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Shakib Al Hasan is the unsung hero of Hyderabad

(AP Photo/A.M. Ahad, file)
Roar Guru
21st May, 2018
2

Despite the Friday’s loss against Royal Challengers, Bangalore Sunrisers Hyderabad are still very well placed to finish among top two.

Let’s give the Sunrisers credit where it’s due. While Kane Willamson, the captain, has led from the front, smashing seven half-centuries and carrying the batting line-up singlehandedly, the bowlers have been amazing too, with Rashid Khan, Shakib Al Hasan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddharth Kaul and even Basil Thampi doing well before the weekend.

While Rashid Khan has picked up big fish, including AB De Villiers and Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Siddharth Kaul have kept things under control at the start and during the death overs. Less has been spoken about Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh skipper.

This season he has picked up 12 wickets. Let’s have a look at his contribution: Firstly, against the Mumbai Indians while defending 119 he had figures of 1/16. In the team’s first meeting with Bangalore he scored 35 off 32 balls and returned with figures of 2/36, which included the big scalp of Virat Kohli.

Against the Kolkata Knight Riders he got the big wickets of Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine and contributed well with the bat for his 27 runs to provide able support to his skipper. Similarly, against the Punnjab he had figures of 2/18 defending 132.

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al-Hasan

(AP Photo/A.M. Ahad, file)

The number one all-rounder in ODIs and Tests surprisingly didn’t find many bidding for him apart from the Rajasthan Royals, and Hyderabad ultimately grabbed him. He has proven to be the best pick made by Hyderabad, over all-rounders like Ben Stokes and Hardik Pandya who have been inconsistent.

Looking into the breakdown of Shakib’s wickets, four of his 12 wickets have come in the powerplay at an economy of 7.80 with a dot-ball percentage of 41.66. Considering the fact that spinners are in danger of being bullied completely in the powerplay, Shakib’s contribution has given Williamson the opportunity to save to save Bhuvi and Kaul in a final burst in the death overs, where they have brilliantly combined together to defend low scores.

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He has contributed with the bat, though not with very big scores, and has stitched together a decent partnership with Kane Willamson. With the ball he has delievered more often than not.

He may not have set the IPL on fire like Stokes did last year, but he has been filling the gaps in batting to compensate for the brittle top and middle orders and has been choking the opposition with his left-arm spin.

All in all, Shakib has given his team its best return for money, and if the Sunrisers have to lift the big trophy in the final, no way Shakib’s contribution can be lessened over others.

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