The second match of Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) will see two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) face off against 2016 winners Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday. Both sides will be looking to shake off past disappointments and get their season off to a winning start.
SRH eye fresh start vs KKR
Sunrisers Hyderabad finished rock bottom in IPL 2023 and haven’t reached the playoffs since 2018. To turn things around, they’ve appointed a new captain in Pat Cummins and head coach in Daniel Vettori. Their squad boasts several top-class players, but figuring out the best playing XI could be a challenge.
Predicted SRH Playing XI vs KKR
- Openers: Travis Head is a near certainty to open the batting, with Abhishek Sharma or Mayank Agarwal likely partnering him.
- Middle Order: Experienced campaigners Rahul Tripathi and Aiden Markram are expected at number three and four respectively. South African wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen will likely bat at number five, followed by Abdul Samad.
- All-Rounders: Shahbaz Ahmed might get the nod over Washington Sundar for the all-rounder’s role. Captain Pat Cummins will likely bat at number eight.
- Bowling Attack: The bowling attack is likely to feature the experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar alongside T Natarajan or Umran Malik and Mayank Markande.
SRH probable playing XI vs KKR
Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pat Cummins, Mayank Markande, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan
Impact substitutes: Washington Sundar, Jaydev Unadkat, Umran Malik, Anmolpreet Singh, Mayank Agarwal.
Head-to-Head KKR vs SRH
Historically, Kolkata Knight Riders have dominated the rivalry against Sunrisers Hyderabad. KKR has won 15 out of the 25 IPL matches played between the two sides, with SRH managing only nine victories and one draw. Notably, KKR has also enjoyed success at home, winning six out of nine encounters against SRH at the Eden Gardens.
IPL 2024: Can SRH Spring a Surprise?
Despite the historical imbalance, Sunrisers Hyderabad will be determined to upset the odds on Saturday. With a new captain and coach at the helm, they’ll be hoping for a fresh start. However, they’ll need their big players to perform if they want to silence the home crowd and steal a win against Kolkata.
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