The 50th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 pits Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad tonight at 7:30 PM IST.
RR, currently the table toppers, head into the contest on a four-match winning streak. Conversely, SRH are reeling from two consecutive defeats and find themselves precariously placed fifth on the points table, just outside the playoff zone due to net run rate.
Hyderabad’s batting woes are a cause for concern. While they have posted big totals while batting first, their inability to chase effectively has exposed their vulnerabilities. Openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma haven’t found their rhythm, and Heinrich Klaasen‘s recent performances haven’t been inspiring either. Aiden Markram‘s touch has also deserted him.
T Natarajan has been the lone bright spark in the bowling department, claiming 13 wickets in seven matches. However, their bowling attack has its weaknesses. Skipper Pat Cummins has been expensive in his last two outings, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar has lacked penetration early into the innings. While Jaydev Unadkat and Mayank Markande have picked up eight wickets each, their economy rates near 11 per over add to SRH’s bowling issues.
The contrast couldn’t be starker for the Royals. Their opening duo of Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal are in form, providing flying starts. Captain Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag have been equally prolific with the bat, making the visitors a formidable batting unit. Notably, Samson boasts the highest average in Hyderabad across his IPL career (71.75) and enjoyed immense success against the Orange Army, scoring the most runs (791) against any team in the league. The emergence of Dhruv Jurel, who recently scored a half-century against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and Shimron Hetmyer’s explosive batting further strengthened their batting lineup.
The Royals’ bowling attack has also been impressive. Sandeep Sharma has been exceptional in the past few games, picking up eight wickets in four matches with a miserly economy rate of 7.13. Yuzvendra Chahal leads the bowling attack with 13 wickets, while Trent Boult and Avesh Khan have provided crucial breakthroughs with 10 and nine wickets, respectively.
Head-to-Head:
Historically, the contest between these two teams has been evenly matched. In their 18 IPL encounters, both sides have emerged victorious on nine occasions each.
This match promises to be a thrilling encounter as RR have been exceptional while chasing this season, winning all six of their chases. Conversely, SRH have just one loss while batting first.
Where-to-Watch:
OTT: JioCinema