Key points:
- David Warner finally hit form after a quiet start to the series and finds a brilliant opening partner in Wriddhiman Saha.
- They defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Eliminator to book a spot in the Qualifier.
- Holder has played a key role in the turnaround of SRH in six matches, taking 13 wickets and scoring important runs down the order.
- Jimmy Neesham was chosen, Chris Morris was selected, and other all-rounders were chosen.
- He captains the international team, so we’re not allowed to forget that.
The fact that a new leaf was turned over by Sunrisers Hyderabad to enter the IPL 2020 playoffs does have a lot to do with a lot of important contributions.
David Warner finally hit form after a quiet start to the series and finds a brilliant opening partner in Wriddhiman Saha, who scored up two half-centuries in four games.
Sunrisers not only did it convincingly to win their final three league matches to reach the playoffs, they defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Eliminator to book a spot in the Qualifier to win the final three league matches.
Main players of SRH Mitchell Marsh and Jason Holder:
One of their most significant contributors, however, is someone who wasn’t even intended to play the IPL.
When he was called the substitute for the injured Mitchell Marsh, West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder was holidaying with his family.
Holder has played a key role in the turnaround of SRH in six matches, taking 13 wickets and scoring important runs down the order. And to consider that this year, Holder almost struggled to make it to an IPL team.
Gautam Gambhir on Holder’s auction:
Former Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir said he was shocked to see Holder go unsold at last December’s IPL 2020 auction, even as there was a heavy bidding war for many of the world’s all-rounders.
Gambhir claims that Holder is well prepared to handle pressure situations, playing for West Indies, so it shouldn’t surprise people in seeing him acing for SRH nail-biting finishes.
Gambhir at ESPNCricinfo:
It was really shocking to me that no one, including Jason Holder, actually went after anyone. Jimmy Neesham was chosen, Chris Morris was selected, and other all-rounders were chosen.
But for a team that battles in a test and one-day format, Holder, who plays two formats, continues to play international cricket. So you’re always on the pump, always on in pressure to deliver,’ said Gambhir on ESPNCricinfo.
“When you’re in international cricket most of the time in such a situation, obviously you know how to manage the pressure and that’s something we’ve always talked about, how important it is for overseas players to deal with the IPL pressure.”
A fine instance of how level-headed Holder is in stressful circumstances was his exploits against RCB. He added an undefeated 65-run partnership with Kane Williamson and saw SRH through.
With nine needed from the last over, Holder missed a ball before hitting back-to-back fours to seal the win after Williamson took a single to finish the over. This was after he had recorded 3/25 with the ball previously.
Other things Gambhir pointed out:
He captains the international team, so we’re not allowed to forget that. He frequently plays international cricket. Out of the three formats, he plays two. So he did what he should have done.
The new ball started well, took two important wickets, and contributed just 6.25 an over. What more do you expect from the all-rounder overseas “He pointed out.
