Aakash Chopra goes bold!! Questions SRH's potential despite heavy top 3

Former India opener Aakash Chopra feels that a no. of questions will be answered during Sunrisers Hyderabad's opening match against Rajasthan Royals on March 23. Chopra is willing to see the tactics of this mighty batting line-up and how they go about their business.

While SRH have a strong batting line-up, Aakash Chopra is also willing to see the bowling line-up of this team. With the addition of Mohammed Shami, the management has added a new dimension to their bowling attack.

Sunrisers Hyderabad have probably the most dangerous batting line-up of IPL 2025. They reached the final of IPL 2024 on the back of their strong batting line-up which broke several records during the course of the season.

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Aakash Chopra on SRH's powerful batting line-up

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra spoke about the strategies that Sunrisers can implement in their opening game against Rajasthan Royals. Chopra wondered whether the home team SRH would go with the same attacking strategy that became successful last year.

"In the first game of every side, I am more focused on team strategies. Let's start with the home team. The attacking approach with which they have played thus far, with Ishan Kishan also being added, can they bat with the same approach repeatedly?" Chopra pondered.

Speaking on the team's ability to get big scores, the former India batter feels that it will be interesting to see whether SRH can go past 250 this time as well. He believes that it will be slightly difficult since it is a day-game.

"Will they set the same kind of template in this year's first game? Remember it's an afternoon game, and it's slightly difficult to go helter-skelter in an afternoon game. However, will they go with the same tempo? Will they reach 250 once again? I remember them scoring 270-odd in their first game against Mumbai last year," he recalled.

SRH added Ishan Kishan to their squad and the wicketkeeper-batter is likely to bat at No. 3. Kishan is usually an opener in this format but the team management is unlikely to break the highly successful opening duo of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma.

Aakash Chopra discusses SRH's bowling line-up

Aakash Chopra is also looking forward to SRH's bowling line-up. He wondered whether the team could play two legspinners at the same time and also picked the three quicks who were likely to play.

"Secondly, an interesting thing for me will be whether they will go with two leg spinners. Can they play Rahul Chahar and Adam Zampa together if they do that and then an overseas fast bowler in the form of Pat Cummins along with (Mohammad) Shami and Harshal (Patel), this will be your top five bowlers. It looks good," he added.

Sunrisers have a potent fast bowling attack with skipper Pat Cummins leading the pack. The inclusion of Mohammed Shami makes this line-up even stronger and they also have the IPL 2024 Purple Cap winner Harshal Patel.

Where will the match be played?

The match will be played in Hyderabad which produced some high-scoring games last season. It is a fortress for SRH's batters and they know the conditions quite well.

On the other hand, it will be a huge task for Rajasthan Royals' bowling attack to contain such a strong batting line-up. Head and Abhishek were in fantastic form last season and will be aiming to continue their good run this season.