Former Team India cricketer Aakash Chopra has suggested a couple of changes for Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of their IPL 2021 clash against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Hyderabad made a losing start to their campaign going down against Kolkata Knight Riders by 10 runs and will be desperate to bounce off the block against Virat Kohli & Co.
Hyderabad suffered mostly due to the lack of depth in their batting. Once Jonny Bairstow and Manish Pandey were back in the hut scoring individual fifties, Sunrisers Hyderabad tailenders were exposed to Kolkata’s world-class bowling unit. Although they had the match in their grips; they fell 10 runs short in pursuit of 188 runs set by Kolkata Knight Riders.
After a glaring defeat, popular commentator Aakash Chopra has suggested that the ‘Orange Army’ should make some changes to their side. Stating that the ball has already started turning in the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chopra opined that the Hyderabad outfit might want to play Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the match against the Bangalore outfit.
“When SRH tries to find their four overseas players, they will want to play Nabi but it is possible they might think about Mujeeb as well. The ball has started turning on this pitch. They want to play Nabi but the opposition team has all right-handers. There is just one Devdutt Padikkal and later on Washington Sundar. But the batting core is all right-handers. I won’t be too surprised if they go with him, but they will think if they can bring in Mujeeb somehow, two Afghan mystery kind of bowlers,” said Chopra on his YouTube Channel.
Abdul Samad should bat up in the order – Aakash Chopra
Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s management copped a lot of criticisms for sending young hard-hitting batsman Abdul Samad in the lower order. Had Samad batted up in the order, the results could have gone in favour of David Warner & Co. Aakash Chopra believes the Jammu & Kashmir-born all-rounder should be promoted in the batting and use him as a bowler as well.
“They should send Abdul Samad up the order. I am also thinking if Abhishek Sharma can be given a chance. They can have the permutations and combinations like if they are playing Mujeeb instead of Nabi, they can play Abhishek in place of Sandeep. Then they will get some depth in the batting as well and they will get options in the bowling also. They should get Abdul Samad to bowl as well. So, that will be my thought process,” concluded the 43-year-old Aakash Chopra.
