IPL 10, Match 53, GL v SRH Preview: Qualification at stake for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Lions

The Sunrisers Hyderabad will know that they have to ensure they register a win over the Gujarat Lions to ensure that the qualify for the playoffs. Their win will not only impact their position in the points table but also finalize the final four teams for the playoffs. A defeat for them in the match will keep the Kings XI Punjab interested in the hunt. Also, in that case if the Kings XI Punjab win their remaining fixture, the SRH will crash out of the race for the playoffs.

Hence, in all probability, the Sunrisers Hyderabad will have everything to play for with a virtual knockout game at hands for them. Playing against the Gujarat Lions, they will fancy their chances in the game. The way they had beaten the Lions at Hyderabad when these two sides met in the reverse fixture this season, will only make their spirits go high. It was a 9 wicket win for the Sunrisers in that came.

Coming to the current form of the two teams, the SRH camp will be coming into the game riding on a good win against the table toppers Mumbai Indians. On the other hand, the Lions suffered a narrow two wicket defeat against the Delhi Daredevils which pretty much summed up their season. The Lions will have nothing to lose and will be a threat for the Sunrisers in the game.

Toss: Sunrisers Hyderabad won the toss and opted to field

Suresh Raina: Today is the day we have to do it. As David mentioned, it is a big game for them. We have been playing good cricket. We are pumped up. Sometimes we have been unlucky. We have got two changes, PK and Munaf are in. DK and Basil are out

David Warner: We are going to bowl first. It is a day game, it looks dry. We want bowlers to come out and reduce to a competitive total for us to chase down. Unfortunately, Yuvi cannot play today. He has got a sore finger, so Deepak Hooda comes in.

Playing XI:

Gujarat Lions: Dwayne Smith, Ishan Kishan, Suresh Raina(c), Dinesh Karthik(w), Aaron Finch, Ravindra Jadeja, James Faulkner, Pradeep Sangwan, Munaf Patel, Praveen Kumar, Ankit Soni

Sunrisers Hyderabad: David Warner(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Moises Henriques, Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda, Mohammad Nabi, Naman Ojha(w), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rashid Khan, Siddarth Kaul, Mohammed Siraj

Focus will be on

Ravindra Jadeja

The Gujarat Lions coach Brad Hodge had tipped Ravindra Jadeja to be their main bowler in the tournament. But the all-rounder has largely been unsuccessful in giving the breakthroughs to the team this season. Neither has Jadeja been a key wicket taking option for the Gujarat Lions this season nor has he clicked with the bat. He has shown brief spells of excellence in both departments but is due to come up with a complete performance.

Suresh Raina

Gujarat Lions skipper Suresh Raina has had a decent season with the bat. He has got runs under his belt but has failed to get runs with the bat on a consistent basis. Moreover, his team is languishing in the bottom half of the points table and that would hurt someone like Raina. The fact that he has not been drafted in the Indian squad for the ICC Champions Trophy will itch him to come hard in these final showdowns of the season.

Team Combinations:

Gujarat Lions

The Lions were stunned by the Delhi Daredevils in the previous game. However, they are still likely to field the same side for their last game of the season. They do not quite have a lot of options to play with. UAE batsman Chirag Suri is nowhere to be seen in the mix of things and that sets things up for the retention of the same playing lineup. Dwayne Smith and Ishan Kishan will continue to open the innings.

In the middle-order, Suresh Raina and Dinesh Karthik have had average seasons thus far with runs under their belt. In the bowling department, they have already found a very potential leg-spinner in Ankit Soni. Basil Thampi, the young Kerala pacer, has been very impressive too. The likes of Pradeep Sangwan and Dhawal Kulkarni will make up the rest of the bowling lineup.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

The Sunrisers Hyderabad will be very happy with the way the young Indian bowlers have responded for them this season. Siddharth Kaul and Mohammed Siraj have been highly impressive this season. They have been ably guided by the experience of Bhuvneshwar Kumar in every fixture that they have played thus far in the season. Rashid Khan has taken the bulk of the responsibility in the spin department.

In the batting department, they had added the services of Tamil Nadu batsman Vijay Shankar in the last game. He might make way for someone like Deepak Hooda or Bipul Sharma in this game as it beefs up their bowling quotient as well. The top order looks very strong with David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan plundering runs at will this season and Kane Williamson looking brilliant at number 3.

StatAttack

3 – Number of times both teams have faced each other. SRH has won twice and Lions have one win to their name.

50  – Number of runs needed by Shikhar Dhawan to complete 500 runs this season.

60  – Number of runs needed by Suresh Raina to complete 500 runs this season.

65  – Number of runs needed by David Warner to complete 600 runs this season.