IPL 2018 - Match 42 - DD vs SRH Preview

8 wins in 10 games and Sunrisers Hyderabad are sitting pretty at the top of the table, with opponents wondering how to beat SRH in IPL 2018, as they have managed to defend exceedingly low totals this season. I have the answer to that question. Win the toss, bat first and score above 180.

While they have defended low scores in this season of the Indian Premier League, they haven’t been tested too many times batting second. Their bowlers can obviously handle the pressure but the batsmen may not be able to do so effectively. They batted second and chased 164 off the penultimate ball of their game against Delhi Daredevils 4 days ago. Delhi are languishing at the bottom of the points table and a loss here will send them straight home.

Teams

Sunrisers were without their prime fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a few games, but when he came back in, he was bang on target, bowling six yorker in the final over that he had to defend 12. IPL 2018 may have not been about the wickets for him but he has done the job right when he had to. However, the likes of Rashid, Kaul and Shakib are there to choke the opponent batsmen. The only time this bowling has looked vulnerable was while bowling first.

Kane Williamson will have one thought in mind – win the toss and bat first, while Shreyas Iyer will be looking to do the same and put scoreboard pressure on the visiting team. The entry of Alex Hales took a lot of pressure off the duo of Shikhar Dhawan and Williamson but Dhwan has failed to make a score in his last 3-4 games. Again, a few early wickets and the SRH batting line becomes very vulnerable. However, they seem to have found the perfect success formula so far.

Now I can name 4 or 5 batsmen in the SRH side that have struggled against leg spin in IPL 2018, which could very well mean that this could be Amit Mishra’s day, especially since he has looked good in the last couple of days. They may also consider bringing in Shahbaz Nadee, for Naman Ojha and since Delhi already have a keeper in Pant, I feel Ojha is just a complete waste of a position in the playing eleven.

While Shreyas Iyer and Pant have been in sublime form, the overseas batsmen have struggled. 133 runs to Glenn Maxwell, 97 runs to Jason Roy and 63 to Colin Munro means that they have now started using 2 batsmen and 2 bowlers in Plunkett & Boult. I won’t mind if they reduce their overseas batsmen slots to 1, and add an all-rounder option in Dan Christian, who has performed each time he was called on. However, who will they choose between Roy, Munro and Maxwell?

Overall

It was been a brilliant Indian Premier League for Sunrisers Hyderabad so far. Key to success for SRH: Just keep doing what you guys have been doing. Bowl second. Key to success for DD: Bat first and score 10-15 runs more than you did last time (180-185). However, I’m backing Sunrisers Hyderabad to win this contest at the Kotla.

IPL 2018 – Match 42 – Delhi Daredevils vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Preview

Teams

Overall

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