IPL 2024: Sunrisers Hyderabad strongest predicted playing XI against Lucknow Super Giants

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are set to face each other in the 57th match of the IPL 2024 (Indian Premier League). The match is set to take place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. Both teams are in dire need of a win given how things have fared in the ongoing season so far. Teams below them are catching up and challenging the teams in the mid-table. A win in the upcoming match will be important for both teams for their chances in the season.

Both teams lost their last match and made things difficult for themselves. SRH lost the match to MI by 7 wickets and LSG lost to KKR by a huge margin of 98 runs at home. SRH has not been as impressive as a bowling unit. They have often depended on the batters to win matches for them. LSG would like to take advantage of it. On the other hand, the visiting side has been struggling with inconsistent batters. While their bowling is good, batting has been a big concern.

Both teams have some of the best players in the world. LSG has some good names like KL Rahul, Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, and others. SRH has some good players in their lineup. The key for them would be to make the most of the home conditions and perform to the expectations of the fans. A big challenge for SRH would be to prove themselves a capable unit to win the match with their bowling. That promises to be a good match between the two sides.

Here is the strongest predicted playing XI of SRH for the 57th game against LSG -

Openers - Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head

Sunrisers Hyderabad are likely to continue with the same opening order. Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head are arguably the greatest opening combination this season. The two Southpaws have taken the tournament by storm with their brilliant batting performances. Both of them have been highly aggressive and helped SRH to gain early momentum in almost every game. It has allowed other batters coming after them to bat the way they want. However, there is a shortcoming in their approach.

Also Check: IPL 2024 Orange Cap

While the duo has been brilliant while setting a total, they have not been that good while chasing. Barring the game against CSK where they were chasing 166, neither Head nor Abhishek have been that brilliant with the bat while chasing over 200 runs. If the duo can provide good starts to the side while chasing totals, SRH looks to be a different side. Come the game against RR, the duo would be hoping to make an impact even while chasing the totals.

Middle Order - Heinrich Klaasen (WK) and Abdul Samad

In the middle order, SRH have some of the best batters in the world along with an emerging one. Number 3 has been a problematic spot for SRH. They have tried various players in the position like Aiden Markram, Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Mayank Agarwal, and Anmolpreet Singh. But none of them clicked. SRH needs to find ways to accommodate someone who can be consistent with the bat at the position. Heinrich Klaasen is likely to bat at number 4. 

The batting positions depend on the match situation. Klaasen is one of the best IPL batters in the last couple of seasons. Even as a wicketkeeper, he has been doing a good job. The key for him would be to back his natural approach of going aggressive from his end. Blocking the ball doesn't help him or his team. Abdul Samad has been good for SRH. He is one of the designated finishers for the Orange Army. His form with the bat has come like a breath of fresh air for SRH.

All-rounders - Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shahbaz Ahmed, and Marco Jansen

SRH have some of the most talented all-rounders in their lineup. Nitish Kumar Reddy will be the middle-order batter in the side. The young batter won the match for the home side with his batting while saving them from a collapse. In the last few matches, he has also been handy as a bowler. If required, he can deliver his full quota of overs. They have another talented all-rounder like Shahbaz Ahmed who has been good as a finisher and decent as a spinner. 

Shahbaz needs to bowl better. He can deliver economical spells like he did against RCB. However, he needs to bowl those spells on a consistent basis. With the bat, he can finish the games well and anchor the innings in case of collapses. SRH has some good overseas players who can be handy with their all-round skills. They have Glenn Phillips and Marco Jansen in the squad who can contribute both with the bat and with the ball. Jansen has had a bad season and needs to step up.

Bowlers - Pat Cummins (C), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Markande, Jaydev Unadkat, and T Natarajan

Sunrisers Hyderabad have a decent bowling lineup on paper. With the new ball, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has the ability to swing both ways. However, the heat wave has meant a lack of swing at many venues, especially in Hyderabad. Hence, he has been a bit ineffective with the new ball. To bowl alongside him is the pace duo of Jaydev Unadkat and T Natarajan. While the former relies mostly on slower ones and bouncers (with a change of pace), the latter has been very good with the ball.

Also Check: IPL 2024 Purple Cap

Unadkat will be on the main side, while Natarajan might be used as the impact substitute. His death bowling has been good which has bound the team together. In the middle overs, SRH is reliant on the pace-spin duo of Pat Cummins and Mayank Markande. The SRH skipper has been their best bowler this season bowling well in almost every match. He can control the flow of runs and take wickets. In addition to it, Cummins is a handy batter too. Markande needs to be consistent as a bowler for the 2016 champions. He is a wicket-taking prospect.

SRH Predicted XI against LSG: 

Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (WK), Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Marco Jansen, Pat Cummins (C), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Markande, Jaydev Unadkat

Impact Player: T Natarajan