Sunrisers Hyderabad have established a strong position in the IPL 2022 with two straight victories against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT). They presently have two victories in four league games and are ranked seventh in the points standings.
However, the squad has suffered a big blow owing to all-rounder Washington Sundar‘s hand injury, which is anticipated to keep him out of play for at least a week. Sundar, who had a split webbing in his bowling hand, bowled three overs in the encounter against Gujarat Titans on Monday (April 11), returning with stats of 0/14 from three overs and was unable to complete his entire quota of overs owing to the ailment.
Also Read | IPL 2022: Back to winning ways, SRH look to complete hattrick vs KKR
Sundar has 58 runs and four wickets in four tournament matches and has undoubtedly had an impact in both departments of the game. Along with Aiden Markram, he was the only main spinner in the SRH playing XI. Only filling the boots in certain cases
Three players that potentially step in for Washington Sundar in the SRH XI
Shreyas Gopal
The promising leg-spinner has been warming the benches after an unimpressive campaign with Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 2021 edition when he went wicket-less in three matches. However, Gopal has been a consistent customer with the ball in the IPL and can even bat in the bottom order.
Also Read | IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya explains walking off the field vs Rajasthan Royals
Gopal’s best-ever performance came in the 2019 season for RR, when he took 20 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 7.22, including a hat-trick against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), with crucial scalps of Virat Kohli, Ab de Villiers, and Marcus Stoinis. He also had 63 runs in that season, with the top score of 19*.
Gopal averaged 10 wickets in 14 matches in the 2020 tournament. Gopal, on the other hand, has been in excellent form on the local circuit, where he took 11 wickets in three Ranji Trophy matches for the Karanakata squad and may be allowed to exhibit his talent.
Jagadeesha Suchith
The left-arm spinner appeared in four games in the tournament’s 2016, 2019, and 2021 editions, taking two wickets. He was, however, impressive in the 2015 version of the MI team, when he took 10 wickets in 13 outings and was a vital factor for the side reaching the finals and eventually winning their second title.
Also Read | Glimpse of Baby AB: Dewald Brevis’ best at the ICC U19 World Cup | Watch
Despite not getting enough chances in recent editions, he has shown himself in domestic cricket. Suchith concluded the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021/22 with seven wickets in five matches for Karnataka at an economy rate of 3.52. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021/22, he took six wickets and scored 37 runs in seven matches.
Because of his previous experience in the IPL and current form in the local circuit, he is a strong contender to replace Sundar.
The hard-hitting batter from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) was dismissed from the SRH team owing to his underwhelming performances in the first two matches of the season, in which he managed only four runs. Samad, on the other hand, was one of the team’s retained players owing to his talent and performances in the middle order in the previous two seasons.
Also Read | IPL 2022: RR opt to bowl vs GT, Trent Boult out with a niggle
Samad scored 111 runs in each of the tournament’s 2020 and 2021 editions, with strike rates of 170.76 and 127.58, respectively. For instance, when SRH failed to get going with their batting performances in the previous edition, Samad’s lusty smashes helped to revitalise the club and register a decent total on the board.
Samad was the best run-scorer for the J&K side in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021/22, with 127 runs in five innings. If given the chance, Samad would use his performances to prove his doubters incorrect.
