IPL 2019 – Match 54: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – SRH Predicted Playing XI

We are heading into the final weekend of the league stages and three teams have booked a playoff spot. One spot remains and after Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Super Over loss against Mumbai Indians (MI), that spot is wide open now. As many as four teams (everyone else barring RCB) are still in contention for that fourth playoff spot. There are multiple permutations and combinations surrounding the scenarios for the four teams.

SRH’s narrow loss leaves them in a spot now. They now have to win their next game which is against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. A win here will almost guarantee them a playoff spot as they have the best net run rate in the competition. They might still make it through if they lose but they will have to depend on other results and favours from other teams.

Hence, SRH will be under pressure. Their batting hasn’t delivered and on a pitch that’s good for batting, they will need to step up. They absolutely thrashed RCB when these two sides last met. However, David Warner and Jonny Bairstow smoked scintillating tons and both of them have flown back to their respective homes.

Openers (Martin Guptill, Wriddhiman Saha)

Martin Guptill finally got a game but his innings was short lived. He did get a decent start and also hit a trademark six. However, he was found out once again by his old nemesis, the nip-backer. Jasprit Bumrah caught him plumb in front and Guptill was LBW for the umpteenth time.

Wriddhiman Saha has got a couple of good and fast starts in the last couple of games. However, he hasn’t built on those starts. In the absence of Warner and Bairstow, both the onus will be on Guptill and Saha to provide a good start in SRH’s must-win game.

Also Read: IPL 2019: Match 54, RCB vs SRH – Predicted top performer based on stats and records for Fantasy Cricket

Middle-order (Manish Pandey, Kane Williamson, Vijay Shankar, Deepak Hooda)

From the time Manish Pandey has been moved to No. 3, he’s relished the opportunity and has scored three half-centuries in his last four innings. He’s striking the ball beautifully. In the last game, he almost won SRH the game single-handedly. He struck an unbeaten 71 to help SRH tie the game but they eventually lost the game in the Super Over.

What Pandey’s elevation to No. 3 has done is, Williamson has had to move down to No. 4 and he’s looked a pale shadow of himself this season. Meanwhile, same is the case with Vijay Shankar who had a couple of good innings at the start of the season but has tapered off since. Deepak Hooda might just come in for this game. Abhishek Sharma failed with the bat two games in a row and moreover, has bowled just two overs in this IPL. Hence, he might face the axe and Hooda might slot back in.

All-rounder (Mohammad Nabi)

Mohammad Nabi has been SRH’s most economical bowler this season. He has an economy rate of 6.08 and has picked up eight wickets in six games so far. With the bat, he’s played a couple of useful cameos. Even in the last game, he batted well along with Pandey to take SRH close.

Bowlers (Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Basil Thampi)

Rashid Khan has bowled extremely well this IPL but has also been a tad unlucky. He’s picked up 14 wickets in 13 games and has an economy of 6.11 this season. Bhuvneshwar Kumar did well in the last game against MI as he returned with figures of 1/29. He’s looking in good rhythm as well and is setting the tone with the new ball, early on. Khaleel Ahmed has been a revelation this season. He was included in the XI halfway through this season and has picked up wickets in every game.

Despite playing almost half as many games, Khaleel is the joint-highest wicket-taker for SRH (14 wickets). He’s bowled well in every stage of the game. Meanwhile, Basil Thampi played his first game of the season against MI and he conceded 40 in his four overs. However, SRH might want to give him another go.

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