The very essence of IPL is the uncertainty and thrill it brings to every match. Each game is a battle, an evenly poised tussle, a seesaw of fortunes. Among these exciting face-offs, one contest stands out – the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) squaring off against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
This season, SRH has seen its share of lows, with a lack of team cohesion leading to an early exit from the tournament. However, they now play for pride and aim to upset the applecart of RCB, who are hoping to solidify their position in the playoffs. A recent victory over the Rajasthan Royals has bolstered the confidence of RCB, putting them on the front foot as they venture to the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad, with playoff aspirations.
Head to Head
Historically, SRH has held the upper hand in this rivalry, winning 12 of the 21 fixtures played between the two sides. Even the grand final of the 2016 season saw SRH emerge victorious in Bangalore. However, SRH’s home advantage has been squandered this season, with only one win in six home games. Will RCB be able to capitalise on this and flip the script?
Probable 11
SRH’s lineup boasts talent in the form of Anmolpreet Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, and Aiden Markram, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar expected to lead the bowling attack.
SRH Probable XI: Anmolpreet Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen, Glenn Phillips/Harry Brook, Abdul Samad, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan, Mayank Markande, Fazalhaq Farooqi/Marco Jansen
RCB, on the other hand, fields stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, and Glenn Maxwell, with Mohammed Siraj primed to be their mainstay in the bowling department.
RCB Probable XI: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Michael Bracewell, Anuj Rawat, Wayne Parnell, Karn Sharma, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj
Weather Forecast
The pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium has not been a batting paradise this season, with a combined batting average of 23.71. However, teams batting first have won four of the six games at this venue. With the weather expected to be clear, it will be interesting to see how teams strategize their innings.
Conclusion
Even though SRH’s campaign this season has been less than stellar, the beauty of the IPL is that every match starts at 0-0. Despite their disappointing season, SRH has the opportunity to play spoiler and upset RCB’s playoff aspirations. As fans eagerly anticipate this contest, it’s safe to say that the only predictable thing about this match is its unpredictability!
