Aakash Chopra has chosen the SunRisers Hyderabad's (SRH) probable playing XI as well as their likely top run-getter and highest wicket-taker in IPL 2023 as well.
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Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has chosen the SunRisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) probable playing XI as well as their likely top run-getter and highest wicket-taker in IPL 2023 as well.
However, the Hyderabad-based franchise released 12 players, which also included last season’s captain Kane Williamson, before the IPL 2023 auction. They chose 13 players at the auction and named Aiden Markram as their captain for the upcoming edition of the league as well. Meanwhile, on the “AakashVani” show on JioCinema, he picked three Indians and as many overseas players in his preferred SunRisers Hyderabad top six, saying:
“If I have to pick the playing XI – I am keeping Abhishek Sharma with Mayank Agarwal, then Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram and Harry Brook. That makes it your top five. Then Heinrich Klaasen at No. 6, who will be the keeper-batter.”
While observing that bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar will give batting depth to SRH, the veteran also added that the franchise can choose between a seamer and a spinner as their fourth overseas player based on the conditions as well, stating:
“So you will have your three overseas players at four, five and six. If you keep Washington Sundar at No. 7, you will have batting till No. 7. You can keep one overseas among the four bowlers. Here you can play either Marco Jansen, Fazalhaq Farooqi or Akeal Hosein.”
Aakash Chopra also pointed out that the Sunrisers Hyderabad could play three among T Natarajan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umran Malik and Kartik Tyagi to complete their bowling attack as well. He also feels that the SunRisers Hyderabad can use either Abdul Samad or one of T Natarajan and Umran Malik as their impact player for their upcoming season, saying:
“Abdul Samad can be the impact player if this team bats second. If you bat first, you can have Abdul Samad in the XI, and then you can get a bowler as an impact player. It could be T Natarajan or Umran Malik, who can also be the impact player.”
He added by picking Mayank Agarwal and Umran Malik as the franchise’s likely leading run-getter and wicket-taker respectively as well. Notably, Mayank, who did not have a great IPL 2022 with the Punjab Kings, was acquired by Hyderabad for ₹8.25 crore at this season’s auction as well. Umran, with 22 wickets, was the 2016 IPL champions’ leading wicket-taker last year.
“I am going with Mayank Agarwal as this team’s highest run-scorer. I feel Mayank Agarwal will have a good season. Who will pick up the most wickets? It is slightly tricky – let us keep Umran Malik as the highest wicket-taker,” he concluded.
