Despite being one of the best all-rounders in the world for such a long time, Shakib Al Hasan was never truly utilized properly at Kolkata Knight Riders. At the auction earlier this year, he was let go by the Knight Riders but found a new home in Hyderabad.

Not only that, he has become an integral part of Hyderabad’s team with both his batting and bowling. This is why former India Test star Akash Chopra has stated that Shakib Al Hasan will continue to be the trump card for the Sunrisers.

He believes that despite lacking explosive batsmen in the middle-order of the team, Shakib Al Hasan’s presence is important as he is not only batting well, but is also the glue that sticks them together.

"If they have to chase a big total, they will miss David Warner's [explosiveness] at the top. Other than that, things look quite OK. Manish Pandey is back in form and Shakib Al Hasan is actually batting very well

"[My trump card is] Shakib Al Hasan once again for a simple reason: Sunrisers Hyderabad have a slight middle-muddle, so to speak. You have got Manish Pandey who has found form and there's Deepak Hooda who can finish the game off, but then he [Shakib Al Hasan] is the glue.

Shakib is the glue that keeps the middle-order together and will eventually be asked to accelerate.”

Speaking of his bowling, Aakash Chopra praised his efforts to keep Chris Gayle quite, despite the West Indian going all gung-ho in the game against Hyderabad and will be a key factor against Chennai Super Kings' batting.

“I think he will be critical with the bat and also with the ball because even when Chris Gayle was going helter-skelter, he had a way to target his pads or to bowl him wide outside off.

“So he is a very cunning operator and in this bowling unit against the CSK, where there will be Sam Billings and MS Dhoni in the middle overs, you would expect him to come good or rather make his presence felt.”

Speaking about the other game tonight between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals, Chopra admitted that it is difficult to face Mustafizur for right-handed batsmen, which is why it would be interesting to see how Ajinkya Rahane goes about against Mumbai’s bowling line-up.

"I don't see any lacking in the Mumbai Indians team. You have got Mitchell McClenaghan who will be expensive but he will pick wickets. Jasprit Bumrah, good as ever. Mustafizur Rahman is tough to get away every now and then, only the left-handers tend to get the better of him.

"[Rahane] has a point to prove because he was in Mumbai Indians initially, [then] moved to Rajasthan Royals. He will be up against some quality bowling – make no mistake –Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell McClenaghan, Mustafizur Rahman... they will test his technique, talent, patience, temperament and everything."