IPL 2017 SRH vs KKR: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Today's probable playing 11 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)
Having won their maiden away game of IPL 2017, against Kings XI Punjab in their last match, Sunrisers Hyderabad will be looking to keep their unbeaten home run going. Having won all four of their home games, they take on an in-form Kolkata Knight Riders side, who are the only team to have won three away games in this year’s tournament so far. In a battle of two in-form sides, SRH will be looking to get the win that gets them to within a point off KKR.
In the 37th match of IPL 2017, they take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Here is the possible playing XI for the reigning IPL champions –
Openers
David Warner came into the tournament in poor form after his lackluster performances against India in the Test series. Yet, not only is he one of the leading run-getters in the tournament but already has two forties, a fifty and two unbeaten seventies to his name in eight matches in this year’s IPL. At home, where he has flourished, he will be looking to improve those numbers even if it is against one of the best bowling line-ups in the tournament.
Shikhar Dhawan may have his fair share of critics in the shortest format of the game but there is no doubt that he has been one of SRH’s most consistent performers in IPL 2017. He has just a solitary single-digit score in the tournament and has two forties and two seventies to his name. More impressive performances like that might just guarantee his spot in the Indian side for the Champions Trophy.
Middle-order
Kane Williamson may not seem like the ideal choice in a T20 side but has been nothing short of sensational ever since he got the chance to play at No.3 for SRH this season. The Kiwi captain has scored 164 runs in three matches at an average of 82, including two fifties and he will look to continue that against KKR.
Yuvraj Singh returned to the side in the game against Kings XI after missing the game before that with the flu. Although the Indian all-rounder hasn’t been incredibly consistent in this year’s tournament, he did record his fastest IPL fifty in the opening game against RCB and he will look to recapture his form at home as they take on KKR.
Naman Ojha has been a spectator for large parts of this year’s IPL for SRH. In the last three matches, he hasn't had a stumping/catch or had an opportunity to impress with the bat. In fact, he just has two catches in this year’s tournament while averaging 27 with the bat in the three chances that he has got. He will hope to get his chance to shine sooner rather than later, with either the willow or the gloves.
All-rounders
Moises Henriques has got the nod ahead of Ben Cutting in the battle of the Australian all-rounders even if he hasn’t always had the opportunity to prove his worth. With the addition of Williamson in the XI, he has been moved down to the middle-order and will be looking to make more of an impact with both bat and ball.
Deepak Hooda has played in multiple positions in the batting order so far in this season for SRH. But irrespective of where he has played, he has struggled to replicate his sublime domestic form with the bat in IPL 2017. While he has done his part with the ball and in the field, he will look to contribute with the bat as well, especially at home where SRH have been so impressive.
Spinner
Rashid Khan showed in the last game (against KXIP) that is not always about the wickets in T20s. While the Afghanistan leg-spinner has been amongst the wickets in this year’s competition, he has shown that even when he isn’t picking up wickets, he can contribute by the keeping the runs down as well. On familiar home conditions where he has flourished, the teenager will look to be amongst the wickets once again.
Seamers
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been the standout bowler in this year’s IPL and leads the charts as far as the Purple cap is concerned. While he doesn't have a great record against either Gautam Gambhir or Robin Uthappa, at home conditions, he will look to make the most and extend his lead at the top of the list for most wickets.
Siddarth Kaul has been one of the most impressive domestic players who have made the transition from domestic cricket to IPL appear seamless. The 26-year-old fast bowler has picked up five wickets in four games in this year’s IPL and has shown tremendous control at the death overs where he has nailed his yorkers and bowled exactly where the fields demand him to bowl.
Ashish Nehra came back in for the game against Kings XI and made an immediate impact as the left-arm pacer picked up three wickets and set up a comfortable victory for David Warner’s side. Nehra’s return not only provides the bowling attack with more experience but also adds more variety to the attack with the angles that he creates. The 38-year-old hasn’t always been economical but hasn’t failed to pick up a wicket in a single match this season and boasts of an impressive tally of eight wickets in five matches this season.