Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey
3 players SRH should retain for IPL 2022 | A look at 3 players Sunrisers Hyderabad should retain in the IPL 2022 Mega Auction
Sunrisers Hyderabad has been a consistent side in the IPL. They won the title in 2016 and were the runners-up in 2018 but last season was a nightmare for them as they finished at the bottom of the points table.
They won only three games out of 14 and their performance in that season was below average. They failed to play as a unit and had a big off-field controversy as well when David Warner was sacked from the captaincy mid-season and was dropped from the playing eleven as well.
With the mega auction next month, SRH will look to come back in style by building a strong squad for IPL 2022 in the mega auction. And just like all the other teams, they too will have the option of retaining four players before the auction. SRH have quite a few quality players in their squad and it may be a little tricky for them in selecting the four players.
Here are the three players we think SRH should retain for IPL 2022.
Who SRH should retain for IPL 2022
1. Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan is arguably the most popular player in franchise cricket leagues around the globe. He is the superstar of the shortest format. Rashid is arguably the best spinner in T20s, as he is a genuine wicket-taker and has shown his class in every corner of the world and in every T20 league he has played.
Rashid has been an excellent performer for SRH over the years in the IPL. He picked 18 wickets in 14 games at an economy of 6.69 in IPL 2021, and he should be a key player for SRH going forward.
The Afghan leggie bowls in all the phases of the game. He’s the go to bowler for SRH when they need a wicket and more often than not, he delivers. Rashid Khan is a champion bowler and the Sunrisers Hyderabad shouldn’t even think twice before retaining him for IPL 2022. He is more than handy with the bat as well and can tonk the ball big.
2. Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson is among the top batters at the moment. He is very consistent with the bat and SRH should retain him for IPL 2022.
Williamson won the Orange Cap in 2018, leading the side to an appearance in the Final. In IPL 2021, Williamson scored 266 runs in 10 innings at an average of 44.33 and strike rate of 113.19. The strike rate was on the slower side, but he is a quality player and now with David Warner most probably out, Kane should open for SRH which the best position for him to bat in T20s.
Williamson has done well as the skipper of SRH. Last season was bad all-round by SRH, but he is a fine captain and has done well leading the Black Caps. SRH should retain him as he’s one of the top batters of the tournament and will lead the side as well.
3. Abdul Samad
Abdul Samad is a very promising young player in SRH. The lower-order batter from Jammu & Kashmir is known for his hard hitting in the domestic circuit. Samad has shown a little glimpse of his hitting ability in the IPL as well and can be a great prospect for SRH if groomed properly.
He has scored 222 runs in 23 matches in the IPL at an average of 15.85 and strike rate of 146.05. Samad comes to bat very low for SRH and hence hasn’t faced a lot of deliveries. His strike rate in IPL 2020 after 12 games was 170.76 at an average of 22.20.
Till now he hasn’t performed up to his true potential, but SRH have not used him properly. He is very promising and can be the perfect finisher for SRH. He is uncapped as well so retaining him will be very cheaper for SRH, which is another positive.
Other than these three, SRH have quite a few players who they can retain like the young Umran Malik who bowls consistently at 150 kph or someone like Jason Holder. But, they could buy them back at a cheaper price at the auction. So, Rashid Khan, Kane Williamson, and Abdul Samad are the players that we think Sunrisers Hyderabad should retain for IPL 2022.
Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.
