Hyderabad, Mar 22 (UNI) Sunrisers Hyderabad will commence their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign against Rajasthan Royals in what promises to be an exciting day match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Sunday.
The home side, who had an impressive season last year but faltered in the final against Kolkata Knight Riders, will look to make a strong start.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals, who were eliminated in the second qualifier by Hyderabad, will seek to turn the tables in this encounter.
Hyderabad have an enviable record at this venue, having lost only once here last season. They also enjoy a psychological advantage over Rajasthan, winning their last three meetings. Rajasthan, on the other hand, have concerns over their bowling attack and will hope their batting lineup can compensate.
Led by Australian pacer Pat Cummins, Hyderabad boast a formidable squad with depth in both batting and bowling. Cummins will aim to lead from the front, guiding his side to a winning start.
The opening combination of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma will look to provide a strong foundation. Ishan Kishan will anchor the middle order, with Nitish Reddy and Sachin Baby adding stability.
Heinrich Klaasen, one of the finest finishers in the game, will play a crucial role in the latter stages of the innings alongside Wiaan Mulder and Abhinav Manohar.
On the bowling front, the experience of Mohammed Shami and Pat Cummins will be key in securing early breakthroughs. Harshal Patel and Rahul Chahar will handle the middle overs, while Mulder and Abhishek Sharma will aim to restrict the scoring rate against Rajasthan’s powerful batting order.
Rajasthan face an early setback as regular skipper Sanju Samson is unavailable for the first few matches due to a finger injury. In his absence, Riyan Parag will take over the captaincy, tasked with guiding the team past their recent struggles against Hyderabad.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, playing as an opener, will need to provide stability at the top. The middle order, comprising Parag, Nitish Rana, and Dhruv Jurel, will be crucial in anchoring the innings. Finisher Shimron Hetmyer, alongside Wanindu Hasaranga and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, will be expected to contribute valuable runs in the latter half.
Bowling remains a challenge for Rajasthan. The experienced Jofra Archer will spearhead the attack, looking for early breakthroughs alongside Sandeep Sharma. Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana will handle spin duties, with Tushar Deshpande and Parag providing additional options.
Hyderabad is expected to have slightly overcast skies, but conditions will be favourable for batting. The surface is known for its high-scoring nature, with four 200+ totals recorded last season by teams batting first. The wicket is expected to play flat early on, offering little assistance to fast bowlers. Spinners, however, are likely to play a vital role as the game progresses.
The team winning the toss is likely to bat first, considering the pitch’s history of favouring batsmen early on before offering turn for spinners later in the innings.
Teams
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Travis Head, Abhinav Manohar, Atharva Taide, Sachin Baby, Aniket Verma, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kamindu Mendis, Heinrich Klaasen, Ishan Kishan, Pat Cummins (captain), Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Adam Zampa, Simarjeet Singh, Eshan Malinga, Jaydev Unadkat, Brydon Carse, Zeeshan Ansari
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag (stand-in captain), Yudhvir Singh Charak, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sanju Samson, Dhruv Jurel, Kunal Singh Rathore, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Kwena Maphaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Ashok Sharma, Jofra Archer.
