Indian Premier League 2019 Match 47, Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kings XI Punjab: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

If all goes as expected, by the time this match is played, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals would have secured their knockout berths in IPL 2019. That means there would be just one spot left for grabs – both Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kings XI Punjab are prime contenders for it. 

It makes their clash on Monday a do-or-die encounter. The victor will see their path to the knockouts significantly eased, their fate in their own hands. The losing side, however, will have to hope for other results to go their way. There’s plenty at stake. 

Many touted Hyderabad as a side to watch out for in IPL 2019, and even to win it. But their middle order has proved their undoing. Yet again, against Rajasthan Royals, there were few contributions there apart from David Warner’s painstaking 32-ball 37 and Manish Pandey’s explosive 36-ball 61. Six batsmen made single-digit scores. The middle order, apart from Rashid Khan (17* off 8), collapsed. 

That isn’t championship-winning form. Forget that, it isn’t knockout-worthy form. Hyderabad will hope to quickly effect a turnaround come Monday, and particularly so because Punjab head into the game after a five-day rest. That would have helped the side cool down a bit after a very inconsistent patch of form, with each victory punctuated by defeats. 

Hyderabad have been largely decent at home – they have won four of the seven matches at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal. Victory in the eighth match, however, is paramount. 

Head to head

Hyderabad and Punjab have clashed 13 times so far. Hyderabad have fared better – they’ve won nine times to Punjab’s four. However, when the sides met in Mohali earlier this season, it was Punjab who reigned supreme, winning by six wickets. Can they do the double?

Key players

David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad): With the middle order struggling, a lot of onus is placed on Warner at the top. He will be crucial for Hyderabad, irrespective of whether they are setting a total or chasing. Punjab will know scalping him early will not just put them on the front foot, it might also demoralise Hyderabad to a significant extent. 

KL Rahul (Kings XI Punjab): Rahul has been in sublime form for Punjab this year – in his last nine innings, there have been four half-centuries and an unbeaten 100. He has done so by ensuring he settles down early on, before shifting gears suddenly. It is a risky strategy though – what if he can’t convert those time-consuming starts? Hyderabad will hope to find out.

Likely XIs

Sunrisers Hyderabad: David Warner, Kane Williamson (c), Manish Pandey, Vijay Shankar, Shakib Al Hasan, Deepak Hooda, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Rashid Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Siddharth Kaul, Khaleel Ahmed

Kings XI Punjab: KL Rahul, Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, David Miller, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Mandeep Singh, R Ashwin (c), Hardus Viljoen, M Ashwin, Ankit Rajpoot, Mohammed Shami

Prediction

When in doubt, follow the crowd – the home team, Hyderabad, to win.