Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
Royal Wedding? Please. Royal day in the IPL!
In the second of two huge games today, KKR have the chance to secure their playoffs spot following the Royal Derby, against an SRH side looking to get back in the winner’s circle.
Sunrisers Hyderabad face the possibility of three straight defeats ahead of the playoffs. The last time they lost two straight was also in this tournament, where they conceded two big totals (193 and 183). They bounced back superbly, winning their next six matches. They face the same situation here, coming off conceding 180/2 (19) v CSK and 218/6 v RCB, so can they bounce back as they did earlier in the tournament?
Kolkata Knight Riders find themselves in a situation where they can finish as high as second, or miss the playoffs together, such is the nature of the amazing IPL competition. Unlike SRH, KKR are on a good run of two straight wins, both impressive. After getting pummeled by MI, KKR then pummeled KXIP and RR to highlight their bounce back ability, and they’ll back their chances tonight against an SRH side looking to get back into the winners circle. Can they lock down their playoffs spot?
Key to a Sunrisers Hyderabad win
SRH suffered at the hands of CSK and RCB, two of the stronger batting line ups in the tournament. With KKR’s batting hitting good form in the last couple of games, including a huge score of 245/6 v KXIP, SRH’s bowlers need to find their mojo again.
Rashid Khan was superb in SRH’s last two losses, taking a combined 3/52 off eight overs, including 3/27 (4) in a total of 218/6 at Bangalore. The key to SRH’s success right throughout IPL 2018 has been their ability to bowl well as a unit, and ahead of the playoffs, they need to rediscover that aspect of their game.
Whether Bhuvneshwar Kumar is included could be key, as Basil Thampi had a night to forget v RCB, going for 70 off his four overs. Also, Shikhar Dhawan and Kane Williamson (the latter scoring an amazing 81 to give SRH a chance v RCB) are two key batsmen, and if they can fire against KKR, they provide freedom for the others to try and get as many runs as they can on what is expected to be a slow pitch.
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| Kane Williamson is in scintillating form. |
Key to a Kolkata Knight Riders win
Can KKR get on top of the SRH attack? If so, much of the battle is won, which is vital in a situation where their fate lies in their own hands. Chris Lynn has been excellent in terms of his maturity in recent matches, and if Sunil Narine can have one of those blockbusting starts, KKR have the firepower throughout their line up to set or chase a big score.
Also, how well KKR’s spinners perform will be key in Hyderabad. Kuldeep Yadav roared back into form with a man of the match 4/20 against RR, and if KKR don’t allow SRH’s batsmen to get going, even more pressure gets placed on their bowlers, which KKR have the ability to take advantage of with their batting.
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| Sunil Narine – key with bat and ball for KKR |
Predicted teams
For SRH, the inclusion of Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be vital to their chances of locking down first position, and gaining some momentum ahead of the playoffs. Also, the general consensus is that Wriddhiman Saha will miss this game as well.
Sunrisers Hyderabad possible XI: 1. Shikhar Dhawan, 2. Alex Hales, 3. Kane Williamson (c), 4. Manish Pandey, 5. Deepak Hooda, 6. Shakib Al Hasan, 7. Shreevats Goswami (wk), 8. Bhvuneshwar Kumar/Basil Thampi, 9. Rashid Khan, 10. Siddarth Kaul, 11. Sandeep Sharma
KKR’s spinners are key to their chances tonight on what is expected to be a slow pitch, so could Piyush Chawla be brought back to the team? It’s certainly a possibility.
Kolkata Knight Riders possible XI: 1. Chris Lynn, 2. Sunil Narine, 3. Robin Uthappa, 4. Andre Russell, 5. Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), 6. Nitish Rana, 7. Shubman Gill, 8. Javon Searles, 9. Piyush Chawla, 10. Prasidh Krishna/Shivam Mavi, 11. Kuldeep Yadav
Stats and Facts:
- Head-to-Head: Matches 13 SRH 5 KKR 8
- SRH have won five of six matches at home this season, on the back of six out of seven wins last season.
- SRH’s economy rate first ten matches: 7.24. Last three matches: 10.18
- KKR have hit the second most sixes in IPL 2018 (107) and SRH the least (62).
- KKR will be hoping Sunil Narine is still around when Rashid Khan comes on to bowl. Rashid Khan concedes 10.1 an over v left handers, with a balls-per-boundary ratio of four balls. Against right handers, he concedes 6.1 an over with BPB ratio of 8.7 balls.
Prediction
What mood will SRH be in? Will they be focused on this game, or Qualifier 1? Can they find momentum ahead of the playoffs?
For KKR, can they handle the pressure? Can they build on their good form?
I have a feeling KKR will do very well in this game, and win it in a close one. However, this is one that can easily go the other way, as SRH are a fine side themselves. That’s the beauty of IPL 2018. Bring it on!
