IPL 2022 | SRH vs SRH - Pre-Match Analysis

We are down to Match 36 of the Indian Premier League season. Thus far, we have witnessed some classic encounters and performances ranging from Yuzvendra Chahal’s crucial hattrick to David Miller’s fighting innings. And now we are on the verge of seeing yet another thriller between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad. 

Whenever SRH and RCB have played against, these two put on sensational matches in the league’s history, including the famous 2016 IPL finals where the latter emerged victoriously. Both the teams have been impressive across all the departments this season, and they would want to continue their good form. Therefore, let us look at both teams' phase-wise analysis this season.

With the bat  

Royal Challengers Bangalore 

RCB, throughout this season, have struggled to give an explosive start in the powerplay. In this process, they have lost their top order cheaply within the first six overs. As a result, they have just scored 22 runs at an average for losing a wicket in the first 15 balls, and their strike rate dips in the first 30 balls.

They have picked up after the powerplay, thanks to the counter-attacking approach from Maxwell, who has struck at 158 in the middle overs this season. Their strike rate and runs per wicket value keep getting better as each phase progresses, and they have a phenomenal strike rate of 176.6 between the 76th to 90th ball of the innings. 

This phase signifies their transformation from a more strike rotated approach to an aggressive approach. RCB has scored over 45 per cent of their team runs between the 76th and 120th balls of the innings. Meaning SRH would need to be wary while bowling to them in the death overs.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

SRH had a plodding start in the first 15 balls, striking at just under 60 (lowest among all teams), and this is due to the quiet start from Williamson. But once they are past the powerplay phase, they have been destructive in the first 25 balls in the middle overs. 

Their strike rate of 144.4 and 143.3 in both phases is the best among all the teams in this season, mainly due to the counterattacking approach of Rahul Tripathi. He had an astonishing strike rate of 176.54 in the middle overs (third-best among batters with a minimum of 100 runs).

They have also scored close to 45 per cent of their team runs between the 76th and 120th ball of the innings, and their strike rate keeps increasing in these phases. But one thing to note here is that Sunrisers have never batted first this season, so it will be interesting to see how they perform if they are put to bat first.

With the ball 

Royal Challengers Bangalore

RCB have been starting off the powerplay tightly by conceding an economy rate of 6.07. But one of their major issues in the first 15 balls has been their wicket-taking ability, and they have taken a wicket every 90 balls (highest among all teams this phase).

They have improved in the rest of the phases of play, especially in the middle overs, where they have been consistently getting wickets and maintaining balls per wicket value of less than 20 across all the phases of play. For example, Wanindu Hasaranga and Harshal Patel have taken a combined value of 15 wickets in the middle overs at an economy rate of 6.42 and balls per wicket of 13.13.

But one of their significant concerns with the ball has been in the death overs. They have conceded close to 12.5 runs per over between the 106th to 120th ball and have the highest balls per wicket value among all the teams this season. So this is a phase where RCB would want to work on, especially while defending totals.

Sunrisers Hyderabad 

SRH likewise have started the powerplay tightly, conceding an economy of 5.93 (best among all teams), but they have taken over 45 deliveries to take a solitary wicket. But in the next phase(between 16th to 30th delivery), though they conceded a slightly high economy rate, they took 20 per cent of their total wickets in this phase and had a fantastic balls per wicket value of 11.25.

SRH also faced concerns about picking wickets in the middle overs, especially between the 7th to 12th over, where they have taken only 4 wickets. 

But since they have a fierce pace attack, they calibrated the dearth of wickets in the above phase and were successful in the death overs.

They picked close to 48 per cent of their total wickets in the death overs, and they have also maintained an excellent economy in this phase. 12 wickets were shared between Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natrajan in the death overs at an economy of 8.73. SRH would be backing the experienced duo to deliver in the death overs.

Interesting Analysis and Match-ups

Consistent Pace bowling from Siraj and Hazelwood in the powerplay

RCB would hope for Siraj to spear in with more pace and consistency since both Williamson and Abhishek Sharma have struggled against bowlers with the extra pace this season. Abhishek Sharma has scored only 6 runs in the 18 balls and has also been dismissed once in his first 10 balls against right-arm fast bowlers. On the other hand, Williamson scored just 12 runs in 21 deliveries and has also been dismissed once in his first 10 balls.

Abhishek Sharma versus leg-spin

Abhishek Sharma has improved as an opener this season after a string of weak performances. But his record against leg spinners in the middle overs this season has been below average. He has faced 16 deliveries and has been dismissed 3 times by them. So it will be interesting to see if Hasaranga gets introduced early into the attack to counter Abhishek Sharma’s approach.

Virat Kohli versus Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Virat Kohli has a fascinating record against Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the IPL. While the latter has scored 75 runs off 63 balls against the bowler, the former has scalped him thrice. Two of these dismissals have come in the powerplay at a ball per dot of 2. So it will be interesting if this rivalry re-ignites.

Dinesh Karthik versus left-arm pacers in the death

Since the 2018 IPL, Karthik has been in catastrophic form against left-arm pacers in the death overs. The batsman has scored 205 runs at a strike rate of 211.34, and he bettered this value in the current IPL season(272.72). It will be an exciting battle between the yorker specialist Natarajan and Dinesh Karthik.