3 buys that made perfect sense for SRH at the IPL 2022 auction

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) bought 20 players in the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction in Bengaluru for the 2022 season. Prior to the auction, they have retained skipper Kane Williamson (14 crore), Abdul Samad (four crore), and Umran Malik (four crore).

IPL 2022 Auction: SRH’s smart picks

Let’s take a look at three players that SRH made sense to buy at the just ended mega auction.

Washington Sundar

SRH were on the search for a solid all-rounder who could contribute with both bat and ball after releasing the versatile Jason Holder. In that regard, Washington Sundar was an excellent choice.

He has a track record of starting innings with the ball and is a deadly off-spinner. Sundar has a good economy rate of 6.93 after 42 IPL matches. He has also improved his death-overs skills, as seen by his performance in the ODI series against the West Indies.

The left-hander may be no match for Holder’s raw power with the willow. However, if he is used properly, he may contribute critical runs to the squad. Sundar is a savvy consumer who recognises his limits and devises strategies to overcome them. It is up to SRH to make the most of his abilities. Of course, given his recent injury issues, the organization will be hoping he stays healthy.

Aiden Markram

With David Warner out of the lineup, SRH needed a big-hitting batsman who could hit the ball hard and far. Aiden Markram of South Africa is no match for Australia’s big-hitting power. At the same time, he is unquestionably a viable option. He can tonk the ball hard, and while his series against India was not very successful, Markram is a proven performer in white-ball events.

Of course, Muttiah Muralitharan, Hyderabad’s spin-bowling consultant, has confirmed that Abhishek Sharma and Kane Williamson will begin the innings for the club. However, they will rely largely on Markram, just like they did with Warner previously, when it comes to power striking.

Also, because he has ample cricket experience in that position, the South African opening the innings wouldn’t be a terrible idea. Those who watched Markram’s heroics at the T20 World Cup last year would agree that he is a unique talent.

Rahul Tripathi

SRH have suffered greatly in previous seasons as a result of their over-reliance on a few key batsmen. During IPL 2019, Warner and Jonny Bairstow scored the majority of the runs for the team, smashing batting records in the process. Williamson virtually single-handedly sought to preserve the team’s batting order last season.

Due to a lack of experience in the middle order, Hyderabad struggled severely. They chose youths like Priyam Garg (who has since been acquired again) and Virat Singh, who, despite their evident promise, proved to be too raw. They put their hope in the seasoned Kedar Jadhav in the 2021 edition, but he proved to be a spent force.

At least on the bidding table, SRH appears to have gotten it right this time. Rahul Tripathi, an aggressive and brave batsman, is precisely what the franchise needs in the middle order. He can easily clear the field and is also an expert at spotting spaces.