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The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) faced a forgettable campaign in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 under the leadership of Aiden Markram, finishing at the bottom of the points table despite boasting a formidable squad on paper.
Strategic overhaul: SRH’s ambitious moves in the 2024 Auction
In preparation for the 2024 season, SRH entered the auction with a substantial purse, emerging as one of the most active franchises. Making the second-most expensive signing, they secured six players, including overseas talents Pat Cummins, Travis Head and Wanindu Hasaranga, complementing the existing foreign stars like Markram, Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen etc.
Sunil Gavaskar’s strategic 4 overseas picks for Sunrisers Hyderabad
Having claimed the IPL only once trophy in 2016 under David Warner‘s captaincy, SRH has witnessed a downturn in fortunes since then. Looking ahead to the 2024 edition, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar, discussed his preferred overseas picks for SRH’s first-choice playing XI on Star Sports.
Gavaskar advocated for Klaasen, Cummins, and Hasaranga as the first three overseas selections. The choice for the fourth spot posed a dilemma between the experienced Markram, the former captain, and Head. In a surprising move, Gavaskar opted for Head and suggested Cummins as the team captain.
“(Heinrich) Klaasen, with the form that he has shown, definitely comes in, that’s one. Pat Cummins as the captain, he comes in at No. 2. I think you would want to look at Hasaranga because he will give you those good middle overs, that’s three,” Gavaskar said.
“The fourth one is going to be the problem for them. Markram was their captain the last time around, or do you pick Travis Head? I would go for Travis Head. I think, Pat Cummins, if he is the captain, he also being an Aussie and having seen more of Travis Head, will go for Travis Head,” the 74-year-old added.
Also READ: IPL 2024: Irfan Pathan picks four overseas players for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Pitch-dependent selection
Addressing Jansen’s potential exclusion, Gavaskar emphasized that the decision would hinge on the pitch conditions, whether it favors pace or demands a different skill set, showcasing the strategic challenges in finalizing the playing XI.
“He could come in for some pitches like say the pitch in Mumbai, which has got a little more carry, a pitch in Kolkata, where the ball seams around a little bit, and maybe in Mohali. These are the kind of pitches where he might get a game,” the Mumbai-born cricketer concluded.
