Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) is a franchise team that competes in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Based in Hyderabad, Telangana, the team was founded in 2012 as a replacement for the Deccan Chargers, another IPL team that was terminated due to financial difficulties. Since its inception, Sunrisers Hyderabad has been one of the most successful teams in the league, winning the IPL trophy in 2016 and reaching the playoffs on multiple occasions.
Team History
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s journey in the IPL began in 2013 when they made their debut in the tournament. The team was captained by Kumar Sangakkara and had a star-studded lineup that included the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Dale Steyn, and Cameron White. Despite a slow start to the season, SRH managed to finish in fourth place and qualify for the playoffs. However, they were knocked out in the Eliminator round by the Rajasthan Royals.
In 2014, Sunrisers Hyderabad retained most of its core players and added a few new ones to the team. David Warner, who had been released by the Delhi Daredevils, was picked up by SRH, and he would go on to become one of the most important players for the franchise in the years to come. Under the captaincy of Shikhar Dhawan, SRH finished sixth in the tournament, missing out on a playoff spot.
The following year, SRH appointed David Warner as their new captain, and the move paid off immediately. The team finished in sixth place in the group stage, but they went on a remarkable run in the playoffs, winning four consecutive matches to lift their first IPL trophy. Warner was the top scorer for the team that season, with 562 runs in 14 matches, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the leading wicket-taker, with 23 wickets.
In the subsequent seasons, Sunrisers Hyderabad continued to be a strong team in the IPL, reaching the playoffs on multiple occasions. However, they were unable to repeat their title-winning performance in 2016, with their best performance coming in 2018, when they finished runners-up to the Chennai Super Kings.
Team Composition
Sunrisers Hyderabad has always had a strong core of players, with David Warner, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Rashid Khan being the mainstays of the team. Warner, in particular, has been the linchpin of the SRH batting lineup, with his aggressive strokeplay and leadership qualities. He has been the team’s leading run-scorer in five out of the eight seasons he has played for them and has won the Orange Cap (awarded to the leading run-scorer in the tournament) on three occasions.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been the team’s most successful bowler, with his ability to swing the ball both ways and his mastery of the yorker making him a potent weapon in any conditions. He has won the Purple Cap (awarded to the leading wicket-taker in the tournament) on two occasions and has been the team’s leading wicket-taker in four out of the eight seasons he has played for them.
Rashid Khan, the Afghanistan leg-spinner, has been one of the most impactful players for Sunrisers Hyderabad in recent years. He has consistently been among the top wicket-takers in the tournament, with his ability to bowl accurately, quick leg-spinners, and googlies making him a difficult proposition for any batsman.
Apart from these three players, Sunrisers Hyderabad has also had a strong supporting cast over the years, with players like Shikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson, Jonny Bairstow, and Manish Pandey contributing.
