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After a gap of three seasons, the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) are back in the IPL 2024 playoffs courtesy of an impressive run in the league phase. Under new captain Pat Cummins, Hyderabad won eight games and lost five, while one match yielded a no-result in one to finish with 17 points.
Although the Rajasthan Royals (RR) also had 17 points, SRH finished higher due to a superior net run rate, thanks to their explosive and ultra-attacking brand of cricket that they have played throughout this season.
Over the years, the SunRisers have had some big names who have stepped up when it mattered the most with the bat, be it through big scores or through some invaluable cameos that proved to be the difference between the two sides.
On that note, let's take a look at five such impactful knocks from a SunRisers Hyderabad player in the IPL playoffs.
#5 Kane Williamson - 50* (44), RCB vs SRH, IPL 2020 Eliminator
Amidst all the talk of high-scoring games and high strike rates, there are some games where the ability to grind comes in handy and the Eliminator of the IPL 2020 season between SRH and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was one such instance.
RCB set a target of 132 on a tricky pitch and were right in the game when they had SRH 55/3 in the ninth over. The SunRisers lost their fourth soon after and Bengaluru were arguably favorites to win the game with their noses in front. However, Kane Williamson's ability to deliver under pressure came to Hyderabad's rescue.
The Kiwi scored a half-century off just 44 balls and formed a crucial partnership alongside Jason Holder. Their 65-run stand allowed SRH to seal the game in the final over with a couple of balls to spare.
#4 Rashid Khan - 34* (10), SRH vs KKR, IPL 2018 Qualifier 2
Afghanistan star Rashid Khan has shown often that he is not just one of the best T20 bowlers in the world but also a more than handy batter. Rashid has produced some sensational cameos for SRH in the IPL and one of the best came on the biggest stage against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
He scored 34 in just 10 balls including two boundaries and four sixes to propel SRH's score to 174/7 in their 20 overs. The all-rounder backed it up with sensational figures of 3/19 and ensured KKR were restricted to 160/9 in their 20 overs. His all-round performance allowed the SunRisers to enter the final that year.
#3 David Warner - 93* (58), GL vs SRH, IPL 2016 Qualifier 2
The IPL 2016 season will be remembered for how David Warner at times carried the SRH batting line-up in crunch games and it was no different when they met the Gujarat Lions in Qualifier 2.
Chasing 163 to win, SRH were in deep trouble as they kept losing wickets from one end. However, Warner held it together at the other end and kept scoring boundaries whenever the opportunity arose.
At 117/6, he got the support of Bipul Sharma and the duo ensured that there were no further wickets lost. Warner scored a sensational 93* off just 58 balls and that incredible knock got SRH into the final.
#2 David Warner - 69 (38), SRH vs RCB, IPL 2016 final
Warner picked up from where he left off against the Gujarat Lions, this time against an RCB side with the home crowd behind them. He got his team off to a rollicking start with 69 runs off just 38 balls in a knock that included eight fours and three sixes.
The Chinnaswamy Stadium is generally a ground where big scores are chased down so that made Warner's contribution even more important. While Ben Cutting's explosion at the end did give SRH the edge, Warner set it all up at the top once again just like he had done in the whole of IPL 2016.
#1 Ben Cutting - 39* (15), SRH vs RCB, IPL 2016 final
A knock that continues to be a dagger to RCB fans' hearts and arguably the most impactful knock played by an SRH player in knockouts is Ben Cutting's sizzling cameo of 39 off just 15 balls. Despite Warner's fantastic knock of 69, it looked like RCB would restrict SRH to around the 180-run mark.
However, Cutting almost came out of the syllabus for the hosts as he smashed three boundaries and four sixes, taking a special liking to compatriot Shane Watson. Despite half-centuries from Chris Gayle (76) and Virat Kohli (54), RCB fell agonizingly short of the target of 208 as Hyderabad won the game by eight runs and won the IPL 2016 title.
