The second qualifier of the IPL 2024 tournament will feature an exciting clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 24th. This match is crucial as both teams vie for a spot in the final. Sunrisers Hyderabad finished second on the points table, showcasing their consistent performance throughout the season, while Rajasthan Royals secured the third spot, proving their resilience and determination.
Throughout the season, both teams have demonstrated their prowess on the field, each playing fourteen matches and securing eight wins. In their last encounter, Sunrisers Hyderabad faced a setback, losing to Kolkata Knight Riders by 8 wickets, despite a notable performance from Rahul Tripathi, who scored 55 runs. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals triumphed in their last match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, winning by 4 wickets, with a commendable contribution from Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 45 runs.
Historically, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals have had a closely contested rivalry in this format, facing each other 19 times. Sunrisers Hyderabad holds a slight edge with 10 victories, while Rajasthan Royals have won 9 matches. This balance adds an extra layer of excitement to their upcoming clash, as both teams have proven their ability to outperform each other in the past.
ALSO READ: Michael Vaughan Analyzes Rinku Singh’s Form and Anticipates Strong Comeback
Adding to the intrigue of this qualifier is the venue – the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Even Chennai Super Kings (CSK), with their home advantage, have struggled with the pitch conditions here. Friday’s fixture will be played on pitch #7, a fresh wicket that introduces an element of unpredictability. The extremely short square boundary on one side further complicates the dynamics, making it a challenge for both teams to strategize effectively.
As the anticipation builds, fans eagerly await to see which team will rise to the occasion and secure their place in the final. With both Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals boasting strong line-ups and a history of competitive matches, this qualifier promises to be a thrilling contest.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
A strategy of targeting Travis Head with left-armers has proven effective in the last two games, with Trent Boult’s knack for early wickets providing Rajasthan Royals (RR) a potential advantage. Despite this, Head has an impressive record against Boult in this format, scoring 52 runs off 30 balls without being dismissed. While Head has been out three times to left-armers, he also scores at a brisk rate of 206.25 against them.
Probable XII: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Reddy, Shahbaz Ahmed, Heinrich Klaasen, Abdul Samad, Pat Cummins, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, T Natarajan
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Sanju Samson, RR’s captain, hinted at some fitness concerns within the team after their win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Eliminator. “I’m not 100% [fit] actually. There is a bug in the dressing room, lots of coughs and a lot of people are a bit unwell,” Samson revealed. However, no players are expected to miss the crucial qualifier on Friday due to illness.
RR has additional options to challenge Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the PowerPlay. Sandeep Sharma has a decent record against SRH’s opener, conceding 15 runs off 15 balls and dismissing him once. Avesh Khan, who dismissed the opener earlier this season, has given up 15 runs off 8 deliveries. Boult has been particularly effective against Abhishek Sharma, conceding just 13 runs in 21 balls and dismissing him once. Meanwhile, Rahul Tripathi, who was instrumental in SRH’s previous match, has struggled against Boult and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Probable XI: Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Rovman Powell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal
Fantasy XI Suggestion 1:
Heinrich Klaasen, Sanju Samson (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma (vc), Nitish Reddy, Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bowlers: Pat Cummins, T Natarajan, Avesh Khan
Fantasy XI Suggestion 2:
Sanju Samson, Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head (vc), Rahul Tripathi, Abhishek Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal (c), Ravichandran Ashwin, Riyan Parag, Nitish Reddy, T Natarajan, Sandeep Sharma
