Sunrisers are all set for Kings' test
- Hyderabad: It is still very early days in this season's IPL but Sunrisers Hyderabad's insipid performance in the first two games has left even the most die-hard fan disappointed.
- The Sunrisers were mauled by Rajasthan Royals in a 72-run thrashing at home last Sunday and they were nailed by Lucknow Super Giants in a five-wicket loss in Lucknow on Friday.
- Will the Sunrisers be able to revive their campaign against Punjab Kings on Easter Sunday is the question. If it has to happen, head coach Brian Lara and his men will have to bring in a whole new gameplan.
- As of now, the Sunrisers have been flat and uninspiring in all departments of the game. The batting has lacked fire- power right from the top. Added to it is their inability to tackle the spinners. If it was Yuvonda Chahal (4/17) in the first game, then it was the trio of Krunal Pandya (3/18), Amit Mishra (2/23) and Ravi Bishnoi (1/16) who tormented the Sunrisers.
- The Sunrisers have had poor starts in both the games. Against Royals, Sunrisers managed a poor 30 and lost two wickets in the powerplay. It was only a shade better against Lucknow as they scored 43 for one.
- The arrival of skipper Aiden Markram for the second game was expected to bolster the faltering middle-order but unfortunately the South African fell to the first ball to Krunal Pandya.
- Englishman Harry Brooks hasn't got to terms with the pressure of playing in the IPL. He seems quite uncomfortable against the spinners and that is hurting the Sunrisers, who had splurged Rs 13.25 crore on him in the auction. The only saving grace, thus far, has been Abdul Samad, who scored an unbeaten 32 against Royals and had remained not out on 21 against Lucknow.
- The bowlers too haven't looked threatening enough. They were blown away by the Royals in the first game and on Friday, they didn't have much to defend.
- The home side's strategy of using only three foreign players against the Super Giants was a mystery and the team management needs to strategies on how to make maximum use of their foreign recruits, especially since their domestic players don't seem to have the firepower to trouble the rival bowlers.