Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals set for high-stakes IPL clash

Rajasthan Royals will look to settle scores when they host Sunrisers Hyderabad in a crucial IPL clash at Jaipur. RR, in good form this season, aim to avenge their earlier defeat as both teams chase important points

Jaipur: Rajasthan Royals would want to assert their dominance at home and settle old scores when they host Sunrisers Hyderabad in what promises to be a high-stakes Indian Premier League game here on Saturday, with both sides eyeing crucial points.

Revenge could be on RR’s mind, having been outplayed by SRH in their first-leg match on April 13, when Praful Hinge headlined a 57-run drubbing with a performance that has now become part of IPL lore.

RR have since done well, including notching a 40-run win over Lucknow Super Giants away on Wednesday, and are currently placed second in the standings.

SRH, who have already had their share of ups and downs this season due to inconsistency, are occupying the fourth spot, and they know the home team will come at them strongly at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

Whether it was controlling the start, the middle overs, or closing out at the death, RR were found wanting in almost every department in the most recent meeting between the two sides, and they will see this fixture as the perfect opportunity to come up with a strong response, especially in phases where they faltered last time.

There is no doubt that there is a clear subplot of unfinished business in the game as far as RR are concerned, even as SRH bank on their attacking top-order batters to fire and set the tone for the visitors.

SRH’s aggressive template worked for them last time, with the likes of Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen doing the job with the bat.

Fresh from his blazing hundred against Delhi Capitals, Abhishek Sharma will be keen to continue in the same vein, even as Travis Head looks for quick runs at the top.

SRH boast one of the most explosive batting units in the tournament, with their top three striking at a high rate.

Although Hinge and Sakib Hussain both grabbed four wickets on their IPL debut against RR, the SRH bowling unit is relatively inexperienced and has struggled in the absence of skipper Pat Cummins, despite showing improvement in recent matches.

As far as RR are concerned, they are performing strongly, having secured five wins out of their first seven matches.

The team has a strong Indian batting core with Yashasvi Jaiswal, teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and Dhruv Jurel, though skipper Riyan Parag has mostly struggled to make significant contributions with the bat.

Nevertheless, they are playing a high-intensity game, focusing on batting depth, and their aggressive approach with the bat has often left opponents demoralised.

The 15-year-old sensation Sooryavanshi is RR’s top run-scorer with 254 runs, coming at a remarkable strike rate of 220.86, including two 15-ball fifties.

Jaiswal has provided stability and aggression at the top, accumulating 245 runs at an average of 49.00.

The spearhead of the RR bowling attack, Jofra Archer, has taken 11 wickets in seven matches and will look to add to his tally against SRH.

Veteran India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja played a match-winning role against LSG, scoring an unbeaten 43 and taking a crucial wicket, and he will enter the upcoming game with confidence.

Teams (from):
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Ishan Kishan (c & wk), Abhishek Sharma, Amit Kumar, Salil Arora, Brydon Carse, Harsh Dubey, Krains Fuletra, Travis Head, Praful Hinge, Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone, Eshan Malinga, Kamindu Mendis, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshal Patel, David Payne, Sakib Hussain, Shivam Mavi, Shivang Kumar, Ravichandran Smaran, Onkar Tarmale, Jaydev Unadkat, Aniket Verma, Zeeshan Ansari.

Rajasthan Royals: Riyan Parag (c), Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Aman Perala, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Adam Milne, Brijesh Sharma, Jofra Archer, Kuldeep Sen, Kwena Maphaka, Nandre Burger, Ravi Bishnoi, Sandeep Sharma.

Match starts: 7.30 pm.