IPL 2019 – Match 22: Kings XI Punjab vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – SRH Predicted Playing XI

The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) were handed over their most embarrassing defeat of this season in their last game against the Mumbai Indians. The SRH middle-order lacked the flare to take the team over the line and their fielding standards were poor as well. However, the team doesn’t have much time to reflect upon this disappointment and will be back in action after just one day gap.

They will fly to Mohali for the duel against the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). The Sunrisers looked one of the strongest teams in the IPL until their middle-order was exposed in the last two matches. Now, as they are about to play their next match of the season, the team has got some thinking to do about the middle-order and there could be a few changes made.

Here is the Predicted Playing XI for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH):

Openers (Jonny Bairstow (wk), David Warner)

Jonny Bairstow has been providing SRH good starts on a consistent basis. However, he is unlucky to have found the edge off Rahul Chahar’s bowling in the last match. It is a learning process for the English cricketer. He hasn’t played in Indian conditions much. Bairstow will only get better as he plays more and more games.

David Warner hasn’t looked the usual self in the last two matches. For two times in a row, he went for the expansive cover drive on the off-side. While he usually plays this shot well, it didn’t click on the last two occasions. He is that batsman in the line-up who must be there throughout the 20 overs. Warner will have to be slightly more selective with his shots.

Middle Order (Vijay Shankar, Manish Pandey, Abhishek Sharma, Yusuf Pathan)

Vijay Shankar’s batting in the last game was highly disappointing. The required run rate was just hovering around 7 and 8. But the batting all-rounder took a lot of pressure upon himself and tried to go for the glory shot. However, he got that terribly wrong and was out caught. Because of the amount that he’s being paid, there seems to be immense pressure on Manish Pandey.

Even though he received a lot of criticism for his knock in the last match, his approach was right. He rotated the strike well but couldn’t carry on for a long time. He needs to work on the temperamental aspect of his game. Young Abhishek Sharma could be given a chance in place of Deepak Hooda who hasn’t done much thus far. Yusuf Pathan is likely to be given another chance as he is the most experienced campaigner in this middle order.

All Rounders (Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan)

Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan will be the two all-rounders in this line-up. Both of them have done a terrific job with the ball thus far. While Nabi takes control during the first half of the innings, Rashid operates in the second half. With long boundaries in Mohali, it is almost certain that they will look to toss the ball up and invite the batsman to play the big shots.

In the process, they might also get a few wickets. If they can dismiss three of the top five batsmen early, there will be a lot of pressure on the home team. Nabi needs to bat more sensibly as he was trying to hit everything out of the mark as soon as the required run rate went up to about 9.

Bowlers (Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma)

SRH will continue with their pace troika of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddarth Kaul and Sandeep Sharma. The former two are just about getting into their groove. They have begun picking up wickets and SRH is a dangerous side when they do that. Kaul and Sandeep will be playing at the venue they know really well. Hence, one could expect a lot of fireworks from them.

Bhuvi will continue to lead the side and has done decently well so far. Along with Kane Williamson, he needs to have a word with the middle-order batsmen. They seemed to have pressed the panic button too early in the last game. The middle order batsmen should look to play more rational cricket.

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