In an intense schedule such as the Indian Premier League, a seven-day break is a luxury for teams, and Sunrisers Hyderabad are one of just two sides to benefit from it this year. As for the week-long break in an IPL competition, Sunrisers assistant coach Simon Helmot adds, “Yeah, it is a bonus; I’ve been involved with SRH for just over a decade now and I think there’s never been a break like that before.” “It’s nice to refresh…nice to have the time to catch up with friends and family.”
When they played on May 8, their net run rate significantly increased as openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma displayed a devastating batting exhibition, reaching 167/0 in just 9.4 overs to lead their team to victory over the Lucknow Super Giants. After that win, the Mumbai Indians were eliminated from the playoff race, and two more clubs joined MI during SRH’s break. In the meantime, RR and KKR both secured a berth in the top two, with the former also qualifying. In order to qualify for Qualifier 1, SRH must win its next two games and hope that the Rajasthan Royals lose one, which will force NRR into action.
Can SRH resume their most aggressive form following the seven-day break? Helmot maintains, “I don’t think it changes momentum.” We’re used to taking breaks, and we’ve taken a few five-day ones during the competition, so I don’t think it would alter how we prepare.”
Speaking of aggression, Hyderabad has had sell-out crowds this season because to SRH’s great performance, which wasn’t the case in previous seasons. “We recall our early years at SRH, when we were growing our fan base. There might have been some room in the audience, and there might have even been moments when some people supported the opposition. But isn’t that different now?According to Helmot, who refers to the audience as their “13th impact player,” “I’ll say this year has been the most vocal, the nosiest, and the most supportive crowd that I can ever remember.” And SRH will be eager to return the favour by winning another game to guarantee their postseason berth.
The Gujarat Titans, who were just eliminated from the playoffs due to inclement weather in Ahmedabad, are their opponents. The Shubman Gill-led team will be looking to finish the season on a high note after a disappointing campaign, and in the process, they hope to upset the home team’s expectations. Prior to the postponed match, the Titans defeated the Chennai Super Kings 231 to clinch their second-highest IPL total thanks to hundreds from Gill and Sai Sudharsan. They need their batters to perform well once more, but they also need their bowlers to be sharp while facing the merciless SRH hitters who overwhelm the opposition.
With a match-winning 3 for 31 against CSK, Mohit Sharma made amends for his costly previous performances. In addition to counting on Rashid Khan’s past success in these conditions as an SRH player, the Titans will be expecting for more of that from him. Using as many as 11 players from Nos. 4 to 7 this season, the Titans have likewise struggled with their middle order, accounting for just two seasons with fifty or more points and having the lowest average of any team. They’ll be eager to make apologies and conclude their campaign on a positive note, even though it’s late.
When: Thursday, May 16 at 19:30 IST is SRH vs. GT, Match 66.
Where: Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium
What to expect: SRH set the tone for their journey here with a total of 277 against MI back in March, and they destroyed LSG by 10 wickets at this location. This season, they have won four of their five home games; their lone defeat occurred against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, when they were unable to pursue a target of 207. On a sluggish surface, the visiting team’s use of spin and tempo modification proved effective.
Head-to-head: 1 – 3 GT for SRH. Although the Sunrisers and Titans have not won in three straight meetings, this will be the first meeting between the two clubs in Hyderabad.
Teams observe
Hyderabad’s Sunrisers
Injury/Availability: There are no fitness issues with Sunrisers’ configuration.
Strategies & Matchups: Bhuvneshwar Kumar is a beneficial matchup for SRH against the GT captain as he has removed Gill three times in 56 deliveries while conceding only 57 runs. In this IPL, right-arm legspin has also claimed four wickets against Gill, which makes Vijayakanth Viyaskanth a formidable opponent. T Natarajan is a good choice for facing left-handers, having taken seven wickets at a strike rate of 12 and economy of 8.79 from southpaws this season out of a total of 15.
The probable starting eleven are: Pat Cummins (c), Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Travis Head, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth. [T Natarajan, Impact sub].
Gujarat Titans
Wriddhiman’s availability and injuries Due to an injury, Saha was unable to play against CSK; as a result, GT introduced Matthew Wade and gave Kartik Tyagi his GT debut. Given that Saha hasn’t been playing at his best with the bat, even after his recovery, they might consider keeping with this lineup.
Strategies & Matchups: Travis Head has been removed by spin five times in his last five matches, while Heinrich Klaasen has been removed by spin three times. This brings Rashid and Noor Ahmad into the picture.
Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Matthew Wade (wk), Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Umesh Yadav, Mohit Sharma, and Kartik Tyagi are the likely members of the playing eleven. [Sub: Sandeep Warrier for Impact].
Were you aware?
- Of the 583 runs he has scored this season, 385 (66.03%) have come from the powerplay alone for Travis Head. In this phase, he averages 128.33 with a 220 strike rate. Abhishek Sharma, his opening partner, has amassed 285 (71.07%) of his 401 runs with a strike rate of 205.04 during the powerplay.
- With 146 sixes, Sunrisers have scored the most maximum runs in this edition of the IPL, although they have the fewest fours (171) of any club. Top of the sixes chart (35), Abhishek Sharma has struck 97 sixes in total with Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen.
What they expressed
The first time we played against Gujarat on their pitch, it was a little difficult. Just to be reminded once more, not every wicket will be 200 or more. We must communicate with one another, evaluate the situation in real time, and keep in mind that we are a team. We have learned it as a result of that game. Since then, we’ve played nine games; we simply need to continue with our plan and play to the best of our abilities.” SRH assistant coach Simon Helmot discusses the team’s defeat against GT earlier in the competition.
It’s never simple. We have experienced some injuries during the season as well as pre-season for a few of our important players. The players that are new find it difficult to perform right away. Other than that, though, I believe it was just a matter of the occasional match. A match like the one we played against Delhi, which we lost by one run, might go any way. I believe that many of those kinds of matches went in our favour in the first few years. In the end, the margin is quite narrow, making it difficult to single out a certain period or region. Shubman Gill, the captain of GT, summarises the season, saying, “But I think collectively as a fielding unit we let ourselves down in some of the key moments.”
