IPL 2018: RR & SRH have a short history of rivalry and Rahane’s team leads 4-3

Former champions Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will lock horns in their inaugural game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad, on Monday, April 9.

The significance of this game is that both the teams have lost their high-profile captains – Steve Smith and David Warner – two Australians who were handed a year of ban each by their country’s cricket board following their involvement in the infamous ball-tampering scandal during a recent Test series in South Africa. Ajinkya Rahane has been picked to lead RR while New Zealander Ken Williamson will captain SRH.

However, both sides still look balanced on the paper with some experienced players in their ranks ready and raring to go.

A short history of 7 games: RR lead 4-3

The history of the rivalry of these two teams is not extensive as some others, however, because while SRH made their debut in IPL only in 2013 to succeed the now-defunct Hyderabad-based franchise Deccan Chargers, RR are making a comeback after serving a suspension of two years. The two teams have met seven times the IPL between 2013 and 2015 with the RR having a lead of 4-3.

James Faulkner took two five-fors for RR against SRH in same IPL

Still, there are some interesting facts to write about the SRH vs RR contests in the IPL. For example, RR’s medium-fast Australian bowler James Faulkner took five-wickets in both games against SRH in the 2013 edition. With this feat, the Aussie became the first bowler in the IPL to take two-five wicket hauls.

Current RR skipper Ajinkya Rahane won two MoM awards against SRH

RR’s current captain Rahane has won the man of the match award against SRH on two occasions.

Most RR-SRH encounters have been low-scoring ones

Also, all RR-SRH games in the IPL have been low-scoring ones (see graphic 2) except their second game in the 2015 edition played at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai which saw almost 400 runs scored in 40 overs.

Met once in playoffs and RR won

These two teams have also met once in the playoffs (2013) and RR was the winner on that occasion.

When RR became champions SRH weren’t there; same in 2016 when SRH won the title

Also, neither SRH was present in the edition that RR won (2008) nor RR was a participant the year SRH lifted the trophy (2016).

Here, we take a look at the brief results of the past encounters between RR and SRH in the mega tournament.

2013:

Game 1: RR won by 8 wickets at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
SRH 144/9 in 20 overs; RR 146/2 in 17.5 overs. James Faulkner (RR) was MoM for taking 5 wickets for 20 runs.

Game 2: SRH won by 23 runs at RGICA
SRH 136/9 in 20 overs; RR 113/9 in 20 overs. Amit Mishra (SRH) was MoM for taking 2 wickets for 8 runs.

Eliminator: RR won by 4 wickets at Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi
SRH 132/7 in 20 overs; RR 135/6 in 19.2 overs. Brad Hodge (RR) was MoM for scoring 54 not out off 29 balls.

Best bowling figures in RR-SRH matches in IPL

James Faulkner 5 for 16 in Hyderabad (2013)

James Faulkner 5 for 20 in Jaipur (2013)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4 for 14 in Ahmedabad (2014)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3 for 44 in Mumbai (2015)

2014:

Game 1: RR won by 4 wickets at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
SRH 133/6 in 20 overs; RR 135/6 in 19.3 overs. Ajinkya Rahane (RR) was MoM for scoring 59 runs in 53 balls.

Game 2: SRH won by 32 runs at Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad
SRH 134/9 in 20 overs; RR 102 in 19.5 overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was MoM for taking 4 wickets for 14 runs.

2015:
Game 1: RR won by 6 wickets at ACA-VDCA Stadium, Vishakhapatnam
SRH 127/5 in 20 overs; RR 131/4 in 20 overs. Rahane (RR) was MoM for scoring 62 in 56 balls.

Game 2: SRH won by 7 runs at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai
SRH 201/4 in 20 overs; RR 194/7 in 20 overs. Eoin Morgan (SRH) was MoM for scoring 63 runs off 28 deliveries.