Bengal Cricketer Shahbaz Ahmed Faces Potential Backlash for Social Media Post Ahead of IPL Stint with SRH

Renowned spin-bowling all-rounder, Shahbaz Ahmed, is embarking on a new chapter in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is set to join Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) after being traded by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the 2023 season. Having initiated his IPL journey with RCB in 2020 and subsequently being reacquired by the team for Rs 2.4 crores in the 2022 mega auction, Ahmed played 39 matches for RCB, claiming 14 wickets with his best bowling figures recorded at 3/7.

Despite his impressive track record with RCB, the franchise opted to part ways with Shahbaz Ahmed after IPL 2023, trading him to SRH in exchange for his current fee. As he eagerly anticipates his debut season with SRH, Ahmed’s recent social media activity has stirred controversy. His Instagram bio, which reads ‘RCB > SRH,’ has sparked concerns of potential criticism from SRH fans.

Shahbaz Ahmed’s Bio on Instagram:

Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) is determined to make a strong comeback in IPL 2024 following lackluster performances in recent seasons. Since 2020, the team has been unable to progress beyond the league stage. Notably, SRH exhibited exceptional performance between 2016 and 2020, securing an IPL title, a runner-up position, and qualifying for the playoffs thrice during this successful period.

However, their fortunes took a downturn in the last three seasons. In 2021 and 2022, they finished in the eighth position, followed by a disappointing tenth-place finish in IPL 2023. Despite a change in captaincy for the 2023 season, the team failed to achieve the desired impact and ended up at the bottom of the table.

Regarding RCB, their quest for an elusive IPL title continues. Despite commendable performances in recent seasons, the Bengaluru-based team has fallen short of clinching the championship. Qualifying for the playoffs three times consecutively from 2020 to 2022, they, unfortunately, couldn’t progress beyond the playoff stage. In the previous season, RCB concluded at the sixth position, and their focus now shifts to enhancing their performance in IPL 2024.

Squad of Sunrisers Hyderabad for IPL 2024:

Abdul Samad, Abhishek Sharma, Aiden Markram (c), Marco Jansen, Rahul Tripathi, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Sanvir Singh, Heinrich Klaasen, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Agarwal, T. Natarajan, Anmolpreet Singh, Mayank Markande, Upendra Singh Yadav, Umran Malik, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Shahbaz Ahmed, Travis Head, Wanindu Hasaranga, Pat Cummins, Jaydev Unadkat, Akash Singh, Jhathavedh Subramanyan.

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