KKR and SRH, both strong batting teams, are set to clash with a place in the IPL final on the line. This will be their first encounter since their opening match of the season in March, where KKR narrowly won by four runs.
Overview
Two of the fastest-scoring teams in this IPL season are set to clash in the first qualifier in Ahmedabad, promising a high-scoring game, especially if the pitch is a bouncy, red-soil track. Despite Phil Salt’s departure from the IPL, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) still boast powerful hitters like Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh. Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have their own heavy hitters in Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Heinrich Klaasen, who can rival or even outshine KKR’s batting strength.
SRH has bolstered their top order with the aggressive Rahul Tripathi at No. 3. But they may need to temper their aggression if Ahmedabad offers a slow, black-soil pitch. In March, SRH managed only 162 for 8 on a similar surface, which favored the Gujarat Titans’ spinners.
Regardless of the pitch conditions, Narine and Varun Chakravarthy have the skills to take wickets or restrict the opposition. However, KKR faces a challenge as their last two league matches were washed out, including one in Ahmedabad. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, brought in as a replacement for Salt, has not played in IPL 2024 and last appeared in mid-March. KKR secured their playoff spot on May 11 by defeating Mumbai Indians in a shortened home game. With a ten-day break since then, it might be challenging for them to quickly regain their momentum, despite being the table-toppers.
Team Updates and Key Players Strategy
Kolkata Knight Riders
Nitish Rana is back in form and could be used as an Impact Player, potentially replacing one of the bowlers after his impressive 33 off 23 balls against MI in Kolkata. KKR might need to decide between left-arm spinner Anukul Roy and right-arm fast bowler Vaibhav Arora.
Expected Playing XII:
- Sunil Narine
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)
- Shreyas Iyer (capt)
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Nitish Rana
- Rinku Singh
- Andre Russell
- Ramandeep Singh
- Mitchell Starc
- Anukul Roy / Vaibhav Arora
- Harshit Rana
- Varun Chakravarthy
Sunrisers Hyderabad
SRH has been using a consistent strategy with their Impact Player, often replacing a batter with T Natarajan. Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, a young leg-spinner, has done well in his IPL appearances and might keep his place unless SRH decides to bring back Aiden Markram for his batting and off-spin to counter KKR’s left-handers. Jaydev Unadkat is another option for his change-up deliveries.
Expected Playing XII:
- Travis Head
- Abhishek Sharma
- Rahul Tripathi
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Heinrich Klaasen (wk)
- Shahbaz Ahmed
- Abdul Samad
- Sanvir Singh
- Pat Cummins (captain)
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Vijayakanth Viyaskanth
- T Natarajan
Recent Track Record
Sunrisers Hyderabad [SRH] :[ W , W , L , W , L]
Kolkata Knight Riders [KKR] :[ W , W , W , W , L]
In the limelight
Rinku Singh, known for his impressive finishing skills in IPL 2023, hasn’t had many chances to showcase his talent in IPL 2024. He didn’t make it to India’s main squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. This season, he has faced only 113 balls in 11 innings but has maintained a strong strike rate of 148.67. While this might not seem as impressive compared to some of the big hitters playing on Tuesday, Rinku is still a player to watch out for.
T Natarajan had a tough time against Ayush Badoni but made a strong comeback against Punjab Kings, taking 2 wickets for 33 runs in a high-scoring match that ended 215 to 214. Natarajan has added a deceptive slower bouncer to his arsenal, complementing his well-known yorkers, making him a versatile threat in the middle and death overs. However, he needs to be cautious against Andre Russell, who has scored 43 runs off Natarajan’s 26 balls at a strike rate of 165.38 in the IPL.
Pitch Conditions and Statistics
The type of soil, red or black, will impact team composition. While the last game in Ahmedabad was rained out, the forecast for Tuesday is hot and dry.
Important Stats According to SPONTASY logs
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs. Narine: Bhuvneshwar has dismissed Narine twice in 25 balls, giving away just 28 runs in the IPL.
- Varun Chakravarthy’s Spin: Varun has taken 38 wickets in 26 IPL innings since the start of the 2023 season, the highest among spinners.
- Narine’s Sixes: Narine is just four sixes away from hitting 100 in the IPL, with 32 of those coming this season. Abhishek Sharma leads this season with 41 sixes.
- Yorker Kings: Bhuvneshwar has bowled 31 yorkers in IPL 2024. Jasprit Bumrah leads with 56, while Avesh Khan also has 31, and Natarajan has bowled 27.
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