Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), since its inception in 2012, has almost always made it to the play-offs. However, it has lifted the trophy just once in 2016, when skipper David Warner-led team defeated Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final.

Over the years, SRH’s core team hasn’t changed, with the batting department led by Warner and the bowling side steered by pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and spinner Rashid Khan.

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As the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin on April 9, here’s a look at players who can make a difference between the team making it to the playoffs and the team actually lifting the trophy:

David Warner

The Aussie batsman has over the years steered the team in the batting department. He had led the team during its maiden and only tournament win in 2016 and was also their second-highest run-scorer. He had scored 848 runs at a strike rate of 151.42.

He had a successful run in 2017 but had to skip the next year’s tournament due to a one-year ban over ball-tampering. He came back in 2019, under the captaincy of New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson. 

In 2020, he came back as the captain and the team finished third on the points table, but lost to the Delhi Capitals in the second qualifier.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The Indian pacer is the highest wicket-taker for the SRH side, winning the purple cap in 2016, when the team won the winner’s title. He has an impressive haul of 133 wickets, including the phenomenal figure of 5/19 he scored in the 2017 tournament in the match against Kings XI Punjab.

He poses a major threat for any opening batsman and spinner Rashid Khan does the rest. He is within the core team of SRH that hasn’t changed over the years.

Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan, the Afghan leg-spinner, has always been impressive since his IPL debut in 2017. Not only is he a phenomenal wicket-taker, but he’s also often called by the skipper to put a brake on the opposite team’s runs. 

Apart from bowling, he has shown his capability in batting and fielding departments as well. Among his memorable performances was in 2018, when he steered his team to the final, but ultimately lost to the Chennai Super Kings. 

Kane Williamson

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Adding another name to SRH’s list of formidable overseas players is New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson. Not only does his presence in the middle order makes the team’s batting order stronger, he led the team in 2018 in the absence of the regular captain, Warner. SRH had made it to the final, but ultimately lost to Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led CSK.