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Sunrisers Hyderabad have a second chance at reaching the 2024 IPL final here in this second qualifier as they take on Rajasthan Royals, who overcame in-form Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the eliminator
DATE/TIME: Friday 24th May 2024, UK – 15:00 / INDIA – 19:30 / US EST – 10:00 / US PST – 08:00
VENUE: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, India
WEATHER: Very hot conditions with clear skies, light winds and temperatures in the early 30s
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports / INDIA – Star Sports / US – Willow TV
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Sky Go / INDIA – JioCinema App / US – Willow TV
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD FORM: SRH UNABLE TO BUILD ON STRONG FINISH TO LEAGUE STAGE
Having pipped Rajasthan Royals to second-placed and a spot in the first qualifier, Sunrisers Hyderabad were outclassed by Kolkata Knight Riders, beaten by eight wickets as KKR chased down 159 in just 13.4 overs after bowling SRH out with three balls to spare.
LAST FIVE: LWAWL
RAJASTHAN ROYALS FORM: ROYALS BACK TO WINNING WAYS AND KEEPING THEIR IPL HOPES ALIVE
Not many gave Rajasthan Royals a chance in the eliminator against the hottest team across the IPL in RCB, but when the pressure was on, the experience of Rajasthan’s key players stepped up, particularly from a bowling point of view to restrict RCB to 172/8, which they chased down with an over and four wickets remaining.
LAST FIVE: WALLL
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD BETTING ANALYSIS
Mitchell Starc proved the downfall of Sunrisers in Ahmedabad, ripping apart their top order, including the wicket of fellow countryman Travis Head for 0. Starc dismissed three of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s top five batters and with SRH set to face another left-arm pacer in Rajasthan’s Trent Boult, this may not bode well for their top order. Consider backing SRH to record an opening partnership of under 24.5 runs.
Heinrich Klaasen contributed well in the middle order with 32 and always represents a worthy investment with small stakes to score the most match fours and match sixes for SRH. When it comes to the bowlers, T. Natarajan recorded his 18th wicket of the tournament against KKR and only four bowlers have picked up more at this point. Utilising the ‘Bowler Milestones’ market and backing Natarajan to gain another two scalps here is a play worth making.
Batting at number three, Rahul Tripathi looked very good for his 55 vs the Royals, with only a run out ending his stay at the crease. Form can be crucial in the play-offs and that makes the 33-year-old a player potentially worth backing via the ‘Team – Top Batter’ market.
RAJASTHAN ROYALS BETTING ANALYSIS
We’ve consistently touched upon the importance of bowlers such as Trent Boult and Ravichandran Ashwin for Rajasthan Royals and there’s reason to believe that both can thrive in Chennai. Boult bowls left-arm quicks, which bodes well for him when considering the struggles that the SRH top order faced against Mitchell Starc in the first qualifier. Therefore, value is to be had in backing Boult to finish as Rajasthan’s top bowler on this occasion.
Ravichandran Ashwin took two wickets against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and in Chennai, where it’s notoriously helpful for spinners, it would be no surprise to see him afforded more success. Back him to record 2+ wickets via the ‘Bowler Milestones’ market, but also consider the same bet for teammate and fellow spin-bowler Yuzvendra Chahal.
The brilliant tournament of Riyan Parag continued on Wednesday, his crucial 36 taking his overall run tally across the season to 567. Another 17 runs here would take him second behind only Virat Kohli in the race for the Orange Cap and whilst Kohli’s total of 741 is extremely unlikely to be caught, back Parag to gain over 27.5 runs in this one, moving him above CSK’s Ruturaj Gaikwad.
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD VS RAJASTHAN ROYALS EXPERT PREDICTION
The psychological power of getting back to winning ways in a knockout fixture is massive from a Rajasthan Royals point of view and puts them in an excellent frame of mind ahead of another win or bust game. Something clicked into place nicely against RCB and to have such a stellar bowling attack with so many bases covered goes a long way late into the IPL.
Sunrisers Hyderabad are coming off the back of a bad result and the worry is whether doubts creep into their players’ heads. They will be facing more world class left-arm pace, not to mention two of the best Indian spinners in the country on a spin-friendly ground such as Chepauk.
When factoring this into the equation, it may well be the shrewd move to back Rajasthan making it through and setting up a final against KKR.
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD VS RAJASTHAN ROYALS TIP: RAJASTHAN ROYALS TO WIN