Former IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will be seen in action this weekend as they face each other in Match 8 of IPL 2020. They had started their campaign on a losing note and will be looking to win their first game on Saturday. Despite making a few radical changes in the IPL Auction, KKR suffered a huge defeat against Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah earlier in the week.
As for the Sunrisers, they would be looking not to repeat the mistakes they did against RCB. The Knight Riders, with the likes of Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, were ranked by many as the early season favorites and they will be fancying their chances against SRH, who have troubles of their own in the build-up to this encounter.
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KKR has the edge in the head-to-head record, with 10 wins in 17 games. However, they would be looking to find a way to stop Jonny Bairstow and SRH, given that their previous game against the Orange Army in IPL 2019 ended in a nine-wicket defeat.
#1. Jonny Bairstow vs Sunil Narine
One of the best limited-overs batsmen, Jonny Bairstow will be facing one of the finest modern-day spinners, Sunil Narine and it promises a lot on paper. The SRH opener was the highest run-scorer for the team in the tournament opener against RCB, so he would be keen to continue the momentum. Bairstow has an excellent IPL record and on the other hand, Narine has always been a wicket-taker for KKR and he will be under pressure to prove his worth.
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Apart from his batting as an opener, Narine will be playing the role of a wicket-taker. He last played the IPL in 2019 for DC, during which he picked up 10 scalps in 12 games at a strike rate of 26.6. He will be looking forward to improving the numbers this season for sure.
#2. Andre Russell vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar
This is a battle of unconventional cricketers, if we may call it so. The Caribbean all-rounder, Andre Russell was the highest run-scorer for KKR in the last season as he 14 matches he had scored 510 runs in 249 balls at a strike rate of 204.81. He would be expected to continue his form from the IPL 2019.
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Russell’s battle with Bhuvneshwar Kumar promises to be an enthralling one. Bhuvi has the ability to bowl yorkers at will which will help him disturbing the rhythm of the Caribbean all-rounder. Kumar is one of the best death bowlers in the business, and Russell will have to bat at his ferocious best to unsettle the veteran seamer.
#3. David Warner vs Kuldeep Yadav
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 slow 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 Kuldeep Yadav might trouble the big-hitter all-rounder. Warner has the ability to keep things tight and get through his overs quickly. If he can keep Warner quiet, it might produce a false shot as the attacking batsman might look to break open.
