SRH vs RCB: Live Streaming, Match Preview, Timings, Stats, Pitch Report and more for Dream11 IPL, Eliminator

The scenario does not get any simpler: the winner stays alive, the loser boards the flight back home.

Published - 05 Nov 2020, 23:58 IST | Updated - 05 Nov 2020, 23:58 IST

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By faults of their own, the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) had pushed themselves into a situation that demanded them to not only win three in three but to win those against the top three teams of the season, if they were to make into the playoffs. Having a positive Net Run Rate to their rescue, and their delightfully commendable run after being thrown under the pump, they have ensured for themselves a third spot in the final tally of points for this edition.

One of these victories includes a spectacular win against their immediate foes – Royal Challengers Bangalore, who they will be up against cometh the Eliminator clash of the tournament on Friday, at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. How David Warner’s men did turn the tide? Team-effort, simple.

Wriddhiman Saha has effortlessly slipped into the role of an opener and has given skipper Warner a chance to break the shackles in his style. Sandeep Sharma has been mighty impressive with the ball, striking straightway, almost always, whereas the yorker-lover T Natarajan’ alliance with Jason Holder to tighten things at the death has worked wonders, and Rashid Khan, their trump card, has always been an asset.

Not that it is otherwise not an adage, but rather pragmatically, whatever has happened in the league hitherto is history, and none of it would make a difference when these two step out against each other. The scenario does not get any simpler: the winner stays alive, the loser boards the flight back home. And that is precisely why Virat Kohli and Co – who are coming to this clash with a haunting four-defeat streak – would want to shrug off their recent abysmal shows and look to make the crucial outing count.

The Challengers are a unit full of match-winners, and each of these match-winner needs to get back to doing what they were doing in the first half of the tournament when things looked a lot merrier than now. They have managed to secure for themselves a top-four finish, but given that they finished fourth on the table, RCB must be wary of the dismal record that teams finishing third and fourth have when it comes to lifting the trophy. Only once has a team featuring in the Eliminator managed to win the title that year (the Sunrisers, in 2016).

Pitch and conditions

The toss, once again, will play a significant role with the last five games at this venue going in the chasing team’s favour. The dew-factor has been evident during the last few league games, and both the teams will pray that it sets earlier, so that there is some parity in the contest between the two teams.

Playing Combinations for SRH vs RCB

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Given that SRH has managed a streak of three victories on the trot, any chopping or changing in the combination looks highly improbable. Manish Pandey and Kane Williamson have been in good nick in the middle-order, although the only area of concern for the team will be the relatively inexperienced Priyam Garg and Abdul Samad, who have not been able to make a mark with their performances.

Probable XI- David Warner (C), Wriddhiman Saha (WK), Manish Pandey, Kane Williamson, Priyam Garg, Jason Holder, Abdul Samad, Rashid Khan, Shahbaz Nadeem, Sandeep Sharma, T Natarajan

Royal Challengers Bangalore

The opening duties will once again be in the hands of Josh Phillippe and Devdutt Padikkal, who will be followed by Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. Though Kohli is fourth in the list of leading run-scorers, with 460 runs, his strike rate has been a slight bit of a concern. RCB must be praying that the four-day gap between the last game and the Eliminator has given enough time for recovery to their crucial all-rounder Chris Morris, who left the field after his hamstring injury against DC.

There is no update on Navdeep Saini’s availability either, who missed the last game for the team after his split webbing recovered. Mohammed Siraj and Isuru Udana will pick themselves alongside the spin twins Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar.

Probable XI- Josh Philippe, Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (C), AB de Villiers (WK), Chris Morris/Dale Steyn/Adam Zampa, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Isuru Udana, Shahbaz Ahmed/Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal