KKR vs SRH: The big picture
In the IPL, few clubs have a single specialist spinner in their starting XI. This season, Sunrisers Hyderabad defied the tradition by selecting only Washington Sundar with four pacers. Washington also provides them with much-needed balance at number seven, which is why he is such an important element of that team. Even while he is not expected to be out for long, how SRH manages his absence could have a huge impact on their campaign. SRH would have been more placed to handle that circumstance if one of their frontline seamers had been injured, given the reserves they have, but the spin department’s cupboard is bare.
At the present, Shreyas Gopal and Jagadeesha Suchith appear to be the alternatives, but are they good enough to bat at number seven? Will they be able to duplicate Washington’s success with the ball? Abdul Samad, how about you? SRH has the option of recalling the promising teenager, and it will be interesting to see if he and Aiden Markram can share the fifth-wicket duties. The timing of Washington’s injury is crucial for SRH, as they appeared to be regaining their footing after losing their first two games. They clicked as a unit in the next two games to win, but there’s a real possibility that their winning streak may come to an end.
KKR vs SRH: Match Details
When: April 15, 19:30 IST, SRH vs KKR
Where: Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium
What to expect: So far, the setting has been batting-friendly. The lowest first-inning total in the five games played here is 177. Chasing seemed to be the norm here under the lights, but Punjab Kings were able to defend 180 against Chennai Super Kings earlier this month.
Also Read: IPL 2022: PBKS vs SRH Match 28 Prediction
KKR vs SRH: Team-wise tactics
Sunrisers Hyderabad Matchups & Tactics
Ajinkya Rahane enjoys pace upfront, therefore whichever SRH chooses to bowl spin should preferably target him first. However, if Rahane is dropped, SRH will have an issue because their backup spinner(s) might bowl to bowlers like Shreyas Iyer and Nitish Rana, who are known for smashing spin.
From SRH’s perspective, it’s also critical that someone takes on KKR’s spin pair. This season, they have the lowest combined economy rate of all clubs in 2022, at 6.07. In this aspect, Rahul Tripathi will be crucial.
Probable XI: Nicholas Pooran, Shashank Singh, Abdul Samad/Shreyas Gopal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Abhishek Sharma, Kane Williamson (C), Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, Umran Malik, T Natarajan
Kolkata Knight Riders
Does KKR really need Rasikh Salam in that XI?
Tactics & Matchups
Does KKR really need Rasikh Salam in that XI? They have six bowling options without him, and they only handed him one over in their last game versus DC. They could improve their batting lineup by omitting Salam, particularly against a powerful SRH pace attack. Sam Billings will have to make way for Sheldon Jackson if KKR decides to dismiss Rahane to make room for Aaron Finch.
It would be crucial to see how KKR’s frontline hitters manage Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, and Nitish Rana, for example, have a mixed record against Bhuvneshwar. But, at the end of the day, Andre Russell will put his faith in himself to finish the job, striking at 231.7 against the Indian seamer.
Probable XI: Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Sam Billings/Sheldon Jackson, Rinku Singh/Rasikh Salam, Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane/Aaron Finch, Shreyas Iyer, Pat Cummins, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy
KKR vs SRH: Trivia
Sunrisers Hyderabad hasn’t beaten Kolkata Knight Riders since 2020, losing all four games.
KKR’s greatest bowlers this season have been Umesh Yadav and Sunil Narine, but Rahul Tripathi has a career strike rate of 221.42 and 160.61 against those two.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has 28 wickets against KKR, the most of any franchise he has faced.
