IPL 2019: What should be SRH's ideal playing XI
Sunrisers Hyderabad had an exceptional run in the year 2018. SRH had to deal with a sudden blow as BCCI barred David Warner from IPL 2018 with the reasons best known to us. However, SRH took up the challenge and managed to perform excellently despite Warner's absence.
A trait that defined SRH whole throughout the IPL 2018 was their consistency. With a balanced side up their sleeve, they proved to be lethal for the oppositions across all the departments. Nonetheless, they failed to maintain their consistency in the finals as CSK got better of them on the D-Day and won the silverware.
Despite a settled side at their disposal, SRH made a few changes to their team. The pre-eminent trade that highlighted SRH's 2019 auction season was of letting go the veteran Shikhar Dhawan whom they released to Delhi Capitals in a trade window.
Alongside that, they also released Carlos Braithwaite, Alex Hales, and Wriddhiman Saha. However, they bought back Saha at a lower price in the 2019 IPL Auction. Moreover, the significant deals made by SRH were of acquiring Vijay Shankar, Abhishek Sharma, and Jonny Bairstow.
Thus, having made a look at SRH's dynamics for the upcoming edition, let us have a look at the ideal XI that SRH can field in IPL 2019.
#1 David Warner
David Warner, the Australian left-handed batsman, will be making his comeback to the league after serving a one-year hiatus. Warner's addition will prove to be a big boost for SRH in IPL 2019 as they struggled considerably with their opening combination in IPL 2018.
Moreover, with David on their side, they will not feel the absence of Shikhar Dhawan who was the only positive for Sunrisers in their opening combination at IPL 2018. Although Warner will not be available for the whole of IPL 2019, his presence will unquestionably bolster Hyderabad's top-order. Besides, after David's way back home pending Cricket Australia's guidelines, Sunrisers will have the option of Martin Guptill to fill in the void.
#2 Jonny Bairstow (WK)
One of the areas where SRH didn't fare decently in IPL 2018 was the wicketkeeping slot. None of Shreevats Goswami and Wriddhiman Saha prospered for Hyderabad. Although they didn't do anything evil with the gloves, it was their ineptitude to score runs with the bat that hurt SRH the most.
Thus, having acquired Jonny Bairstow at the auction, it is highly likely that SRH will field Jonny in the opening department alongside Warner. Bairstow along with David will form a fiery pair who will do wonders in the power-play overs. However, Bairstow will head back home after the cut-off date set by English Cricket Board. In Jonny's absenteeism, SRH will bring back any of Goswami or Saha as the gloveman for the remainder of the league.