IPL 2021: Match 55 – Strongest Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Predicted Playing XI Mumbai Indians (MI)

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) had something going for them as they beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by four runs in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Skipper Kane Williamson led the batting line up by scoring a valuable 31 runs and later effected a crucial run-out of Glenn Maxwell to change the complexion of the game. The batting performance too was far more improved than the previous games. SRH would be hoping to sign off their otherwise dismal campaign on a high. 

They next face off against Mumbai Indians (MI), and SRH knows an upset win over the five-time IPL champions will rob them of a place in the playoffs. So SRH would be hoping to play the perfect party poopers, but for that, they have to bring on their A-game. Although Williamson and Jason Roy contributed at the top, they didn’t look at their fluent best. Both players know against MI’s potent bowlers they cannot afford such lethargy. On the other hand, the bowlers have looked mighty impressive with pace sensation Umran Malik hogging the limelight by delivering the fastest ball of the IPL 2021.

Meanwhile, here is SRH’s predicted playing XI against RCB:

Openers – Jason Roy and Wriddhiman Saha

SRH tried Abhishek Sharma at the top alongside Roy, but it didn’t work out against RCB as the southpaw departed for just 13 runs. So the management might be thinking of bringing Saha at the top and allow Sharma to bat lower down the order.

Meanwhile, Roy scored 44 runs and got back to some much-needed form. But it was not his typical innings. So the hard-hitting batter would be hoping to score runs quickly against MI and look to take the attack to the opposition.

Middle Order – Kane Williamson, Priyam Garg, Abhishek Sharma

Skipper Williamson got back among runs but he could have continued for more and looked to have set a more steep target for RCB. By his own lofty standards, the SRH skipper has looked a pale shadow of himself this season. But with one game to go, Williamson would be hoping to get one big score this season.

On the other hand, Garg and Sharma have pretty much looked of color. So far, the management’s decision to replace Kedar Jadhav and Manish Pandey with these two young players’ has not paid off. Both Garg and Sharma possess immense talent, and it is about just one game.

All-rounders – Jason Holder, Abdul Samad

SRH’s biggest gain this season is the form of Jason Holder. Over the past few years in the IPL, the West Indian performed well in one or two games, but it is the consistency factor that he hoped to bring. Things changed this year, and Holder has shown an immense amount of consistency with bat and ball. He has so far, picked 14 wickets in seven games and has chipped in with vital contributions lower down the order.

Meanwhile, Abdul Samad has looked fearless down the order. The right-hand batter strikes at above 130 and has hit quite a few renowned bowlers out of the attack. In SRH’s floundering batting order, Samad has brought a new dimension due to his six-hitting abilities.

Bowlers – Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umran Malik, Siddharth Kaul

SRH’s stronger suit, the bowlers have hardly dropped a gear. Against RCB too, the pace bowlers defended a modest target of 141 and came on top by keeping things tight in the death overs. Kumar bowled the crucial last over and defended 13 runs against the mighty AB de Villiers. Rashid Khan was strangely not in his element as he went for 39 runs in his four overs.

Umran Malik surely set the speedometer on fire by bowling a 152.95 kmph delivery to Devdutt Padikkal. That ball had a lot of experts and critics gushing over the amount of speed he generated. On the other hand, Kaul was economical as ever as he gave away just 24 runs and picked a wicket too.