The 15th game of Indian premier league will be played between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders on 3rd April in Eden Gardens.
Match Preview
The finalists from the previous season, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders, are set to renew their rivalry tomorrow. Kolkata, the defending champions, have endured a tumultuous start to the season, securing a mere victory from their three encounters thus far. Conversely, the runners-up, Sunrisers Hyderabad, have not displayed the kind of form that took them to the final last year. After a dominant triumph over Rajasthan Royals in their opening fixture, they have since been thoroughly outplayed in their subsequent two matches.
A significant area of concern for Kolkata Knight Riders has been their middle and lower-middle order. In both of the matches they lost, the middle order crumbled under pressure, resembling a house of cards. Even in their victory against Rajasthan Royals, the batting lineup beyond Quinton de Kock failed to exude any real menace, leaving much to be desired in terms of depth and resilience.
A pivotal contest tomorrow will unfold between the left-handed top three of Sunrisers Hyderabad and the formidable spin duo of Kolkata Knight Riders. While SRH’s top order has the ability to dominate pace bowling with ease, KKR will place their trust in their primary weapon to counter this threat — the off-spin of Sunil Narine and the elusive googlies of Varun Chakravarthy. The battle between these contrasting styles promises to be a key factor in determining the outcome of the match.
Amidst a faltering middle and lower order, the young Aniket Verma has emerged as a beacon of hope for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Yet, his individual brilliance alone will not suffice. For SRH to maintain their aggressive approach, aiming to overwhelm opposition with their batting, they will require significant contributions from the likes of Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Kumar Reddy. These seasoned players must step up to provide the much-needed support and ensure the team’s batting depth remains potent.
Probable XIIs
KKR
Quinton de Kock (WK) , Sunil Narine, Ajinkaya Rahane (C) , Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raguvanshi , Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson, Vaibav Arora,Varun Chakarwarthy
SRH
Abishek Sharma, Travis Head , Ishan Kishan , Nitish Kumar Ready , Heinrich Klassen (WK), Aniket Verma, Wian Mulder, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins (C) , Harshal , Mohammed Shami, Zeeshan Ansari
Head to head
Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders have clashed on 28 occasions in the IPL. Of these encounters, SRH have secured victory in 9 matches, while KKR have dominated with 19 wins, establishing a clear upper hand in their head-to-head record.
Pitch and weather report
Batsmen are likely to relish the conditions at Eden Gardens, as the pitch is expected to provide ample support for aggressive stroke play. While the surface has not been particularly favorable for spinners, pacers can still extract bounce, making it a balanced wicket for fast bowling. Dew could play a significant role as the game progresses, and thus, the captain winning the toss would be wise to opt to bat first, capitalizing on the conditions early on.
Prediction:
KKR is expected to win the upcoming encounter as the bowling of SRH doesn’t look convincing
where to Watch:
India: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar
Australia: Kayo TV, FoxTel Go
Bangladesh: T Sports, Toffee app
New Zealand: Sky Sports NZ
South Africa: SuperSport
Sri Lanka: Dialog
UK: Sky Sports, SkyGo
USA: Willow TV
Afghanistan: ATN
MENA: Cricbuzz
