Last Updated on 6 years ago by Charbel Coorey

IPL 2020 Match 22: SRH vs KXIP Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | SRH vs KXIP Dream11 Prediction | Kings XI Punjab vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Key Players | Dubai Pitch Report

If there was ever a game that felt like an elimination playoff in the first half of the season, this is it. Two sides, both of whom have had some good moments, have largely disappointed so far, as they both sit in the bottom three of the IPL 2020 Table.

The good moments for Kings XI Punjab translates specifically to their opening partnership. KL Rahul (302) and Mayank Agarwal (272) both sit in the top three for leading run-scorers in IPL 2020, with 63% of the team’s runs. But, the strength of the opening combination also means an undercooked middle order that has yet to fully fire so far, even with the talented Nicholas Pooran and Glenn Maxwell in their ranks. Will today be their day?

However, KXIP’s biggest problem is undoubtedly their bowling. They were taken to the cleaners by Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis last time out, after awful death bowling cost them dearly against Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals earlier in the season. In both those games, KXIP were in control, until overs consisting of 30 runs swung the game in the opposition’s favour. So, is it time that Mujeeb ur Rahman comes in? Or will the Kings persist with their current crop?

Like Kings XI, Sunrisers Hyderabad also look top heavy. Even with the superb efforts of Priyam Garg and Abhishek Sharma two games ago against CSK, a lot still rests on the top four, with the slow finish to the innings vs MI the overwhelming evidence. Skipper David Warner looked to be getting back to his best form with his first half-century of the season last time out, and will need to lead the way here against a side that has struggled with the ball.

Also, how will SRH cope with the loss of Bhuvneshwar Kumar? The experienced pacer has been ruled out of the tournament (details here), which leaves an already thin bowling attack even thinner. Siddarth Kaul went the distance last time out, so he, and the SRH team, need to bounce back here. The best way to do that? Break the KXIP opening partnership as early as possible.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• David Warner has a terrific record vs KXIP. In fact, he has the most runs in SRH-KXIP matches, with 574 runs at a superb average and strike rate of 71.75 and 143.86 respectively.
• Warner scored well vs KXIP in IPL 2019: 81 (56) and 70* (62).
• KL Rahul is in excellent run-scoring form (most runs in IPL 2020), but his strike rate is under question. So, his approach will be interesting today. When playing for KXIP vs SRH, Rahul has 200 runs in four innings (avg. 66.67).
• Mayank Agarwal is also in superb touch. He is currently the third-highest run-scorer in IPL 2020, with 272 runs at an average of 54.40 (SR 162.87). He also scored a half century vs SRH in 2019. Can he keep that form going today?
• Jonny Bairstow rounds out the battle of the openers. He has had an up-and-down tournament so far, with two half-centuries in five games but an overall average of below 30 (28.80).
• Manish Pandey vs KXIP: 19 innings, 521 runs, avg. 34.73, SR 126.76. Can he build on this promising record, as well as the starts he has made this season? (scores of 34, 51, 3, 29, 30).
• Kane Williamson has a strike rate of 156.41 in four games for SRH vs KXIP (122 runs, average 40.67).
• Nicholas Pooran is finding some form. His last three scores in IPL 2020: 25* (8), 44 (27) and 33 (17). Can his middle order partner Glenn Maxwell (5 matches, 41 runs, avg. 13.66, SR 93.18) finally get going in IPL 2020?
• Mohammed Shami has taken eight wickets in five games so far in IPL 2020. If he and Sheldon Cottrell (six IPL 2020 wickets) can continue their strong powerplay form, then KXIP are a good chance of winning this match.
• Rashid Khan has the most wickets for SRH against KXIP, after Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Rashid Khan’s 11 wickets come at a good strike rate of 13.09. Also, Khan has been superb in recent matches: 1/25, 3/14, 0/12 and 1/22.
• Chris Jordan has had an awful tournament thus far (0/98 off 7 overs). However, could this be the day where he gets wickets at the backend, against what remains a shaky SRH middle order?
• Siddarth Kaul has six wickets in five matches vs SRH. T Natarajan went for just 29 in four overs vs MI at Sharjah, and is an excellent exponent of the yorker. Death over wickets for Natarajan vs KXIP today?
• Ravi Bishnoi’s performances at Dubai in IPL 2020: 1/22, 3/32 and 0/33.

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 14, SRH 10, KXIP 4.
• In the last four meetings between the teams, both SRH and KXIP have won two games each.
  Jonny Bairstow has a strike rate of 79 and average of 13.50 vs good length balls in IPL 2020. Can Shami and Cottrell exploit this in the powerplay overs?
• Mayank Agarwal has faced four googlies in IPL 2020, and has been dismissed twice. Plan of attack for Rashid Khan?
• David Warner has scored a half-century in each of his last eight games vs Kings XI.
• KXIP have won just one out of five games in IPL 2020. However, they still have a positive net run rate (0.178).

Possible Playing 11

SRH could give another chance to Siddarth Kaul, as this game is in Dubai, after he conceded 64 runs vs MI at Sharjah.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1. David Warner (c), 2. Jonny Bairstow (wk), 3. Kane Williamson, 4. Manish Pandey, 5. Priyam Garg, 6. Abhishek Sharma, 7. Abdul Samad, 8. Rashid Khan, 9. Sandeep Sharma, 10. Siddarth Kaul, 11. T Natarajan

Do KXIP bring in Mujeeb ur Rahman? One thing for certain is that they must improve their death bowling, as they concede 14.8 an over at this stage in IPL 2020 – the worst among all teams.

Kings XI Punjab: 1. KL Rahul (c), 2. Mayank Agarwal, 3. Mandeep Singh, 4. Nicholas Pooran (wk), 5. Glenn Maxwell, 6. Sarfaraz Khan, 7. Chris Jordan, 8. Harpreet Brar/M Ashwin, 9. Sheldon Cottrell, 10. Mohammad Shami, 11. Ravi Bishnoi

Dubai Pitch and Weather Report

There was more success for the team batting first in IPL 2020 yesterday, with KKR beating CSK by 10 runs. The team batting first has won 16 of 21 matches so far in 2020, including seven out of nine at Dubai. In those nine games, the team that won the toss chose to bowl first seven times, and lost on all occasions.

Dew will play a role again, but batting first could be the way to go. The average first innings score at Dubai in IPL 2020 is 179.33, which certainly suggests a good batting surface.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Match Prediction

The opening batsmen are crucial for both teams. So, the bowling team that performs well in the powerplay could go on to win this game. For KXIP, Rahul and Agarwal will be key, but so too Mohammed Shami and Sheldon Cottrell against SRH’s Warner and Bairstow. If KXIP can set up a platform to bowl well at the death, they can go on to win their second game of the season.

Thanks for reading!