Attack wins you matches, defense wins you titles — Sir Alex Ferguson
After their resurgence in 2016 under the captaincy of David Warner, Sunrisers Hyderabad looked like a team to beat as they went to win their maiden IPL trophy (after re-branding from Deccan Chargers in 2013). When T20 Cricket was defined as a batting dominant game SRH showed that disciplined bowling is the hidden key to maximize your winning chances. Even though Warner led from the front with smashing scores, it was always his bowling line up that backed him to win crucial matches and the title.
Sunrisers went on strengthening their bowling attack adding the likes of Rashid and Siraj in 2017 and they ended up finishing third in points table. They were unluckily knocked out in the semis in a rain affected match against Kolkata. After Warner’s ball tampering scandal that year, the team lost their captain & best batsmen. With the team already suffering with frail batting line up Kane Williamson stepped up as the Captain and ended up as the highest run scorer that season leading the team to Finals fairly losing out to the mighty Chennai Superkings.
Warner returned back in the 2019 campaign as the Captain with the same true spirit to lead the team to their 2nd title. Even though their middle order was still unconstructed and feeble as ever; England keeper batsmen Jonny Bairstow opened with Warner to become the highest scoring pair of the season. The bowlers Bhuvi, Rashid & co continued their scintillating performances and rarely disappointed. In a particular match against Bangalore both openers ended up scoring centuries empowering the team to a 118 run victory. The team suffered a huge setback as both the openers had to leave just before the playoffs for the England vs Australia. As expected their powerless batting couldn’t push the team further in the knockouts.
Coming into the 2020 season SRH invested in young India blood and placed trust in them to strengthen the team further. The onus on Warner & Bairstow is sky-high to lead the team from the front. As expected the team failed to win both the opening matches when the openers didn’t deliver and the middle order collapsed. Things went worse as they lost Marsh and Bhuvaneswar to injuries ruled out for the season. The only positive result came against Delhi when Priyam Garg and Abhishek Sharma stood their ground and delivered for the team, post that they barely continued that form. Star batsmen Manish Pandey too looked in bits and pieces so far this tournament & Williamson has been picked at the cost of an overseas bowling option after early failures to fix their batting woes.
With just 3 wins in 8 matches the team is on a roller coaster with ups and downs, they can push hard to make it to the playoffs but lifting the cup is way out of their reach with the inexperienced middle order and injured ridden bowling unit. But always expect the unexpected from the pocket rocked David Warner and maybe like the way he did in 2016 he could win the cup for his team almost single handedly.
