IPL 2024: SRH host PBKS in pursuit of top-two finish
Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings will cross swords in the penultimate league match of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). While PBKS have been eliminated from the playoff race, SRH are through. However, a win in the upcoming duel will give them a chance to finish in the top two. Here we look at the match preview.
Pitch report, conditions, and streaming details
Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium will host this duel on May 19. The surface here will assist batters, and one expects a competitive score on the board. Notably, the last concluded match here saw SRH chase down 166 in just 9.4 overs. The match starts at 3:30pm IST, and one can watch it live on the Star Sports Network and stream on JioCinema.
Here's the head-to-head record
Both teams have played each other in 22 matches in the IPL. SRH hold the upper hand with 15 victories, while PBKS have registered seven wins. SRH claimed a narrow two-run win when the two sides met earlier in the season. Notably, the Orange Army has seven wins and a solitary defeat against PBKS at home.
PBKS will be without key players
England stars Jonny Bairstow and Sam Curran have left the camp due to international assignments. Jitesh Sharma will hence lead the team. In-form batters Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma will be required to step up. Meanwhile, SRH will head into the game as favorites. They have a balanced unit with key contributions coming from all departments.
A high-stake game for SRH
Teams finishing in the top two will get an additional chance to qualify for the final. SRH are currently placed third with seven wins and 15 points (NRR: +0.406). The tally includes a washed-out game. In order to finish second, Pat Cummins's troop would need Kolkata Knight Riders to beat Rajasthan Royals in the final league game. Besides, SRH must beat PBKS.
A look at the probable XIs:
SRH (Probable XI): Travis Head, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wicket-keeper), Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Sanvir Singh, Pat Cummins (captain), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, and T Natarajan. Impact player: Abhishek Sharma. PBKS (Probable XI): Prabhsimran Singh, Atharva Taide, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Jitesh Sharma (c & wk), Rishi Dhawan, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh. Impact player: Ashutosh Sharma.
Here are the key performers
SRH openers Abhishek Sharma (205.64) and Travis Head (201.89) own the top-two highest strike rates among batters with 350-plus runs this year. Natarajan has 15 scalps in 10 games this season. Shashank Singh has hammered 352 runs in the season at a sensational strike rate of 166.82. With 22 scalps, Harshal Patel is the leading wicket-taker this year (ER: 9.51).
