IPL 2018, SRH vs MI: Five players to watch out for

The Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad is all set to witness a riveting encounter between home side Sunrisers Hyderabad and defending champions Mumbai Indians in the VIVO IPL 2018 today.

While the slow-starters Mumbai gave away the game from a winning position against Chennai Super Kings in the season opener, the David Warner-less SRH comprehensively beat Steve Smith-less Ajinkya Rahane and company by 9 wickets in their opening fixture.

Although when two such quality teams meet it would require more than just individual performances to steer their team home some of the players could still turn this match on its head.

Here we take a look at five such talismanic players to watch out for in the high-octane clash:

#5 Manish Pandey

The 28-year-old batsman from Karnataka was one of the mainstays of KKR's batting line-up for the last four editions of the IPL. Pandey has scored 1270 runs for KKR in 52 innings at an average of 31.75. His knock of 94 against KXIP in the final of 2014 IPL was instrumental in KKR winning their second title.

But for the 11th season of IPL, Pandey was roped in by Sunrisers Hyderabad for a whopping Rs 11cr. He was the second most expensive Indian player sold in the 2018 IPL auction after Jaydev Unadkat (11.5 Cr to RR).

Though Pandey didn't get a chance to bat in their opening fixture against RR, given his record – 429 runs in 12 matches at an average of 35.75 – against Mumbai, Pandey will look to score big and take his team home in today's clash.