Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants, 57th Match

 Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 7:30 PM

Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad

HEAD TO HEAD
TotaL           :   3
LSG Won    :  3
SRH  Won   :  0

Surfaces at this venue have been extremely good for batting in recent times, starting from the ODI World Cup late last year to the ongoing IPL season. Average score batting first this season has been a shade above 212 with the 200-run mark breached thrice in the four games.

SRH were also forced to drop the out-of-form Aiden Markram for all-rounder Marco Jansen but that is another move which hasn't worked. The batting has tapered off a bit, particularly on relatively testing surfaces and Pat Cummins' men need to step it up before things go out of hand. While the batting has stagnated a bit, the bowling unit has certainly warmed up to the task led by Cummins himself with great support from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan. If SRH can rediscover their batting mojo, they could be hard to stop, especially at Hyderabad.

LSG also began the season well, notching up three victories in their first four games but have struggled for consistency thereafter with alternate wins and losses. KL Rahul's side haven't had a winless drought as such but they have also suffered from lack of winning momentum which is crucial in the T20 format. The skipper himself hasn't really fired on a regular basis and while he is in the Orange Cap race once again, the opening batter hasn't had the impact that one would expect of him. Injuries have forced changes in LSG's bowling combinations as well with rookie speedgun Mayank Yadav lasting barely lasting three games.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Pat Cummins has been outstanding in the middle overs this season. The SRH captain may have only picked six wickets during this phase (overs 7-15) but has an exceptional economy rate of 7.39 across 18 overs bowled - a tremendous stat considering the high-scoring season that this year has been. Cummins' role will be pivotal against LSG's enforcers in Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran and Deepak Hooda. SRH will be tempted to bring in Glenn Phillips who has been due to get a game for some time now. Marco Jansen will be the one to make way in such a scenario with Jaydev Unadkat expected to slot back in. There could also be a temptation to unleash the x-factor of Umran Malik

Injuries and availability: SRH don't have any concerns with respect to fitness and availability.

Probable XI: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen(wk), Glenn Phillips, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pat Cummins, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat/Umran Malik. [Impact sub: T Natarajan]

Lucknow Super Giants

Mohsin Khan has been devastating against left-hand batters with seven wickets from 54 deliveries at an economy of 8.14. The left-arm seamer has also been potent with the new ball with five wickets in the PowerPlay and an economy of just 8.14. So, LSG will hope he can tie down SRH's dynamic left-left opening pair of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. LSG will ponder about bringing back Quinton de Kock into their line-up, which could see Ashton Turner sitting out

Injuries/Availability: Apart from Mayank Yadav who is unlikely to play a part in the season finale, LSG have no concerns with injuries

Probable XI: KL Rahul(c), Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Yash Thakur. [Impact player - Arshin Kulkarni]