In 2013, The Sunrisers Hyderabad came into the IPL, filling in space left by the Deccan Chargers. Since then, they have been one of the most consistent team’s in the tournament each year, qualifying for the playoffs in 5 of the 7 seasons they have been part of. They were crowned champions in 2016.

Photo Credit: Indian Express

SRH will be under the leadership of David Warner who is one of the most destructive batsmen in the world. He has been leading from the front and doing the bulk of the scoring for the team in past editions. To open the batting with him is Jonny Bairstow who likes to play an aggressive game and dominate the bowlers. 

SRH will be looking at both of them to provide good starts to ease the pressure on the middle order which consists of Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, Vijay Shankar and Mitchell Marsh who have enough experience to capitalise and put the team on the front foot.

Like each team, SRH too have a few impressive young Indian players who provide the team management with different options. The likes of Priyam Garg who led India U19 to the World Cup final along with Jharkhand left handed batsman Virat Singh, will be looking to make a name for themselves in this coming edition.

The pitches in UAE will be slow turners, with each team depending upon their spinners to control the pace of the innings. SRH have two of the best Spinners in world cricket in Rashid Khan & Mohammad Nabi who will play a key role if they are to advance in the later stages of the IPL.

The pace attack will be spearheaded by Bhuvneshwar Kumar who will have the likes of Siddharth Kaul, Khaleel Ahmed, Sandeep Sharma and Billy Stanlake to provide support. It would be their responsibility to provide the team with early breakthroughs over the course of IPL.

Overall, SRH has plenty of firepower at the top of the order with a balance in the middle order. It is their bowling which will need to step up and be at their best, for the team to qualify for the playoffs.

My Prediction: 5th