The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are poised to face a significant challenge in the upcoming matches of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, as their skilled leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga is anticipated to be sidelined for at least another week. The cricketer is dealing with a persistent left heel pain. Concerns over his fitness escalated after he played the white-ball matches against Bangladesh, where it was evident he was in discomfort.
The severity of Hasaranga’s condition has led the medical team at Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to advise him to pursue an overseas medical evaluation for his heel pain. As such, Hasaranga is making arrangements to leave Sri Lanka to consult with specialist doctors, a process which will determine his further involvement in this IPL season. Sunrisers Hyderabad had acquired Hasaranga’s talents during the auction phase, securing his services for INR 1.5 crore.
The looming T20 World Cup, scheduled for June, adds another dimension to the situation. With Hasaranga designated as the captain of the Sri Lanka team, SLC is understandably cautious about rushing his recovery. The player himself recently reversed his announced retirement from Test cricket, only to be handed a two-match suspension. This penalty arrived following his accumulation of eight demerit points, which was a consequence of infringing article 2.8 within the players’ code of conduct during the third ODI against Bangladesh.
His U-turn on retirement would have, under different circumstances, meant missing the first few matches of the T20 World Cup, leading to speculation about the motives behind his decision. SLC, however, has explicitly dismissed the notion of any such scheme being at play.
As for Sunrisers Hyderabad, with Hasaranga’s involvement now cast into uncertainty, the team management will need to bide their time until greater clarity regarding the spinner’s fitness emerges. The squad, which includes names such as Mayank Agarwal, Aiden Markram, and captain Pat Cummins, is preparing to face formidable opponents in the form of the five-time champions Mumbai Indians in their maiden home fixture of the season. They do so on the back foot, having narrowly lost their season opener against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by four runs.
The complete roster for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024 is a mix of seasoned professionals and emerging talents. Players like Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Heinrich Klaasen, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Marco Jansen, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Markande, and T Natarajan project a sense of balanced team composition. They are joined by the likes of Travis Head, Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, Jaydev Unadkat, Anmolpreet Singh, Upendra Yadav, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Umran Malik, Jhatavedh Subramanyan, Sanvir Singh, Akash Maharaj Singh, and Nitish Reddy.
Despite Hasaranga’s anticipated absence, the Sunrisers Hyderabad will be keen to leverage their squad depth to cover his notable void. The team’s strategists will have to forge a revised game plan to overcome the current challenges and ensure that the team’s performance remains on an upward trajectory. As SRH navigates through this phase, the cricketing community will closely monitor Hasaranga’s recovery and await news of his potential return to the vibrant cricketing spectacle that is the IPL.
