As the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League gets underway, we preview the teams in contention, analyse their past performances and look at the key players in the franchise. In this piece, we look at Sunrisers Hyderabad, who debuted last season on an impressive note
Past performances: With Deccan Chargers’ contract being terminated in 2012, a new franchise, Sunrisers Hyderabad, entered the fray last season. In their debut year, they made an impressive beginning reaching the playoffs, where they were eliminated. Buoyed by last year’s performance, they would be keen to go all the way this time.
Key players
Shikhar Dhawan: He may not have featured in the World T20 final, but Dhawan will have a big role to play for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Opening the innings, it will be his responsibility to get the team off to flyers. His confidence may be slightly on the lower side, but the IPL is the perfect place for him to get his form back. With the field restrictions in place, he can easily hit the ball over the top, and there won’t be many bowlers gunning for his throat either. The left-hander is also the leader of the team, so there will be additional responsibility on him to do well. How Dhawan fares in IPL 7 could have a major impact on Hyderabad’s fortunes this season.
Darren Sammy: The West Indian T20 captain would be one of the most important players for Hyderabad, just like last season. He may not be exceptionally talented, but few players in the game hit the ball as cleanly and as far as Sammy does. With a high back-lift and extreme punch, he has the ability to clear the field rather consistently. The good thing for Hyderabad is that Sammy is in great form having played a couple of dazzling knocks in the World T20, which helped Windies pull off improbable wins. Sammy would want to continue his rollicking run.
Amit Mishra: Leg spinners are very handy in cricket irrespective of the format. This aspect was evident in the World T20 as well, where a number of leggies made an impression. Mishra may have failed in the semis and the final, but throughout the event, he was among the most difficult bowlers to get away as he tossed the ball and beat the batsmen in flight. If Mishra regains his best in IPL 7, Hyderabad can end up being a force to reckon with
Other important players: Dale Steyn, David Warner, Aaron Finch, Irfan Pathan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Men who matter off the field
Owner: Kalanithi Maran
Head Coach: Tom Moody
Assistant Coach: Simon Helmot
Bowling Coach: Waqar Younis
Mentors: Krishnamachari Srikkanth and VVS Laxman
--By A Cricket Analyst