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Cricket PlayersIPL 2019: Heat on Vijay Shankar as Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians chase playoff spot
With their main run-getters of the season, David Warner and Jonny Bairstow, back home for national duty with the World Cup approaching, SRH will look up to the all-rounder to lead the way at this crucial juncture in the tournament.
As Sunrisers Hyderabad gear up to face Mumbai Indians in a battle to confirm an IPL playoff spot, Vijay Shankar will be one of the players in the spotlight.
With their main run-getters of the season, David Warner and Jonny Bairstow, back home for national duty with the World Cup approaching, SRH will look up to the all-rounder to lead the way at this crucial juncture in the tournament.
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The stakes will be high in Thursday’s game at the Wankhede Stadium. It’s a fight between the third and fourth-placed sides. Hosts MI are on 14 points from 12 games, and a win will help catch up with the second-placed team, either Delhi Capitals or Chennai Super Kings, who were on 16 points ahead of their clash on Wednesday. If SRH win, they will tie with Mumbai Indians on points with a game to go.
PRESSURE TO DELIVER
The pressure is on Vijay Shankar to deliver. Expected to be the mainstay of SRH’s middle-order, the runs haven’t come this season. And since he was declared India’s first-choice for No 4, the pressure of expectation has gone up. India’s original plan was an all-rounder’s role for Shankar, which he had earned with steady performances. Having played just nine ODIs, he was the underdog with nothing to lose; but as the one expected to bat in the pivotal spot, he has a lot to prove.
EXTRA ATTENTION
How is he dealing with the extra attention? The signs haven’t been good so far. A strong batting response in IPL would have helped. But it has been a tame run. Shankar aggregates 180 runs at an average of 20 in 12 innings. He started brightly, scoring an unbeaten 40 off 24 balls against KKR and 35 off 15 balls against Rajasthan Royals.
But since the World Cup team was announced, he has made 105 in nine games (avg 13.1). His four innings since the April 15 team announcement are 7, 26, 8 and 7 not out. The team’s confidence in him also has dipped. A regular at No 4, he batted at No 7 in the last game.
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Shankar is also being outperformed by SRH teammate Manish Pandey, who till mid-season last year was in the running for the World Cup middle-order spot. Pandey’s last three innings are 83 not out, 61 and 36. Ambati Rayudu, the original choice for No 4, targetted him on social media while experts questioned the selectors’ wisdom.
The heroics of Warner and Bairstow had powered SRH to 12 points. Placed fourth, they have RR (11 points, 13 games), KKR (10, 12 games) and KXIP (10, 12 games) breathing down their neck. But the absence of their prolific openers leaves a big hole in batting.
The onus will be on Shankar, from the team’s perspective and for his confidence going into the World Cup.
