Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) finished at number eighth this season. In a ten-team tournament, SRH largely remained in the top four only to falter in the second half. Their lack of depth across departments eventually cost them a playoff spot.
What went right for SRH in IPL 2022?
Much of SRH’s success in the first half was owing to their pace quartet. The variation in their seam attack was top draw. It had the swing of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the height of Marco Jansen, the pace of Umran Malik, and the death bowling of T. Natarajan.
What hurt SRH in IPL 2022?
But it was their batting and the fifth bowling option that hurt them on most occasions. SRH will be better served with minor tweaks to their arsenal.
We look at 3 players who SRH Might Release Before IPL 2023:
#3 Abdul Samad
He was one of the three players that SRH had retained ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. SRH spent a whopping INR 4 crores on him. It appeared the investment was made more on promise than performance. But Abdul Samad had a forgettable IPL 2022. He appeared in just two games scoring 4 runs. It looked as if he didn’t belong at this level.
The prowess that he had shown in 2020 had long evaporated. SRH might look to release Samad ahead of the next season. If he still features in their scheme of things, SRH can buy him back for a lesser amount in the auction.
#2 Sean Abbott
The experienced veteran on the circuit didn’t light up this year’s IPL. SRH had picked him in the auctions hoping he will play the bowling allrounder’s role to perfection. Abbott is someone who can bowl the heavy ball. His short-of-length bowling can prove to be a handful in helpful conditions. But it didn’t turn out this way for him this season. He played a solitary game picking up a wicket and scoring just 7 runs. Abbott might not be in SRH’s scheme of things for the future.
#1 Kane Williamson
He was arguably the biggest reason for SRH not qualifying for the playoffs. Captain, Kane Williamson, had a dreadful IPL. He had the lowest strike rate for a batsman opening the innings in IPL history. Williamson struggled to get off the blocks game after game. He could only amass 216 runs in 13 games at an average of 19.64.
Williamson struck these runs at 93.51. For a captain leading a side, the numbers couldn’t have been more abysmal. SRH had to let go of Rashid Khan to retain Williamson. They splurged INR 14 crores. SRH might well release him ahead of 2023 auctions. They can buy him back in the auctions for a significantly lower price.
