The IPL 2021 Mini Auction will happen in a few weeks as all the franchises would have begun planning their potential squads for the upcoming season. IPL 2021 promises to be an entertaining event because all cricketers will be charged up and will try to maximize their potential to get used to the conditions before the ICC T20 World Cup in India. Still, the final decision about the venue is not made. However, the BCCI plans to conduct the tournament in India only.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad proved last year that even if the IPL does not happen in India, it will not have much impact on their performance. The Orange Army made a slow start to their IPL 2020 campaign. However, they then picked up momentum and stormed into the playoffs, finishing ahead of the Royal Challengers Bangalore on the points table.
Hyderabad even defeated RCB in the Eliminator. However, they suffered their second consecutive knockout loss to the Delhi Capitals to crash out of the competition. Nevertheless, the fans were satisfied with their team’s performance because the squad had lost their premier fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh to injuries early.
The Sunrisers have brought Tom Moody back in their backroom staff before IPL 2021. Speaking of the other changes Sunrisers Hyderabad could make to their squad, the Orange Army might release Yarra Prithviraj who had come into the squad as the replacement of Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Bhuvi seems to be fit after he played for the Uttar Pradesh cricket team in the 2021 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Another reason why SRH could possibly make this call is because they have many Indian fast bowling options available in their lineup. Khaleel Ahmed picked up 8 wickets in IPL 2020, while T Natarajan was excellent in the UAE. Sandeep Sharma did well in Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s absence. Unfortunately, Siddarth Kaul did not have a great season, but the Punjab pacer is doing great in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Basil Thampi might receive another contract as he got only one game last year. Thampi is a former Emerging Player of the Year award winner.
Mitchell Marsh could return to the auction pool because Jason Holder did a fantastic job for the Orange Army. The fans can say that Holder was a vital player behind SRH’s turnaround in IPL 2020. Also, Marsh is injury-prone. Hence, Holder could become a permanent member of the squad. There might not be any other changes in the overseas department of the Orange Army.
David Warner, Kane Williamson, Rashid Khan, and Jason Holder will be the first-choice foreigners, while Jonny Bairstow, Mohammad Nabi, Fabian Allen, and Billy Stanlake can be the back-up options. SRH could have released Shreevats Goswami but the wicket-keeper’s solid performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Bengal T20 Challenge could give him another contract.
Shifting our focus to the other Indian players, Manish Pandey, Priyam Garg, Wriddhiman Saha, Abhishek Sharma, Vijay Shankar, Shahbaz Nadeem, Abdul Samad, and Virat Singh have played much cricket in India. So, it is unlikely SRH would release them if the tournament happens in India.
Players SRH might retain: David Warner, Rashid Khan, Wriddhiman Saha, Sanjay Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, Sandeep Sharma, Abdul Samad, Shreevats Goswami, Mohammad Nabi, Fabian Allen, Abhishek Sharma, Basil Thampi, Billy Stanlake, Sandeep Bavanaka, Jason Holder, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Virat Singh, T Natarajan, Kane Williamson, Shahbaz Nadeem, Jonny Bairstow, Vijay Shankar, Siddarth Kaul, Priyam Garg.
Players SRH might release: Mitchell Marsh, Yarra Prithviraj
