At the start of this year’s IPL, who would have predicted that SRH would eventually become the top team and the first one to qualify for playoffs, especially after David Warner’s disgraceful exit (who was supposed to lead SRH) which was a great setback for the team and franchise.

But SRH, just like always, surprised everyone with the way their team is playing this season. In a total of 11 matches they have played, they have lost only two, one against CSK which was a thriller and the other against Punjab which was too a close match.

What is the winning formula for SRH?

The reason behind SRH’s phenomenal success this season is their tight bowling. Apart from big names like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shakib al Hasan and Rashid Khan, youngsters like Siddharth Kaul, Basil Thampi and backup pacer Sandeep Sharma, all have delivered great spells of bowling throughout this season which have allowed SRH to defend their low scores this tournament.

While the SRH batsmen have failed to post big totals till now in the IPL, the Sunrisers’ bowlers have taken responsibility of winning matches for their team. Also, their sharp and economical bowling has not allowed the opposition to post big totals in most of the matches they have played so far which have eased the chase for their batsmen.

It is believed that in shorter formats like T-20s, the batsmen are the match winners. However, SRH proved this conventional belief wrong with their extraordinary, hard to tackle bowling.

‘Batsmen win you games, bowlers win you tournaments’

SRH have the best combination of bowlers as compared to the other teams which is their match-winning formula this season. They don’t just defeat you, they strangle you to surrender with their tight bowling.

Kane Williamson: Leader of the Pack

Kane Williamson has made an image of being the anchor around which the other batsmen play. The only foreigner captain of this IPL season is rocking the Indian pitches with his superb batting and game control.

At the time of writing this post, Williamson has scored 543 runs in 12 innings* at an average of 67.9 with 7 half-centuries and sits at second place for the orange cap in IPL 2018. The fact that he has scored 7 fifties in 12 innings is a testament to his consistency, to the fact that whenever Williamson walks in to bat, he has a 60% chance of scoring over 50, which is a stellar record in this format. It In a team not known for its batting prowess, these kinds of performances inspire the team and lifts their morale. The Kiwi player has also remained ice-cool as a skipper on the field especially while defending low targets which shows his top quality of leadership till now. Speaking about Kane, coach Tom Moody says.” Kane is an astute leader. He has transitioned into his role as the Sunrisers skipper very well. It’s easy to forget that he is quite young as an international cricketer but he has a very wise head on his shoulders. He has displayed the ability to handle pressure”. Only 4 league matches are left for SRH to play before the IPL playoffs start. If the SRH bowlers continue to outwit the opposition, SRH is going to be the winner this season. However, so far they have not been able to post big totals which can be a weakness that the other teams can take advantage of. But one thing which is very impressive about Sunrisers is their will to fight back and win low scoring matches which sets them apart from other teams and the favorites to seize the title in this season of the IPL.