As we start the countdown for IPL 2021, we are back with an in-depth SWOT analysis of Sunrisers Hyderabad, one of the most consistent teams in the history of the tournament. If you want to check out the in-depth SWOT analysis of your favourite teams, check here:
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Sunrisers Hyderabad team was quite late to join the IPL party, starting its outing in 2015. But since then, the David Warner led team already has one championship to its name and have made it through to most of the playoffs in its brief existence.
IPL 2020 was however an unfortunate playing experience for SRH. The team, having always made it through to the Top-4 raced its way to the playoffs. The orange army defeated the out of form Royal Challengers Bangalore but were choked out by Delhi Capitals. The team would be looking forward to shake off the 2020-blues and clinch the IPL 2021 trophy.
IPL 2021: Sunrisers Hyderabad Complete Squad:
David Warner (c), Kane Williamson, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Manish Pandey, Shreevats Goswami (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Priyam Garg, Vijay Shankar, Abhishek Sharma, Abdul Samad, Virat Singh, Jason Roy, Jason Holder, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Shahbaz Nadeem, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T. Natarajan, Sandeep Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed, Siddarth Kaul, Basil Thampi, Jagadeesha Suchith, Kedar Jadhav, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman
Sunrisers Hyderabad SWOT Analysis
Sunrisers Hyderabad Strengths: Dangerous top-order
Even if someone is not a SRH fan, they cannot disagree to the fact that SRH has the most lethal top-order. Right from David Warner, who’s had a great IPL outing so far in the past few years, to Johnny Bairstow who took Indian bowlers to task, to Jason Roy to Wriddhiman Saha, the team’s top order is worth coveting. Add to this Manish Panday and have plenty of opening combination options. Even if SRH decides to bench Bairstow or Warner picks up an injury, they have the likes of Mujeeb Ur Rahma, Mitchell Marsh and Jason Holder, any of these players on their best day can take SRH to a total of more than 220 or more. Oh, and did we tell you that SRH also has Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson, well, we now are. These names come with a lot of experience, runs and average that makes the top-order raising and raging.
Sunrisers Hyderabad Strength: Shaky Middle-order
If top order is SRH’s sun, its shaky middle-order is the team’s kryptonite. The same has been felt in the last couple of IPL editions as not a single player in the lower-middle order was able to perform well and contribute. The team management gave the likes of Garg, Shankar and Samad more than a few opportunities but their inexperience had let the team down. Although these players are young and may evolve into fine players, they’d need to perform at their best in IPL 2021. To get rid of its only Achilles heel, SRH went after Kedar Jadhav in the auction. But this decision may backfire as the numbers suggest that Jadhav has not accumulated more than 300 runs in one IPL season.
Sunrisers Hyderabad Opportunity: Consistent performances
As mentioned earlier, SRH has been one of the most consistent teams of IPL and stands alongside high achievers like Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. The team management and players can convert this consistency into fuel which will take the team racing through the playoffs and beyond. Additionally, Manish Pandey, once considered as the next big thing, but now fallen off the graces of selectors, too can come in the middle and make the statement. This would not only help his team but would also help himself as he’d be able to cement his position in the team.
Sunrisers Hyderabad Threat: Too many options
SRH faces an issue most franchises would love to: having too many options and being spoiled of choices. The team has the likes of Nabi, Holder, Williamson, Roy, Bairstow, Rahman and so many other fabulous players. But each player has his own position and if the team fails to position the player the right way, the combination would fail and the team’s flow would crash. Moreover, the team administration would also be crossing its fingers and muttering “no more injuries”. In IPL 2020, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was the team’s primary pace bowler, was away for the most part of the season. Due to the injuries, and not being able to strike a perfect balance, the team could not make it last year.
