IPL 9, Match 27 Preview: Sunrisers Hyderabad up for Royal Challenge

The 27th match of the ongoing Indian Premier League will be contested between the Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. While the Sunrisers are beginning to find some form, the Royal Challengers are on the brink of slipping away from the playoffs spot altogether. For the Bangalore-based franchise, it has been all about one man – Virat Kohli. Virat who also happens to be the Orange Cap holder at the moment can seemingly put no foot wrong. However, whether his bowlers can help him out on the night with a performance as stellar as the ones he is capable of remains to be seen.

Team News-

Sunrisers Hyderabad:

The Sunrisers Hyderabad have all of a sudden as it seems, entered the fray to become one of the most feared teams in the competition. Despite a substandard performance from the Sunrisers against the Supergiants at home, the form of Shikhar Dhawan has been a breath of fresh air for the men in orange.

Against the Royal Challengers, however, the Sunrisers haven’t had the best of outings. They have won three of six matches against the RCB, and this season, the Hyderabad-based franchise has dropped points against them. Although Bangalore is not in the best of forms at the moment, the Sunrisers will know exactly what they are capable of. Having been given a sound thrashing at Bengaluru, revenge will certainly be one of the agendas on the minds of David Warner and his band of merry men.

While the wicket of Virat Kohli will be an important one, the Sunrisers will be fully aware of the threat that Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, and Shane Watson carry. In the spin department they might either opt for Bipul Sharma or Karn Sharma depending on how supportive the conditions are. Mustafizur Rahman as always will be an important member, however, it will be Ashish Nehra who will be expected to lead the attack once more.

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

The Royal Challengers Bangalore are currently in a bad slump. It seems almost as if the team management went on Facebook and changed the relationship status to ‘it’s complicated’. Despite the addition of Tabraiz Shamsi, the RCB bowling attack hasn’t been able to deliver as a unit. This has been the problem for the Challengers for not one, not two, but 9 years.

The return of Chris Gayle will once again mean that the 36-year old West Indian will pick himself in the squad by default. With the likes of KL Rahul, AB de Villiers and others present, the lineup looks stronger than ever. Rahul has also grown into the RCB shirt to become yet another invaluable member of the side courtesy of his prowess to keep wickets.

Parvez Rasool will be expected to get back into the squad in a bid to strengthen the spin bowling department. Therefore, the Challengers will be expected to enter the mouthwatering encounter with three spinners including the irresistible Shamsi. Harshal Patel will also be expected to make a return and be picked ahead of southpaw Sreenath Aravind.

Probable XI

Sunrisers Hyderabad:

David Warner (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Aditya Tare,  Eoin Morgan, Naman Ojha (wk), Moises Henriques, Deepak Hooda, Bipul Sharma/Karn Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mustafizur Rahman, Ashish Nehra

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli (C), KL Rahul (wk), AB de Villiers, Sarfaraz Khan, Parvez Rasool, Stuart Binny, Kane Richardson, Tabraiz Shamsi, Yuzvendra Chahal/ Harshal Patel, Varun Aaron

StAttack

1. Virat Kohli has both the highest runs aggregate as well as the highest average in the tournament. He has 367 runs at an average of 91.75.

2. Shane Watson is the highest wicket-taker for the Royal Challengers with 5 wickets. Mustafizur is the highest for the Sunrisers with 7 wickets to his name.

3. Shikhar Dhawan’s last three innings have seen him average almost 52. His average prior to that was a lowly 12.