IPL 2022 | KKR vs SRH | Match 61 Preview, Prediction, Probable XI, CREX XI

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will look to remain in the mix for playoffs when they take on the lacklustre Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 61st fixture of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Saturday (May 14) at MCA Stadium in Pune. 

Continuous chopping and changing their playing combination has backfired as KKR never looked relieved in the entire tournament, reflecting the kind of the season they have had. With just five wins from 12 games, they are practically out of the playoffs race. 

After succumbing to a humiliating 75-run defeat at the hands of table-toppers Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata Knight Riders bounced back strong against the Mumbai Indians to register a 52 run victory. 

Sunrisers Hyderabad, on the other hand, has no choice and needs to win all of their remaining games with a considerable margin to keep their hopes of featuring in the playoffs breathing. With 10 points from 11 games, they are currently placed at the sixth spot on the points table. 

Heading into their next game, SRH will look to improve their NRR as well, as if they end in a situation of a tie with one of their competitors, it will eventually come to net run rate. Either way, it will be an exciting battle, considering the two crucial points up for grab. 

Match Details

Match: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Match 61

Venue: Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

Date & Time: 14th May at 7:30 PM IST & Local Time

Live Streaming: Star Sports Network and Disney + Hotstar 

Pitch Report: The pitch at MCA, Pune, has been a tricky one, with some swing, seam and bounce on offer for the quick bowlers. As the game progresses, the surface starts assisting spinners. It is a low scoring venue, and one can expect a score of 160-170. Interestingly, the team batting first won all the last five games played at this venue. Going with the record, both the captains might put the opposition to bowl first after winning the toss. 

Pitch Stats [Last 5 Matches] 

Matches Played: 5

Matches Won Batting First: 5

Matches Won Bowling First: 0

Average 1st Inning Score: 170

Average 2nd Inning Score: 133

Injury Update/Players' Availability 

Kolkata Knight Riders: The team is likely to be hurt in the absence of Pat Cummins, who has pulled out of the tournament due to a back injury. 

Sunrisers Hyderabad: There are no further updates on the injury of T Natarajan and Washington Sundar, and they might miss another game for SRH. 

Key Matchups 

Rahane vs Bhuvi: 89/6 at 93 SR

Shreyas vs Bhuvi: 44/3 at 90 SR

Nitish vs Bhuvi: 39/2 at 118 SR

Russell vs Bhuvi: 60/2 at 222 SR

Pooran vs Varun: 27/2 at 142 SR

Pooran vs Russell: 87/4 at 145 SR

Pooran vs Narine: 93/2 at 141 SR

Willamson vs Russell: 16/1 at 160 SR

Head-To-Head 

Matches Played: 22

KKR Won: 14

SRH Won: 8

Squads 

Kolkata Knight Riders: Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Mavi, Sheldon Jackson, Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh, Anukul Roy, Rasikh Dar, Baba Indrajith, Chamika Karunaratne, Abhijeet Tomar, Pratham Singh, Ashok Sharma, Sam Billings, Aaron Finch, Tim Southee, Ramesh Kumar, Mohammad Nabi, Umesh Yadav.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Kane Williamson, Abdul Samad, Umran Malik, Washington Sundar, Nicholas Pooran, T Natarajan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Priyam Garg, Rahul Tripathi, Abhishek Sharma, Kartik Tyagi, Shreyas Gopal, Jagadeesha Suchith, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, Romario Shepherd, Sean Abbott, R Samarth, Shashank Singh, Saurabh Dubey, Vishnu Vinod, Glenn Phillips, Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Probable Playing XI 

Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Sheldon Jackson (wk), Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Varun Chakravarthy

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Kane Williamson (c), Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Shashank Singh, Jagadeesha Suchith, Kartik Tyagi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Fazalhaq Farooqi/Marco Jansen, Umran Malik 

CREX XI Suggestion 

Wicket-Keeper: Nicholas Pooran

Batters: Rahul Tripathi, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana, Abhishek Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer

All-Rounders: Andre Russell, Aiden Markram 

Bowlers: Umran Malik, Tim Southee, Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Captain: Andre Russell

Vice-Captain: Nicholas Pooran