The enticing clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals is set to unfold in the 50th match of the 2024 Indian Premier League season at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday.
While table-toppers Royals, led by Sanju Samson, have one foot in the playoffs and need only one win for confirmation, Pat Cummins-led SRH have faltered in the past couple of matches, needing to secure at least three victories out of five remaining games for playoff qualification.
In terms of standings, the hosts, with 10 points in their bag, currently occupy the 4th spot on the points table, boasting 5 wins and 4 losses in their 9 matches, while the visiting team is on a triumphant streak, securing victory in 8 out of 9 matches with contributions from nearly every player so far.
What has happened so far?
In the initial three matches of the season, the Orange Army suffered defeats against Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans but they clinched a resounding victory against Mumbai Indians at home. Their subsequent four matches showcased remarkable performances, highlighted by a historic triumph over Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where they set a record IPL total of 287 runs.
However, following their impressive run, they faced setbacks with consecutive losses to RCB and Chennai Super Kings, who sought revenge against SRH. Both losses came while chasing, resulting in defeats by 35 and 78 runs respectively, leaving their current net run rate standing at +0.075.
Meanwhile, the Royals soared with four consecutive victories since the season’s commencement, defeating Lucknow Super Giants, Delhi Capitals, MI, and RCB. While they secured wins against LSG and DC while batting first, their victories over MI and RCB saw them clinch triumphs by six wickets.
However, their season encountered a hiccup in their fifth match against GT at home, where the Samson-led side suffered a close three-wicket defeat. Undeterred by this setback, RR swiftly rebounded with four consecutive wins against Punjab Kings, KKR, MI, and LSG, all achieved by successfully chasing down the targets.
Head to Head Record
In their past encounters, SRH and RR have clashed 18 times, resulting in a perfectly balanced head-to-head record, with each team claiming victory 9 times.
Key Players
Abhishek is only one six away from surpassing Heinrich Klaasen for hitting the most maximums
Abhishek Sharma (Sunrisers Hyderabad): Abhishek Sharma has been making waves with his consistent performances in the ongoing tournament. Currently standing as the second-highest run-scorer for Sunrisers in 2024, the southpaw has amassed an impressive tally of 303 runs in 9 innings, boasting an average of 33.66.
Sharma is currently the fourth-highest in terms of batting strike rate in IPL 2024, trailing behind the legendary MS Dhoni among Indian players in the top 5 which is particularly commendable. With a strike rate nearing 215, Sharma has showcased his ability to dominate the bowlers. Although the Punjab-born batter faltered in the last two matches, his potential to wreak havoc remains evident, especially if he settles in on Thursday.
Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals): Leading the charge for Royals both as a skipper and with his outstanding personal performances, Sanju Samson has been a delight to watch for supporters donning the pink jersey. A contender for the Orange Cap, Samson has amassed 385 runs this season with a remarkable average of 77 and a strike rate exceeding 160.
In the recent match against LSG, Samson showcased his prowess with an unbeaten 71-run innings, steering his team to victory by chasing down the target of 197 runs. With just 15 runs shy of achieving yet another 400-run season, Samson has the opportunity to make Thursday night even more special by securing his team’s spot in the playoffs.
Team News from Both Camps
For the hosts, there are no concerns of injuries to key players as the Cummins-led side has continued the same core of players from the beginning of the season while RR has faced issues with the fitness of their fast bowlers who are also available now after missing a few games.
The form of the Proteas skipper Aiden Markram is concerning for the Sunrisers while the Royals would also be concerned about Rovman Powell who has failed to fire in limited opportunities so far.
Despite these concerns, it’s likely that both teams will maintain the same playing XI for their upcoming encounter.
Predicted XIs
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pat Cummins ©, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, T Natarajan
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson © (wk), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Keshav Maharaj, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal
Prediction
In the upcoming showdown between two heavyweight teams, predicting the ultimate winner will be a formidable task given that the Daniel Vettori-coached side will have the advantage of playing in their home conditions while the Jaipur-based franchise would seek to draw confidence from their previous victories.
Nevertheless, in their last encounter at Hyderabad, RR secured a huge 72-run victory. Considering this significant past performance and their current form, the visiting team appears to hold the advantage in clinching the win.