Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra shared his thoughts about the Sunrisers Hyderabad’s team. He thinks the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) are a solid group going into the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL).
SRH didn’t have a great IPL 2023, as they ended at the bottom of the points table with only four wins. They haven’t made many changes to their lineup; Pat Cummins (₹20.50 crore) and Travis Head (₹6.80 crore) are their two costliest acquisitions, and Harry Brook (₹13.25 crore) is their lone big release.
At the auction, SRH also purchased Jaydev Unadkat, Jhathavedh Subramanyan, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Akash Singh, in addition to Cummins and Head. Prior to the auction, they also traded Mayank Dagar from the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and got Shahbaz Ahmed in exchange.
“They have strengthened the team even further”-Aakash Chopra on SRH after the IPL 2024 auction
In a video that he posted to his YouTube account, Aakash Chopra expressed his view that the SunRisers Hyderabad had a strong enough squad to make it to the playoffs in the previous IPL season but ended up being last on the points table.
“This is one team that is looking rock solid on paper. The team was good last year as well. If you saw on paper, they were an excellent team. They should have qualified for sure but were revolving around the bottom of the table,” he added (5;30).
The cricketer-turned-commentator believes that SRH have made their squad even stronger and that the 2016 IPL champions can be title contenders in the next season of the esteemed competition.
“When the team was good last year, didn’t release too many players, and have strengthened the team even further, they should reach the top four. I won’t be surprised at all if they are seen close to the podium,” he reacted.
“Wanindu Hasaranga was an absolute steal for them”-Aakash Chopra on the acquisition of a Sri Lankan all-rounder by SRH
Wanindu Hasaranga, in Aakash Chopra’s opinion, was a fantastic deal for the SunRisers Hyderabad because there was no chance of getting him at the base price. So the addition of Hasaranga was an absolute steal, as they already had Washington Sundar and Mayank Markande.
“Their steal of the (auction) day was Wanindu Hasaranga because they got him at his base price of 1.50 crores, which wasn’t a chance at all. It became a very good buy because they had Mayank Markande, Washington Sundar and now they have Wanindu Hasaranga,” he explained.
According to the renowned commentator , SRH can use the Sri Lankan all-rounder as their fourth overseas player in addition to Heinrich Klaasen , Travis Head, and Pat Cummins. Wanindu Hasaranga, in Aakash Chopra’s opinion, was a fantastic deal for the SunRisers Hyderabad.
“If they want, they can leave Marco Jansen and Glenn Phillips out because they can play Abdul Samad there. So they can play Wanindu Hasaranga, Washington Sundar and Mayank Markande. That makes it three spinners and then Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umran Malik and Pat Cummins,” he elaborated.
Chopra mentioned that because the SunRisers Hyderabad have a variety of Indian fast bowlers, they may experiment with their lineup. Furthermore, the additions of Hasaranga and Shahbaz Ahmed have strengthened their spin-bowling unit.
Now it will be exciting to see how this strong squad on paper changes the fortunes of the 2016 IPL champions.