IPL 2016: 5 reasons why Sunrisers Hyderabad have performed superbly this season
The race to the playoffs this Indian Premier League (IPL) season has been one of the most thrilling ones with six teams having the possibility of making it to the final four spots until the very last matchday.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore had a late surge of form to make it to the playoff stages. However, one of the most consistent sides this IPL has been the David Warner-led Sunrisers Hyderabad who have surprised many people with their performances.
Having lost their first two games, it might have all seemed like a similar story for the Orange Army. But, the captain Warner was able to rally his troops and help put in inspired performances to finish third in the table.
Here we take a look at five reasons why they have flourished this season:
#1 – Consistency at the top
If there is one thing evident from the performances of the Sunrisers, it is their top-order batting. Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner are one of the most, if not the most, prolific batting pairs in the IPL. Sunrisers are the only team, other than Kolkata Knight Riders, to have played all their matches with the same opening pair.
Dhawan and Warner have scored 1121 runs in all this IPL, which is 55% of the total number of runs scored by SRH. The openers’ batting prowess has masked the failure of much of the middle-order batting of the Sunrisers.
The duo was also involved in the second highest first-wicket partnership this IPL when they thrashed table-toppers, Gujarat Lions by 10 wickets after putting in an unbeaten 137-run partnership. The two complement each other with Dhawan usually playing the anchor role, thus allowing Warner to cut loose and play his shots.