The inexperienced SunRisers batsmen made heavy weather of the smallish total in their home match against RCB, as was rightly pointed by Gavaskar after the match.
Akshath Reddy once again looked promising, but couldn't really get going and threw his wicket.
Experienced overseas players like Sangakkara & White falling cheaply didn't really help their cause.
Vihari had a lucky break with his bowling & batted patiently to anchor SRH innings, but he needed an attacking partner with him.
Perera lived up to his typical passing-shower-style batting and played an ungainly shot to get out when his team needed him most.
It really shouldn't have got to Super-Over because you can't really leave it to an Eliminator over to decide the match,
especially if the opposition has a certain Chris Gayle whose favorite pastime is to smoke the leather high into the stands.
Although the SRH have got 2 in 2 at home matches, but I think there are a few changes needed in their line-up.
In all fairness, Cameron White hasn't had a fruitful season with erstwhile Chargers and he has also failed to get going
in 2 matches so far. IMO, he needs to be replaced with Nathan McCullum as one of the overseas players in the line-up.
NMac is much more all-round value player in T20 format as his international career so far has suggested, he is too good a player to be
sitting on bench in T20, especially for a team like SRH, which is bereft of star-power like RCB or MI or CSK.
SRH's composition is bit like NMac's home country NZ, just like Sanga said after the match, they will have to scrap & punch above their weight to win matches.
With Nathan McCullum in, He will give you 4 overs of tight fast-ish offspin, can use the long-handle lower down the order
and is an agile fielder. He along with Thisara Perera can give the SRH real boost at no. 7 & 8 which are very key positions
in T20 line-up.
Asish Reddy is slotted at no. 9 as a bowler, but he doesn't really have the pace to make it count, although his cameo of 14(13 balls)
did make a difference yesterday. SRH will be well served by having Sudeep Tyagi in his place as he not only has more pace, but also
has better domestic bowling record. He also will learn to perform in pressure conditions under Waqar Younis's tutelage & bowling
alongside Steyn & Ishant.
SRH are badly missing Shikhar Dhawan at the top. He has had good batting performances for erstwhile Chargers in last 2 seasons.
He should replace Akshath Reddy as opener and SRH can hope he would start where he had left with DC.
With the suggested changes, SRH will have a more rounded look to their bowling attack which is always handy to have in T20.
Steyn, Ishant, Tyagi & Perera will take up fast/medium pace bowling department, Amit Mishra will bowl leg-spin
while Nathan McCullum will bowl off-spin. They can still use Vihari as a surprise bowling-change.
Shikhar Dhawan
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