IPL 2019 | Jonny Bairstow hopes to get SRH close to play-offs before leaving for England on April 23

Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Jonny Bairstow has been instrumental in getting emphatic starts for the side alongside David Warner this season. The Englishman is currently the seventh highest run-scorer this season and has been a force to be reckoned at the top. However, SRH won’t be able to avail his services after April 23, as the elegant right-handed batsman will be leaving for England for their World Cup camp. 

Bairstow will feature in two more games for SRH against KKR and CSK respectively before leaving for England. He also expressed his desire to make the most of it and get his team close to the playoffs.

“So far it has gone well. To be in the top five leading run-scorers...it is really very pleasing. Hopefully, I can finish on a high in the next two games as well and we could be in the position to make the playoffs by the time I leave," said Bairstow, reported PTI. 

Bairstow has amassed 365 runs at a staggering average of 52.14, including a century and his unavailability would hamper SRH big time in the remainder of the tournament. 

"We get back after the Chennai game on April 23. Then we've got the World Cup camp. We then play Pakistan in the five-ODI series and then we've got two warm-up matches in which we play Afghanistan and Australia. And then we go into the World Cup.

Bairstow also expressed that a lot of cricket is being played going into the World Cup.

"It's a lot of cricket leading into the World Cup. And then we've got five Ashes Tests after that," Bairstow said. 

On being questioned about which team has the best chance to lift the prestigious Cup, Barstow said, “Lots of teams who could win it and there would be upsets along the way. West Indies could win a game from nowhere. Then there is Afghanistan, who would probably bowl 30-40 overs of spin. In England, you know you do not have pitches like India, which is really dry. Sometimes the pitches could turn in England."

Bairstow and Warner have been prolific at the top and their presence is more like a double-edged sword as they have easily formed one of the most intimidating opening pairs in the IPL.

“When it comes to the balance of team, you don't know which four overseas players are going to play for a franchise in the IPL. But to be given the nod is really pleasing. It is the first time we (he and Warner) have played together," Bairstow added.