In what seems to be a desperate attempt from SRH management to save the franchise from tonking in IPL 2021, Kane Williamson has replaced David Warner as Sunrisers captain.
The 2016 champions are at the bottom in the points table with 5 losses from 6 matches so far. David Warner has scored 193 runs in 6 matches in IPL 2021 so far at a strike rate of 110.28. In their last match against CSK on a good batting pitch in Delhi, Warner scored 57 off 55 balls.
SRH to make changes in the overseas combination
The most recurring overseas combination for SRH has featured Warner, Baristow, Williamson, and Rashid Khan. These 4 players have become indispensable to the Sunrisers lineup. It will be interesting to see what changes the team management will make to this combination.
Stripping Warner off his captaincy means the team management thinks his leadership style is the problem. And by bringing in Williamson as the new skipper midway through the season, they are only putting the Kiwi batsman under more pressure which can likely affect his batting form.
The problem with SRH is an overemphasis on the overseas players. The local players in the squad haven’t played the match-winner’s role and that is what needs to be addressed. The rest of IPL 2021 is likely to be a case of misplaced expectations for Sunrisers.
Sunrisers Hyderabad lack quality performances from Indian players
While other franchises like CSK, RCB, and MI not only encourage but also give the young players more responsibility, Hyderabad continues to save their young players from big roles. Padikkal, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Avesh Khan, and Mohammad Siraj are some of the young Indian players who have played a key role in their team’s success in IPL 2021.
Unless Sunrisers encourage Priyam Garg, Abhishek Sharma, Abdul Samad, and Virat Singh to play a bigger role in the lineup, no overseas combination or captaincy change will change their fortunes.