Both Hyderabad and Punjab are looking to make their spot in top four! Hyderabad looks formidable in home matches winning all, but story differs in away matches. For Punjab, they have defeated the Lions by 26 runs game.
Sunrisers Hyderabad is currently third-placed in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with nine points from eight matches. Delhi Daredevils have four points from six matches. This game at this juncture looks important in view of both the teams.
SRH: Sunrisers Hyderabad stunned many by winning the Indian Premier League last season. It was a season when they were led by a captain who believed in walking the talk. In Ashish Nehra and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sunrisers Hyderabad have two of India’s best shortest format medium pacers. Bhuvneshwar’s ability to mix seam bowling with yorkers at blockhole at both the start and at the death overs has been high-quality stuff in T20 cricket. David Warner remains this team’s trump card as he has the power to single-handedly win matches for the team with his batting at the top of the order. Add to that, his assured leadership and the Aussie is a talisman for this unit.
KXIP: The Kings XI Punjab endured a heartbreaking season in 2016, as they finished as the wooden spooners of the league, just a season after making it to the final. But with ‘Big Show’ Glenn Maxwell leading the team this season, with a squad full of established international names and exciting young Indian talent, Punjab are certainly one of the dark horses of the season.Sandeep Sharma has the ability to move the new ball and can be a handful on a good track. The addition of Ishant Sharma to the side has added much-needed experience to Punjab’s bowling, while Mohit Sharma’s change of pace could also prove handy.
STRENGTHS:
SRH: Hyderabad’s strength has been their bowling attack with Rashid Khan and someone like Bhuvneswar Kumar who is good with pace even opening and at death overs too. They have strong batting line-up led by captain David Warner who has shown them the way. Yuvraj Singh and Deepak Hooda looks well off and also Aussie player Moises Henriques is doing good with bat and ball.
KXIP: Hashim Amla has been doing well with the bat but things have turned sour as he got injured the last match and no further updates are given. The skipper, Maxwell too is the hard hitter and likes of Shaun Marsh and Axar Patel both can bat. Mannan Vohra has been the star Indian batsman for the team and is looking to hit more runs.
MATCH PREDICTION:
It’s almost improbable to defeat Hyderabad on their home ground as the stats say. All of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s four wins have come in Hyderabad. They have lost three away matches played so far, which suggests that they really thrive at home.
Definitely, it’s gonna be a bowlers game and the Sunrisers is known to defend the totals.
A score of 170 to 180 would be enough for Hyderabad bowlers to defend and clinch the points!
