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IPL 2021 | PBKS vs SRH: Punjab looks to revive fortunes against dormant Hyderabad

Abhishek Singh

The Punjab Kings after their first win against the Rajasthan Royals seemed to have been derailed. They have lost back to back matches and have now flown to a new venue in search of any change in the fortune. But in this endeavour of theirs, they face a Sunrisers Hyderabad who seemed to have run out of fortunes altogether, having lost all their three matches in the tournament so far. 

The two teams have had to struggle but in contrasting fashion. While Punjab had a batting collapse against Chennai Super Kings, it was their bowling that was thrown around against both Delhi Capitals and the Royals. Hyderabad on the other hand have been suffering from their batting form ever since the start of the tournament. 

In the lead up to this game, the battle between the two teams is being led by the Sunrisers 7-3 for the last 10 games. 

Low striking KL is one of many Punjab problems

Punjab skipper KL Rahul has been facing the problem of low striker rates ever since the last season. Even in the last game, when his teammates were scoring at more than 150 (except Nicholas Pooran), Rahul, even after playing 51 balls, was able to score just 61 runs at a strike rate below 120, which in this day and age is considered criminal for a T20 opener, who spends that much of time in the middle. 

Rahul was great in the game against Rajasthan where he scored a 50 ball 91. It is the same kind of application that is required from him going into the game against Sunrisrers. Given the fact that the wicket at Chepauk would be slow and hence keeping a high strike rate wouldn’t be that easy. But the likes of Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers and Andre Russell showed that in a day game at the MA Chidambaram, it could very well be targeted. 

Apart from the low strike rate of KL, the Punjab management also needs to find good use of the speedster Riley Meredith, who has so far been wanted away in the last three games. He has picked up two wickets no doubt but has given away too many runs in the process. His trajectory and the use of that in a certain phase of the game needs to be planned and executed well to get the real worth of spending made on him. 

Warner's men need re-modification

The Hyderabad side has not been able to click as a unit n any of the games, especially as a batting unit. The team has struggled and made several changes as well. Also, the fact that they have not been able to get a chance to defend a total has been a problem. In the three matches that they have chased, the team has always been able to come close, but not being able to finish off the game. 

The introduction of Kane Williamson is becoming a necessity now. They need someone in the middle who could pace up the chase. With Jonny Bairstow and skipper David Warner himself opening the innings, Abhishek Sharma, who has batted up the order in domestic cricket can be utilised with Williamson to block the number three and four spots and get the left-right combination going. 

Vijay Shankar, Manish Pandey and Abdul Samad need to be told that their role in the team is that of the finisher. And both Samad and Shankar need to be bowled regularly alongside Sharma to fill up the fifth bowler’s quota. Only then the top four bowlers in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan, Rashid Khan and Sandeep Sharma would be able to bowl up to their best. 

Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad: Match Details

Date and Time: April 21, 2021, 03: 30 pm IST, 10: 00 am GMT

Match Number- 14

Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Broadcast and Livestream: Star Sports and Hotstar

Pitch Report

The Chennai pitch has thrown a surprise in a day game when RCB managed to get past 200. But will Chepauk have a similar track in this game too, is hard to tell. Historically, the MA Chidambaram Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for spinners and thus not much high scoring affair is expected. 

Weather and Toss

The weather at Chennai tomorrow would have hazy sunshine at the time of the match and thus would help the team batting first as it would give them time to assess the condition and then utilised the used pitch by their spinners. The team winning the toss would therefore look to bat first. 

Team News

Punjab Kings

The kings in the north would like to utilise the condition in the south through their two wrist spinners in Murugan Ashwin and Ravi Bishnoi. The Rajasthan born 20-year-old leggie is most likely to begin his IPL 2021 campaign with this game in Chennai for sure. The question is at whose place will Bishnoi play. Most likely he would take Jalaj Saxena’s place or of Mohammad Shami as well in the side. 

Strongest XI

KL Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Shahrukh Khan, Jhye Richardson, Ravi Bishnoi, Jalaj Saxena/ Mohammed Shami, Riley Meredith, Arshdeep Singh

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Hyderabad would like to go back to basics and bring in Williamson and Sandeep Sharma into the squad in place of Mujeeb ur Rahman and Virat Singh. 

Strongest XI

David Warner (c), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Kane Williamson, Abhishek Sharma, Manish Pandey, Vijay Shankar, Abdul Samad, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, T Natarajan

Dream XI Predictions / Fantasy XI Suggestions 

Jonny Bairstow (wk), Lokesh Rahul (c), David Warner, Kane Williamson, Shahrukh Khan, Mayank Agarwal (vc), Deepak Hooda, Jhye Richardson, Rashid Khan, Murugan Ashwin, T. Natarajan

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