The upcoming clash between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Tuesday is shaping up to be a pivotal mid-table battle, with both teams vying to gain an edge in the league standings. With identical records of two wins and two losses from their first four matches, PBKS and SRH are neck and neck, tied with other teams in the middle of the table, each holding four points. This contest is crucial for both sides as they aim to break free from the mid-table congestion and ascend the points ladder.
SRH, known for their unpredictable gameplay, have at times showcased their batting prowess, with their top order consistently delivering explosive starts. Their capability was on full display when they set the highest team total in IPL history against Mumbai Indians, followed by a strong victory over the defending champions, Chennai Super Kings. Key players such as Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, and Aiden Markram have been instrumental in setting aggressive tones for their innings.
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Conversely, PBKS, despite having a lineup filled with power hitters like Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, and Liam Livingstone, have struggled to find consistent performances from their batsmen, barring the captain. The team is hopeful that their domestic talents, including Prabhsimran Singh and Jitesh Sharma, will rise to the occasion, much like Shashank Singh's heroic performance against Gujarat Titans, where he scored a dynamic 61 runs off 29 balls.
Both teams are entering this match buoyed by victories in their last outings, setting the stage for what promises to be an enthralling encounter at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium, which will host only its second IPL game. The clash is likely to be a contest of powerplays, with both sides looking to dominate early.
However, the bowling departments for both teams present areas of concern. Punjab's struggles in the death overs contrast with Sunrisers' difficulties in managing the new ball. While Kagiso Rabada has emerged as a standout bowler for Punjab, the consistency of death-over specialists like Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel, along with leg-spinner Rahul Chahar, remains questionable.
For Hyderabad, experienced campaigners like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan, along with skipper Pat Cummins, have shown flashes of brilliance but need more consistent support across the bowling lineup.
Team News
Sikandar Raza didn't enjoy a great outing in the previous match against the Gujarat Titans but expect the Punjab Kings to give him another chance even as they have an explosive Rilee Rossouw in their ranks. Chris Woakes and Nathan Ellis are two other options if Punjab decide to introduce reinforcements to their bowling attack.
There was a lot of confusion regarding Wanindu Hasaranga's availability but Sri Lanka Cricket have informed the BCCI that the leg-spinner is still injured, as per Cricbuzz. It means the 26-year-old won't take part in the league this year. Sunrisers, however, probably won't make any changes for this contest.
Head-to-head record
The two teams have squared off 21 times in the past, with Hyderabad dominating the fixture with 14 wins to Punjab's 7. However, it's been a close battle in the last 5 matches, with SRH leading the count 3-2.
Weather Report
It will be a relatively cooler evening in Mullanpur, with temperatures expected around 25°C.
Probable XIs
PBKS Probable XI: Shikhar Dhawan(c), Jonny Bairstow, Jitesh Sharma(wk), Prabhsimran Singh, Sam Curran, Shashank Singh, Sikandar Raza, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Chahar (Impact sub: Ashutosh Sharma)
SRH Probable XI: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Abdul Samad, Nitish Reddy, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pat Cummins (c), Jaydev Unadkat, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan (Impact sub: Mayank Markande)
Full squads:
Punjab Kings squad: Shikhar Dhawan(c), Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma(w), Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Shashank Singh, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Rilee Rossouw, Tanay Thyagarajan, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Chris Woakes, Rishi Dhawan, Sikandar Raza, Ashutosh Sharma, Atharva Taide, Nathan Ellis, Shivam Singh, Prince Choudhary, Vishwanath Singh
Sunrisers Hyderabad squad: Mayank Agarwal, Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Shahbaz Ahmed, Abdul Samad, Washington Sundar, Pat Cummins(c), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Markande, Jaydev Unadkat, Umran Malik, Glenn Phillips, Nitish Reddy, Upendra Yadav, Rahul Tripathi, T Natarajan, Anmolpreet Singh, Jhatavedh Subramanyan, Sanvir Singh, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Marco Jansen, Akash Maharaj Singh