-arm spinner has played in the IPL before, and adds an extra dimension to the bowling attack. Moreover, he is a free stroke-player who can contribute significantly with the bat.
Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Khaleed Ahmed, Siddarth Kaul
Rashid Khan is becoming more handy with the bat every day, but hasn't quite done enough in the IPL to be called an all-rounder yet. The Afghanistan captain is still SRH's lead spinner, and his 4 overs will be absolutely vital to the team's fortunes in IPL 2020. He comes into the tournament with some match practice from the CPL, and as always, will be a contender for the Purple Cap.
Indian seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is making a return from injury, and how his body holds up to the rigours of top-level cricket in challenging conditions is something that SRH have to watch out for. He is perhaps their most important bowler, and will have to lead the pace attack as he has been doing over the past few years.
The final two spots will be contested by Basil Thampi, Sandeep Sharma and T Natarajan, but they are expected to be taken up by Khaleel Ahmed and Siddarth Kaul. While the former is a left-armer and adds enviable variety to the pace attack, Kaul has been a consistent performer for SRH over the past few seasons.
Khaleel has been a touch expensive in the IPL, but he is still only 22 years old and can use this edition of the tournament to stake a claim for a place in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup. Kaul, on the other hand, has been good both with the new ball and at the death, and has a wide range of variations in his arsenal.
While both pacers are likely to be given the nod for the first two games, if they don't perform too well, they could easily be replaced by the wealth of Indian pace-bowling options at SRH's disposal.
SRH's Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2020:
David Warner (c), Jonny Bairstow, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Vijay Shankar, Manish Pandey, Mohammad Nabi, Abhishek Sharma, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Siddarth Kaul
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download CricRocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more! 🚀☄️
