IPL 2024, Match 69: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings Match Preview

SRH & PBKS. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) lock horns with Punjab Kings (PBKS) in match no. 69 of the IPL 2024 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday, May 19.

SRH needs a sure-shot win to grab the second position in the standings. Out of 13 games, the Orange Army has won seven and lost five. Their last game against Gujarat Titans was abandoned due to heavy rains. Pat Cummins has led the team commendably so far, resulting in their success so far in the season.

The SRH batters have been in exceptional form, and their performances have impressed everybody. Among the highest totals in the history of the tournament, three out of the top five totals belong to SRH, and remarkably, all three of these high scores have been achieved in the current season.

Travis Head has been the standout performer for Hyderabad this season. In the 11 matches he has played so far, Head has scored 533 runs at an impressive average of 53.30 and an extraordinary strike rate of 201.89. His opening partner, the young Indian batter Abhishek Sharma, has also been in sublime form, hitting 401 runs from 11 matches at a healthy average of 36.45 and a strike rate of 205.64. The formidable opening duo has played a pivotal role in SRH’s success, including their remarkable achievement of chasing down a daunting target of 166 runs against Lucknow Super Giants within just 10 overs.

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The bowling attack has been led by T Natarajan, who has been the standout performer, claiming 15 wickets in 10 matches at an impressive average of 24.53. Pat Cummins has also been among the wicket-takers, having picked up 14 wickets from 12 matches. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, after a sluggish start to the season, has regained his form in recent games, particularly impressing with his economy rate.

On the other hand, the Punjab-based franchise is facing a dismal campaign as they have been knocked out of the competition, currently occupying the ninth position on the points table. Their poor performance has resulted in five victories out of the 13 matches played, while they have suffered eight defeats. The team will be without the services of their stand-in captain Sam Curran and opening batsman Jonny Bairstow, as the English duo has departed for their national team’s four-match T20I series against Pakistan in their home country.

Shashank Singh has been the standout performer for PBKS in the ongoing season, scoring 352 runs at an average of 50.28 and a strike rate of 166.82 from 13 matches, the rest of the batting lineup has struggled to find consistency. Rilee Rossouw has shown decent form since being included in the playing XI, but Jitesh Sharma, on whom the Punjab fans had pinned their hopes, has gone through a dismal season with the bat.

Among the bowlers, Harshal Patel has been the highest-wicket taker of the season, claiming 22 wickets in 13 matches at an impressive average of 19.45. With his exceptional performance, Patel is likely to be given the captaincy responsibilities, replacing Curran. Another notable bowler, Arshdeep Singh, has also been impressive, picking up 17 wickets in the same number of games.

Hyderabad and Punjab faced off in a nail-biting finish earlier this season in Mullanpur. SRH restricted the hosts at 180/6 to win the game by two runs in a last-over thriller.

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Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium Pitch Report

The surface at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad is a batting paradise. Out of the five matches played at this venue so far, the average first innings score has been 203 runs. Teams batting first have emerged victorious on three occasions, while the chasing teams have won the remaining two encounters. The team that wins the toss will opt to bat first. 

SRH vs PBKS Probable Playing XI

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH):

The Hyderabad-based franchise has been riding high on confidence, courtesy of their impressive outings in the ongoing IPL season. As the tournament inches towards its end, the team is unlikely to make changes to their playing XI significantly and will persist with the combination that has given them success.

Predicted XI: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (WK), Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Sanvir Singh, Pat Cummins (C), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Mayank Markande

Impact Player: T Natarajan

Punjab Kings (PBKS):

Punjab will be missing the services of Jonny Bairstow and their stand-in captain Sam Curran for their last league game of the season. As the team has already been eliminated from the tournament, the 2014 finalists might opt to give opportunities to players who have been warming the bench for a significant part of the season. With no pressure of qualifying, PBKS will aim to end their campaign on a high note.

Predicted XI: Prabhsimran Singh, Atharva Taide, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel (C), Rahul Chahar, Nathan Ellis, Arshdeep Singh, 

Impact Player – Harpreet Bhatia

Head-to-Head Record