Indian Premier League 2019 Match 33, Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

It’s make or break for Sunrisers Hyderabad. They are languishing third from bottom in IPL 2019, after losing three matches in a row. They face the runaway leaders, Chennai Super Kings, up next, and if they can’t somehow secure victory, they will be in deep trouble.

Hyderabad were, ahead of the season, one of the sides touted to go ahead and win the whole tournament. However, problems with their middle order have put their campaign at the risk of derailment. Batting collapses contributed, in some cases massively, to consecutive losses against Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians.

Against Delhi, the management overhauled the middle order – Mohammad Nabi, Yusuf Pathan and Manish Pandey were ousted for Kane Williamson, Ricky Bhui and Abhishek Sharma. It made no difference. Whether the management will revert to previous line-up remains to be seen, but David Warner did suggest that the overhaul left no experience in the middle order.

Chennai, meanwhile, chug along. They have none of these worries, and in MS Dhoni, they have a captain who will look to target and exacerbate all of Hyderabad’s problems. The home side is up against it.

Chennai, meanwhile, chug along. They have none of these worries, and in MS Dhoni, they have a captain who will look to target and exacerbate all of Hyderabad’s problems. The home side is up against it.

Head to head

Chennai and Sunrisers have met 10 times over the years. It’s safe to say the rivalry has been rather one-sided – Chennai have won eight, Hyderabad just two.

Last year, Chennai beat them thrice, winning by eight wickets on two of those occasions, including in the final.

Key players

Imran Tahir (Chennai Super Kings): The leg-spinner has been in superb form so far this year, with 13 wickets to his name. Dhoni will know exactly when to unleash Tahir on Hyderabad’s brittle middle order. This could get ugly.

Kane Williamson (Sunrisers Hyderabad): The return to fitness of the New Zealand captain meant he was directly put into the line-up to face Delhi. It didn’t go to plan. However, Williamson’s serenity, if last year is anything to go by, could be just the tonic the middle order needs. Will Hyderabad persist with their captain?

Likely XIs

Chennai Super Kings: Shane Watson, Faf du Plessis, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (c/wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner, Imran Tahir, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar

Sunrisers Hyderabad: David Warner, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Kane Williamson (c), Manish Pandey, Deepak Hooda, Ricky Bhui, Yusuf Pathan, Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed

Prediction

Chennai to pile on Hyderabad’s misery.