New Delhi: Sunrisers Hyderabad have included Jammu and Kashmir's Umran Malik in the squad as short-term Coronavirus replacement of speedster T Natarajan. Umran plays domestic cricket for Jammu and Kashmir and has played only a single T20 match so far.
Natarajan had tested positive for Covid-19 before SRH's match against Delhi Capitals, after which six team members, who came in close contact with him, including all-rounder Vijay Shankar were quarantined with him. The rest of the contingent including the close contacts underwent RT-PCR tests and tested negative.
T Natarajan is currently recovering from Coronavirus and will rejoin Sunrisers Hyderabad squad after testing negative for the dreaded virus. Also, Sherfane Rutherford, who was included in SRH in place of Jonny Bairstow, exited the Hyderabad bio-bubble and returned home due to the death of his father.
SRH's performance under Kane Williamson's captaincy has been quite disappointing and the team has been able to win only one out of 8 matches they have played so far, and have lost 7 games. SRH had to face defeat by 8 wickets from Delhi Capitals in their opening match of the UAE leg.
Hyderabad is currently placed at the bottom of IPL 2021 points table i.e. eighth spot and after the defeat against Delhi, their hope of reaching the playoffs is almost over. To secure a place in playoffs, Hyderabad will have to win all the remaining matches and at the same time expect the rest of the teams to perform poorly.