In the upcoming 66th game of the Indian Premier League, Sunrisers Hyderabad, in pursuit of a playoff spot, are gearing up to host Gujarat Titans at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday.
Unfortunately, Gujarat Titans have been eliminated from playoff contention but Sunrisers still retain the opportunity to secure a top-two finish, affording them two chances at advancing further in the tournament.
What has happened so far?
In their previous game, Sunrisers Hyderabad lost the toss but the Sunrisers made the best out of their bowling efforts as they restricted the opposition to just 165 runs. While Lucknow Super Giants were batting, it looked like a tough batting surface but Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma made merry of the target. The team chased down the target within 9.4 overs without losing any wickets. Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were the architects of the victory.
In the previous game, Gujarat Titans were unable to start play as heavy rain poured down in Ahmedabad. However, prior to this encounter, GT secured a notable victory over Chennai Super Kings by a significant margin of 35 runs, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
Put to bat first by CSK, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan formed a formidable partnership, scoring a double-century stand and posting a substantial total of 231 runs in 20 overs. The bowlers then efficiently defended the target, picking up three wickets in the powerplay itself.
Despite Daryl Mitchell and Moeen Ali attempting to build a partnership and steer the team towards safety, their efforts were in vain as they were restricted to 196 runs. Mohit Sharma and Rashid Khan particularly excelled in GT’s victory.
Head to Head Record
In the last two seasons since its inception, Sunrisers Hyderabad has faced Gujarat Titans four times. However, Gujarat has emerged as the dominant side in these encounters, securing three wins compared to Hyderabad’s solitary victory.
In their most recent meeting this season, the Ahmedabad-based franchise successfully restricted SRH to 162 runs. Subsequently, GT chased down the target with five balls to spare and with seven wickets in hand.
Key Players
Abhishek Sharma is the second-highest run-getter for SRH in IPL 2024
Abhishek Sharma (Sunrisers Hyderabad): Abhishek Sharma has been a key player for the Hyderabad-based outfit in the ongoing season. The left-handed batter has amassed 401 runs in 12 innings for the side, displaying exceptional form. These runs have come at an astonishing strike rate of 205.64 and an impressive average of 36.45.
The swashbuckling southpaw has registered two half-centuries and smashed a remarkable 35 sixes in the ongoing campaign of the Indian Premier League, showcasing his power-hitting prowess. While his bowling capabilities have not been fully utilized by the team, he remains a valuable asset for the fielding side.
Mohit Sharma (Gujarat Titans): For a struggling side like Gujarat Titans, Mohit Sharma has emerged as a silver lining amidst the dark clouds in the current season. Despite a shaky start to the campaign, the skilled right-arm medium pacer has played a pivotal role in keeping GT’s hopes alive in the competition.
In 11 games, Mohit Sharma has claimed 13 wickets with an economy rate of 10.89 and a strike rate of 18. His standout performance came against the same opposition, where he picked up three wickets for 25 runs, showcasing his ability to make crucial breakthroughs when needed.
Team News from Both Camps
At present, Sunrisers Hyderabad has no injury concerns and stand as one of the top-performing sides in the tournament. With minimal alterations to the lineup, the only notable change being Aiden Markram’s replacement by Viyaskanth Vijayakanth, the team appears likely to maintain consistency for the crucial fixture.
Throughout the campaign, Gujarat Titans have faced challenges due to the absence of Mohammed Shami and a fragile middle order. Their struggle to find a cohesive XI has been evident, resulting in frequent changes to the lineup and impacting their performance. In the final game, one can anticipate Josh Little featuring, especially considering his decision to skip the bilateral series against Pakistan to gain exposure and experience from leagues like the IPL.
Predicted XIs
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pat Cummins ©, Jaydev Unadkat, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Viyaskanth Vijayakanth, T Natarajan
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill ©, Sai Sudharsan, Matthew Wade (wk), Shahrukh Khan, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Umesh Yadav, Mohit Sharma, Joshua Little, Kartik Tyagi
Prediction
Gujarat Titans are already out of the competition, whereas Sunrisers Hyderabad need a win to secure their qualification without any hiccups. We can expect a close competition, with Gujarat playing for their pride and aiming to avoid the bottom two spots. In a thrilling encounter, SRH is expected to seal their playoff qualification.