The IPL 2024 season is heating up as Punjab Kings (PBKS) gear up to take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the twenty-third fixture at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Mohali, slated for April 9th. As the tournament progresses, Punjab Kings currently occupies the sixth position on the points table, while Sunrisers Hyderabad stands in fifth place.
In the ongoing IPL season, both teams have showcased their mettle in four matches each. Punjab Kings has managed to secure victories in two games, while Sunrisers Hyderabad has mirrored their performance with two wins to their credit as well.
In their recent outings, Punjab Kings emerged victorious against Gujarat Titans, clinching a nail-biting 3-wicket win, propelled by Shashank Singh’s impressive 61-run contribution. Conversely, Sunrisers Hyderabad showcased their prowess in their last match against Chennai Super Kings, clinching a convincing 6-wicket victory, with Aiden Markram’s stellar 50-run performance.
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Looking at their historical encounters, these two teams have locked horns 21 times in the IPL format. While Punjab Kings has claimed victory in 7 matches, Sunrisers Hyderabad has dominated with 14 wins under their belt. As the excitement builds up for this clash, cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate another thrilling encounter between these two formidable teams.
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Liam Livingstone’s participation in the upcoming match for PBKS remains uncertain as confirmed by assistant coach Brad Haddin, hinting at a decision to be made on match day. On the other hand, Travis Head has showcased prowess during PowerPlay overs in the IPL, boasting a striking rate exceeding 210. However, his performance dips notably against spin, with just two dismissals in four matches and a modest strike rate of 81.25. Punjab might capitalize on this vulnerability by deploying spin early on, particularly on a surface offering minimal bounce.
Probable XI: Shikhar Dhawan (C), Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Sam Curran, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shashank Singh, Sikandar Raza, Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Mayank Agarwal, who missed Hyderabad’s last game due to illness, is expected to return to action following a stint in training. Jonny Bairstow, despite being a key figure for Punjab, has struggled to make an impact this season, especially against Pat Cummins, who has historically troubled him in T20 encounters. Bairstow has fallen to Cummins thrice, with a strike rate hovering around 69.
Moreover, Bairstow’s struggles against left-arm spin are evident, having been dismissed five times in IPL matches against such bowlers, accompanied by a high dot-ball rate of 49%. Considering this, SRH may opt to exploit this weakness by reintroducing Abhishek Sharma to open the bowling, a strategy employed in their previous encounter against CSK.
Probable XI: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Adien Markram, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Abdul Samad, Mayank Agarwal/Nitish Reddy, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pat Cummins (C), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan, Mayank Markande
Fantasy XI Suggestion 1:
Heinrich Klaasen, Jonny Bairstow, Shikhar Dhawan, Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma (c), Prabhsimran Singh, Aiden Markram, Sam Curran (vc),Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh
Fantasy XI Suggestion 2:
Heinrich Klaasen, Jonny Bairstow, Shikhar Dhawan (vc), Travis Head (c), Abhishek Sharma, Aiden Markram, Sam Curran, Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, T Natarajan
