IPL 2018: 5 key players for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the playoffs
In 2016 IPL, the first playoff team was confirmed on the penultimate day of completion of league stage matches. But now in 2018, Sunrisers Hyderabad have confirmed a playoff spot in the 42nd match itself with more than a week's time for completion of league stages.
They have defeated six of the remaining seven teams to date, such has been the dominance of the Hyderabad-based franchise.
While KXIP could manage one win against SRH at the back of Gayle's century, Chennai Super Kings have trounced the table toppers twice thanks to Ambati Rayudu's sublime batting in both the matches.
With just three losses in twelve matches, Sunrisers are definitely sitting comfortably at the top and will secure one of the top two positions.
Even though they get another chance if they lose Qualifier 1, the Orange Army would want to make a direct entry into the finals.
Here are the five players who can win the title for Sunrisers Hyderabad this year:
#1 Kane Williamson
After the auction, Kane Williamson was not expected to feature for Sunrisers in all the games.
But look how things change. Now, Williamson is the pivotal player around whom the whole team bats. His performance as a captain has been the more impressive than his batting, in spite of him being one of the top run-getters in the tournament.
Williamson has manoeuvred the bowling resources in a very efficient manner and has always maintained his cool even while defending low scores.
He helped SRH defend low scores like 118, 132, 151, and 146 in a tournament in which teams generally prefer to chase.
He has scored 7 half-centuries in twelve games so far and has been crucial to SRH's success even on slow, two-paced pitches on which his teammates struggled to find a rhythm.
All in all, he scored 544 runs in 12 innings with an average of 60.44 and a strike rate of 134.98. Williamson has adapted to different pitches well and has helped his team reach the scores they can defend on sluggish pitches.
Williamson has led the team wonderfully in the tournament so far and will hope to continue the same in the playoffs.
Runs: 544, Innings: 12, Average: 60.44, Strike rate: 134.98