In the 26th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 will be played between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Although the Royals had a brilliant start to their IPL campaign, they are have suffered four consecutive losses and have just had four points out of a possible twelve owing to the loss of form of captain Steve Smith and Sanju Samson.
However, they will be expected to include Ben Stokes for this game, whose quarantine period ends on Saturday. With the likes of Jofra Archer and Rahul Tewatia performing brilliantly in recent games, the Royals would be hopeful of a morale-boosting win on Sunday. On the other hand, Sunrisers Hyderabad had registered a brilliant 69-run win over bottom-placed Kings XI Punjab.
Despite losing Mitchell Marsh and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to season-ending injuries, SRH has managed to win games on their merit with Rashid Khan at his menacing best in the middle overs. David Warner and Jonny Bairstow’s form at the top of the order only sweetens the deal for the 2016 IPL champions as they eye a fourth win in IPL 2020.
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Nevertheless, both teams look well-matched on paper, especially with the inclusion of Ben Stokes, which paves the way for an exciting start to the double-header on Sunday.
As the two sides prepare for a thrilling encounter, here’s a look at three key player battles to keep an eye on.
#1. Steve Smith vs T Natarajan
One of the best modern-day batsmen, Steve Smith will be facing T Natarajan and it promises a lot on paper. The RR skipper is the second the highest run-scorer for the team in the season so far, but he has lost the momentum in the last few matches. Smith has an excellent IPL record and on the other hand, Natarajan has always been a wicket-taker for SRH and he will be under immense pressure to prove his worth.
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Natarajan will be playing the role of a wicket-taker. He is the highest wicket-taker for SRH in the ongoing season as he has sclaped 7 wickets in 6 games at a strike rate of 19.57. He will be looking forward to improving the numbers this season for sure.
#2. Ben Stokes vs Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan has always been a crucial cog in Sunrisers Hyderabad and despite having a slow start this season, he has managed to pick eight wickets in six matches. His three against KXIP in SRH’s last match was his best performance this season. Hyderabad would be hoping that Khan carries his form to Dubai against Rajasthan Royals. On the other hand, Ben Stokes had taken compassionate leave in the middle of England’s home Test series and with returns for RR, it is likely that Andrew Tye sits out and him taking the No.5 spot, giving stability to RR’s batting woes.
#3. David Warner vs Jofra Archer
The flamboyant Australian opener, David Warner played a crucial role in SRH’s batting outfit last year. His stunning numbers in 2019 reveal the kind of impact he had on the tournament — 692 runs at a strike rate of 143.86. He would look to carry on from where he left off last year. While he was equally dangerous against pace and spin last year, his battle against fast bowlers on UAE surfaces would be interesting to watch.
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The pitches at venues in the Middle-East make shot-making slightly more difficult, which is why someone like Jofra Archer might trouble the big-hitting opener. Warner has the ability to keep things tight and get through his overs quickly. If he can keep the southpaw quiet, it might produce a false shot as the attacking batsman might look to break open.
