The stage is set for a high-voltage clash in IPL 2024 as Sunrisers Hyderabad gear up to face the winner of the Eliminator match Rajasthan Royals. This crucial match will be played on Friday, May 24, 2024 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai with the winner securing a place in the grand finale of the tournament.
SRH will be short on confidence after their poor performance in Qualifier 1 against Kolkata Knight Riders. They will look to overcome a new challenge with Rajasthan Royals. On the other hand, RR will head into the game with a heads up high as they have convincingly won their last match against a very powerful Royal Challengers Bangalore.
The pressure will be immense on both sides, as this is their only shot at making it to the finals. This match promises to be a nail-biter, filled with strategic battles and top-notch cricketing action. Keep your eyes peeled for all the exciting moments.
Sunrisers Hyderabad Team Preview
SRH come into the game with a heavy heart as they lose their chance to qualify to the final after being squashed by Kolkata Knight Riders. The side lost the match by 8 wickets with 38 balls left to play. They will look to turn things around in this game and honestly they have all the resources to do so.
SRH came in second in the group stage winning 8 of their 14 games with a NRR of 0.414. Their poor performance against KKR does not define their whole season because for most part of the season their team has been excellent on both ends of the pitch.
Their batting will depend on a strong performance from their openers, Mayank Agarwal and Abhishek Sharma, who has been one of their finds this season. Remember they also have Travis Head who is having a massive season scoring 533 runs in his last 13 innings averaging 44.41.
In the bowling department, all eyes will be on Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the ever-dependable pacer, and the fiery Pat Cummins to take early wickets and restrict the opposition. Both of these bowlers have been in good form recently, with Cummins leading the charts with 16 wickets in the last 14 innings.
SRH might try to exploit RR’s weakness in death bowling. They might look to accelerate the scoring rate in the later overs to put pressure on RR. Their batting will depend on a strong performance from their openers, Mayank Agarwal and Abhishek Sharma. They will also need a significant contribution from the middle order, to post a respectable total.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Predicted XI: Mayank Agarwal, Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shahbaz Ahmded, Sanvir Singh, Abdul Samad, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pat Cummins, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth
Rajasthan Royals Team Preview
Rajasthan Royals will come into the game with confidence after a good win against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Despite starting the season strong and topping the points table early on, they’ve stumbled in matches, raising questions about their consistency.
Rajasthan Royals were the team to beat at the beginning of IPL 2024. Their aggressive batting, led by the explosive Jos Buttler (although unavailable for Qualifier 2), and a potent bowling attack headed by Avesh Khan and Trent Boult, propelled them to the top of the standings. However, a string of losses has dented their confidence, raising concerns about their ability to handle pressure in high-stakes matches.
Putting all that aside, this team will be leveraging on the momentum of their last win against RCB to help them against SRH as well. They have found some gems who are proving themselves on the big stage. Yashasvi Jaiswal, the young opener, has been a revelation this season, scoring 393 runs in the campaign and setting a record for the fastest IPL fifty. Riyan Parag has also emerged as a dependable middle-order batsman, showcasing his maturity and ability to score crucial runs. He is the leading run-scorer in this star-studded team.
On the bowling side, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal and Trent Boult have been consistent wicket-takers and will be key to restricting the SRH batsmen. Their experience will provide control if they can take early wickets.
Given their past success batting first and their recent struggles chasing, Rajasthan Royals might opt to bat first if they win the toss. However, their death bowling has been a weakness, and SRH might try to exploit that by accelerating the scoring rate in the later overs. The Royals will need to find a way to address this weakness and bowl tighter lines in the death overs.
Rajasthan Royals (RR) Predicted XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Riyan Parag, Shimron Htmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Rovman Powell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal.
RR vs. SRH Head-to-Head stats
The last match against the two sides resulted in a win for SRH. It was a very close call, with SRH winning by only 1 run. However, before that, these two teams had won two each in their last four encounters.
The head-to-head record between these two teams is much tighter. Across all IPL seasons, they’ve played roughly 18-19 matches each, with both sides emerging victorious nearly half the time. This historical balance suggests that recent form shouldn’t be the sole predictor of the upcoming Qualifier 2 outcome.
Both teams will tweak their playing lineups since their most recent encounters. It will be interesting to see how they react and manage the game on the field.
RR vs SRH Match Weather and Pitch Reports
The weather forecast for Chennai on May 24, 2024, the day of the match, is expected to be humid with clouds and sun. The high will be 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36 degrees Celsius), and the low will be 84 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius).
The hot and dry weather can lead to a dry pitch. A dry pitch can favor batsmen as the ball may come onto the bat nicely, making it easier to score runs. Spinners may find it difficult to grip the ball and get the spin they are looking for, reducing their effectiveness.
Traditionally, the pitch at Chepauk has offered a balanced surface for T20 cricket. This means that both batsmen and bowlers can expect a fair contest. Early on in the innings, pacers can exploit swing movement with the new ball. This could be a golden opportunity for teams to put early pressure on the opposition and potentially restrict their total.
However, the story changes as the match progresses. The pitch is known to slow down and become more turn-friendly later in the innings. This benefits spinners, who can then get more grip and dip on the ball, making it difficult for batsmen to score freely. This shift in the pitch’s behavior throughout the innings adds a layer of strategic complexity to the match.
Considering these factors, a high-scoring encounter is a distinct possibility. The team batting first will have the advantage of exploiting the initial swing-friendly conditions and setting a strong total. However, the team bowling second can’t be underestimated. Their spinners will become more potent as the pitch deteriorates, and smart captaincy decisions regarding bowling changes will be critical.
With a balanced pitch and a variety of factors at play, predicting a definitive first-innings score is challenging. However, a score in the range of 170-180 runs could be a good benchmark.
RR vs SRH Betting Odds
Sunrisers Hyderabad 1.80 – 2.00 Rajasthan Royals (bet365)
RR vs SRH Winning Predictions
Predicting the winner of the upcoming Qualifier 2 match is difficult as several factors can influence the outcome. These two teams are very similar in terms of quality making it hard to pick a clear winner. However based on their team on-paper and their recent form, we are going to slightly lean towards SRH winning it.
However, we cannot underestimate RR in any way with their recent stellar performance against RCB. We believe the match to be really tight. It’s surely going to be an exhilarating match for the neutrals.
The skirmish between SRH and RR in Qualifier 2 promises incredible cricket. While a high-scoring encounter is a possibility, the team that adapts better to the pitch’s behavior and utilizes their resources effectively will have the upper hand. The outcome of this crucial match hinges on the execution of strategies, individual brilliance, and a touch of luck. Time will tell who will come out on top and secure their spot in the IPL 2024 final.