Match Details:
- Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings
- Hyderabad, 1100 GMT
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A Race for Second and Rejuvenation for SRH
A washout in their previous match leaves Sunrisers Hyderabad’s fate out of their hands. Even with a win against Punjab Kings, a top-two finish hinges on a Rajasthan Royals loss later that day. This ten-day break since their last victory presents a question: will SRH be rusty or revitalized?
Punjab Kings Give Youngsters a Chance
Punjab Kings were eliminated from playoff contention long ago. With most overseas players unavailable, this match offers a platform for domestic talents to shine. Jitesh Sharma leads a team with just Rilee Rossouw and Nathan Ellis as overseas inclusions.
Form and Previous Encounter
- Sunrisers Hyderabad: Won, Lost, Won, Lost, Lost (Last five matches)
- Punjab Kings: Won, Lost, Lost, Won, Won (Last five matches)
In their earlier meeting, SRH recovered from a shaky start thanks to Nitish Kumar Reddy’s 64. Punjab Kings chased valiantly but fell short by two runs.
Expected Playing XIs
- Sunrisers Hyderabad (Probable):
- Travis Head, 2. Abhishek Sharma, 3. Mayank Agarwal/Rahul Tripathi, 4. Nitish Kumar Reddy, 5. Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6. Abdul Samad, 7. Shahbaz Ahmed, 8. Pat Cummins (c), 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Jaydev Unadkat, 11. Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, 12. T Natarajan
- Punjab Kings (Probable):
- Prabhsimran Singh, 2. Atharva Taide, 3. Rilee Rossouw, 4. Shashank Singh, 5. Jitesh Sharma (c, wk), 6. Ashutosh Sharma, 7. Rishi Dhawan, 8. Harpreet Brar, 9. Harshal Patel, 10. Nathan Ellis, 11. Rahul Chahar, 12. Arshdeep Singh
Players in Focus: Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs. Harshal Patel
Both bowlers have overcome early season struggles. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the current powerplay king with ten wickets, looks to continue his resurgence. Harshal Patel, the leading wicket-taker this season, will be crucial for Punjab Kings in the absence of key bowlers.
Key Stats:
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar has a stranglehold on Prabhsimran Singh, dismissing him thrice in just 11 balls.
- Rossouw has struggled against both Bhuvneshwar and Cummins, managing only five and fourteen runs respectively.
- Abhishek Sharma enjoys facing Arshdeep Singh, scoring 34 runs off him in 23 balls without dismissal.
- Harshal Patel has dismissed Klaasen three times for just 38 runs.
- Nitish Reddy thrives against Harpreet Brar, scoring 38 runs in 16 balls.
Pitch and Weather Update:
Hyderabad boasts a high-scoring pitch, so another high scoring match is expected here. However, there’s a chance of rain, potentially impacting the match.