Why are Sam Curran and Jonny Bairstow not playing IPL 2024 Match 69 between PBKS vs SRH?

Sam Curran and Jonny Bairstow. (Source -Twitter/X)

Sunrisers Hyderabad are hosting Punjab Kings in the penultimate match in the round-robin phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on Sunday, May 19. The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is packed to the rafters to watch the high-voltage clash where Sunrisers displace Rajasthan Royals and move to No. 2 on the points table.

Jitesh Sharma came out at the toss for Punjab Kings in the absence of Sam Curran. The England all-rounder has left the side to join the Three Lions ahead of next month’s T20 World Cup. Jonny Bairstow has also accompanied Curran back to the United Kingdom. Rilee Rossouw has been named as the only overseas player in the playing XI for the Kings as Jitesh said that all the others have left.

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

Meanwhile, Sunrisers made just a solitary change to their playing XI, as they brought back the aggressive Rahul Tripathi, who was dropped earlier in the season after going through a dry patch. The visitors won the toss and opted to bat first on what is expected to be a high-scoring encounter.

At the toss, both the captains were seen interacting ahead of the game. Host skipper Pat Cummins said, “The fans have been awesome this season here. We are pretty well set-up for both (bat first or ball first. I’m a terrible reader of wickets, looks like a nice wicket. Looks dry and firm. Only one change for us. Rahul Tripathi comes in for a bowler.”

“We would like to bat. I think wicket is looking good, we want to score big and put SRH under pressure. Proud and grateful to captain my side today. We have few options because all the overseas have gone gone. Only Rilee Rossouw is gonna play. We have exciting talent waiting for their opportunity and they are gonna give their best today. Nothing to lose today, we are here to play some good cricket,” PBKS skipper said after winning the toss.

SRH Playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, Rahul Tripathi, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Sanvir Singh, Pat Cummins(c), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, T Natarajan