Starting XI of Sunrisers Hyderabad for IPL 2024

SRH had a mixed bag at the IPL auction 2024. They purchased Cummins for a record price of INR 20.50 crores. They got some very good overseas players like Pat Cummins, Travis Head, and Wanindu Hasaranga. But among the Indian players they did not get as many good options. Mayank Agarwal was a good buy, but they still seem to lack a lot in the bowling department. The fans of the franchise would be looking forward for the team combination in the IPL 2024.

Top order

Compared to the previous season, SRH have a good opening pair. Since the exit of Warner from the franchise, SRH have not found a good opening pair. but this time around, they might well be on their way to get arguably their best opening combination. SRH has the likes of two explosive batters at the top like Travis Head and Mayank Agarwal. Both of them are selfless and bat with intent.

Early in the innings, SRH have the destruction. All they must ensure is to get the best out of the two batters. Head can go bonkers at the top and destroy the best bowlers in the world. Similarly, Agarwal can be aggressive when backed well. When he played for PBKS, he was highly aggressive as a batter. SRH need someone like him to be in the playing XI to ensure the scoring rate.

At number 3, SRH will play Rahul Tripathi. He was one of the best batters in the IPL 2022 but did not have a great season with the bat in 2023. As a result, SRH ended up with a not so good lineup in the season. Backing Tripathi would be essential. He can do wonders with the bat when in flow. At the top order, SRH has the advantage of three aggressive batters, who can make the best use of PP overs.

Middle order

In the middle order, SRH again has some firepower. There are two protea stars in the lineup, who make their batting robust. Aiden Markram at 4 and Heinrich Klaasen at 5 form a deadly pair. The two can be expected to be superbly good for SRH in the season. It was in the IPL 2023 that Klaasen attained his sublime touch and has continued it throughput the year. He is still in a terrific form.

Markram can be very good as both the anchor and the aggressor. When required, he can finish the innings as well. In the ODI WC 2023, Markram was very good with the bat. For SRH, he will have the added responsibility of leading the side. he can bowl a bit as well. Klaasen is most likely to keep the wickets for SRH. But after Markram and Klaasen, SRH do not look threatening in batting.

Shahbaz Ahmed is likely to be in the playing XI of SRH. He is likely to play ahead of Abdul Samad, who has not been able to live up to his expectations in the league. But Abdul is likely to be used as an impact player in case SRH might need some handy runs in the death overs. Washington Sundar will have to perform very well in the IPL 2024 in order to be in contention in the T20 WC 2024.

Lower order

The bowling unit of SRH is looking better than 2023. In the last season, they did not have many bowlers who made an impact in the XI. This time, they have got various options like Wanindu Hasaranga, Pat Cummins, and others from the auction. But the problem for SRH is the problem of many. They have OS pacers like Fazalhaq Farooqi and Marco Jansen as well. It is interesting to see who would make the eventual cut.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is likely to spearhead the attack. Despite losing the pace and not being at his best in the last 5-6 seasons of the league, Kumar still remains very good with the ball. With the new ball, he can swing the ball. With the old ball, he has terrific yorker. To support him would be Pat Cummins, who had a terrific 2023 as a captain. But it is his bowling which would be necessary for SRH.

Cummins can bat and lead the side as well. They have Mayank Markande in their lineup, who can be very good with the ball in the middle overs. Umran Malik will be the other pacer in the lineup, who needs to be backed well in order to get the best results. They also have some good local pacers like Jaydev Unadkat, Akash Singh, and T Natarajan who might all come good in the later part of the stage.

Here’s the most likely starting XI of SRH in IPL 2024 –

Travis Head, Mayank Agarwal, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram (C), Heinrich Klaasen (WK), Shahbaz Ahmed, Washington Sundar, Pat Cummins, Mayank Markande, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umran Malik

Impact player: Abdul Samad