IPL 2021: Best 3 matches between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata and Hyderabad franchises are two of the decent performing teams in IPL history. The Kolkata Knight Riders have been a solid brand since the inaugural edition while the Sunrisers franchise only got introduced in 2013. During the 2010s, both these teams went from strength to strength, emerging as two of the best teams in the cash-rich league. 

As Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders go head to head for the first time in IPL 2021, it is a good time to look back at the best matches which these two teams have been part of. Even though Sunrisers have had better overall performance in the league in the past few years, KKR still holds the wood over them. In 19 matches head to head, KKR has won 12 while SRH has won only seven.

Some of the best matches between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders

1. KKR vs SRH, Kolkata, 2019

Under the leadership of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was filling in for Kane Williamson, Sunrisers arrived at the Eden Gardens to play their season opener. In an afternoon match, Jonny Bairstow and David Warner smashed the KKR bowlers. The latter played a hand of 85, while the Englishman chipped in with 39. Vijay Shankar finished with a 24-ball 40, which set a target of 182 for Kolkata.

Nitish Rana, opening the innings smashed 68 which kept Kolkata in the game. With 53 needed off the final three overs, Russell played a blinder of a knock, ending with 49 off 19 balls to help his side prevail in this nail-biting thriller. 

2. KKR vs SRH, Abu Dhabi, 2020

In a match that was important to win for both the teams, KKR and SRH played out a thriller at Abu Dhabi. Batting first, Kolkata could only manage 163 for 5, on a slowish track which seemed to aid bowling. Had it not been for the late hits by Dinesh Karthik and Eoin Morgan, Sunrisers Hyderabad might have restricted Kolkata to a much lower total.

Sunrisers got to a flying start with Williamson and Bairstow but couldn’t keep the momentum going on. Lockie Ferguson’s spell of 3 for 15 ensured that KKR snuck in a tie. The New Zealand bowler took two more wickets in the super over to restrict Hyderabad to only two runs. KKR then went on to win the super over. 

3. KKR vs SRH, Kolkata, 2018 Qualifier 2

The Qualifier 2 of 2018 was won by Sunrisers in front of a packed Eden Gardens, well and truly because of one man, Rashid Khan. Each time the tide seemed to shift towards Kolkata, Rashid produced something. At 138 for 7 after 18.1 overs, Hyderabad could not have imagined ending with 174.

But they did, courtesy of Rashid who made 34 off just 10 balls. In the run chase, KKR was 87-1 after 8.2 overs. Rashid’s throw to run Nitish Rana out caused a collapse. He further took part in the collapse picking the wickets of Chris Lynn, Robin Uthappa, and Andre Russell. His spell of 3 for 19 along with his late assault with the bat, took Sunrisers to the final of IPL 2018. 

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