Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings eye comeback in crucial IPL clash

Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings will aim to bounce back from recent defeats when they face off in a crucial IPL clash. With the play-off race intensifying, both teams will look to regain momentum through strong performances in batting and bowling

Hyderabad: Former champions Sunrisers Hyderabad and table-toppers Punjab Kings have been served wake-up calls as the IPL heads into the business end.

Shreyas Iyer-led Punjab Kings lost their last two games after an unbeaten run, while Sunrisers suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders in their last game, ending a five-match winning streak.

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So, it will be interesting to see which team shrugs off the losses and regains momentum to ensure it does not miss the race for a place in the play-offs.

Sunrisers have been banking heavily on their top three batters – Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan – along with one of the most destructive batters in the T20 format, Heinrich Klaasen. It is quite apparent that irrespective of whether the top three provide the explosive starts they are known for while chasing or setting a target, it is imperative for Sunrisers that Klaasen stays at the crease for long and comes up with crucial contributions.

No doubt, the home team missed all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was unwell for the last game but is expected to be fit for Tuesday’s match. His absence also meant the team lost the right balance in combination, making it difficult to find a sixth bowling option.

Captain Pat Cummins, who was expensive against KKR, should regain his rhythm and lead from the front with support from bowlers like Eshan Malinga and Sakib Hussain, the surprise packages this season for Sunrisers. It will be interesting to see whether young pacer Praful Hinge will be preferred for the crucial match. Left-arm spinner Shivang Kumar has also been quite effective so far.

On the other hand, Punjab Kings too depend heavily on openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya, followed by Cooper Connolly, in-form captain Shreyas Iyer, Marcus Stoinis and Suryansh Shedge in batting.

Punjab Kings have 13 points from nine matches and are table-toppers with six wins and one point from a washout game, while Sunrisers have 12 points from 10 games with six wins.

Bowling has been a concern for Punjab Kings, who will look for an improved performance from India pacer Arshdeep Singh to strike early blows and remain economical. Marco Jansen and Lockie Ferguson/Xavier Bartlett have the skills, but whether they can pass the Sunrisers test remains to be seen. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal too will face a tough challenge against Sunrisers’ power-packed batting line-up.

Will it be another high-scoring battle?