The 41st match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 pits Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad tonight at 7:30 PM IST.
SRH, currently sitting comfortably in third place with five wins from seven games, will be brimming with confidence. They boast a four-match winning streak and have displayed an aggressive batting approach. Their top order, featuring Travis Head (324 runs) and Abhishek Sharma (257 runs), has consistently provided explosive starts, often putting the game out of reach during the powerplay. Their combined strike rate nearing 216 exemplifies their destructive batting. In the middle order, Heinrich Klassen (268 runs) has been a vital cog, maintaining a strike rate close to 200.
While their batting has been dominant, SRH’s bowling has conceded runs at times. Despite this, T Natarajan (10 wickets) and captain Pat Cummins (nine wickets) have been consistent performers, maintaining an economy rate of around eight runs per over.
RCB, on the other hand, arrive at the match on a six-game losing streak. However, they have shown a fight with the bat in their recent chases. They came agonizingly close to chasing down record-breaking totals on two occasions – falling short by 25 runs against SRH‘s massive 288 and by one run while chasing 223 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Virat Kohli leads the unit’s batting charge with 379 runs, ably supported by captain Faf du Plessis‘ 239 runs. However, their middle order has been inconsistent, with only Rajat Patidar surpassing the 100-run mark. Veteran wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik (251 runs) has been a bright spot, finishing innings with power-hitting (strike rate close to 196).
RCB’s bowling has been their Achilles’ heel, leaking runs at nearly 10 runs per over. They have struggled to pick wickets consistently, with Yash Dayal (seven wickets) and Mohammed Siraj (five wickets) being wicket-takers.
Head-to-Head:
Historically, Hyderabad holds the upper hand in head-to-head encounters, having won 13 out of 24 matches against Bengaluru, who have won 10.
With SRH in top form and RCB desperately seeking a win, this match promises to be a thrilling encounter.
Where-to-Watch:
OTT: JioCinema