IPL 2018 SRH vs KKR: 5 player battles to look forward to between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders

This year’s IPL is so open that even after winning seven games in the league stage, the Kolkata Knight Riders would not be sure of a place in the playoffs if they lose tonight’s game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The KKR may have won their last game but tonight, they come up against the table-toppers SRH, who would want to get back to winning ways after losing the last two games.

If the KKR lose this game, then they will have to hope for results (and run rates) to go their way in other games and hence, it is a game that they will go all out to win. Although SRH are guaranteed of a top two place, they would not want to go into a rut ahead of the playoffs and that is why there is no doubt that they will go into this game at home with the sole target of winning the game. Needless to say, the result of the game will depend on some of the individual battles that will take place tonight and here is a look at five of the most important ones.

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#5 Alex Hales v Sunil Narine

The Englishman has not been in pristine form in this season’s IPL but in his previous game, Alex Hales was looking good before a superhuman catch from AB de Villiers brought about his demise. Despite his mediocre form, his contributions at the top of the order are vital for SRH and tonight he would definitely like to put on a show for his home fans. When he gets going, the Englishman can be one of the world’s most destructive batsmen and KKR would need to be on their guard.

The man who could be the antidote to the threat posed by the SRH openers is Sunil Narine. Despite his obvious talents as a player, Hales is not as proficient against spin and KKR’s star spinner is difficult to face for batsmen who are actually good players of spin. There is every chance that he would be asked to bowl to Hales in the Powerplays and this particular battle could have a big impact on the game. If Hales can go after him, then KKR’s bowling attack would receive a massive blow.

#4 Rashid Khan v Nitish Rana

Nitish Rana

A large part of the credit for the superb performance of the SRH bowling attack this season is down to Rashid Khan’s superb bowling and in tonight’s game, he would be involved in a duel with KKR’s middle-order batsman Nitish Rana. The left-handed batsman plays at a pivotal position like number 4 and he would be tasked with the job of handling the Afghan ace tonight. Khan has taken 16 wickets in 13 games so far and has only given away 7.17 runs an over. This goes to show the sort of danger he poses as a bowler. He doesn’t give away many runs and he also picks up wickets.

Although the KKR batsman has not made bit scores in his last few games, he got off to starts in two of those (two scores of 21) and he would need to put his best foot forward tonight if he is to tackle the world’s pre-eminent T20 spin bowler. It is going to be one of the most important passages of play for either team and whoever comes out on top is going to give his team a big advantage.

#3 Shikhar Dhawan v Shivam Mavi

Shikhar Dhawan

The Under-19 star has been decent in this season’s IPL so far for the KKR but at some points, Shivam Mavi has been hit for too many runs and one such instance was in the previous game. The mauling he received at the hands of Jos Buttler in the previous game must be at the back of his mind when he takes the field tonight and goes head to head with SRH star Shikhar Dhawan. The KKR fast bowler can work up serious pace and if he gets it right, then he will cause problems for the left-hander.

That being said, Dhawan has been in excellent form and has made big scores in two out of the last three games (92*, 79, 18), which makes it a contest that will be hugely important in the context of the game. If he goes after Mavi and manages to get on top of him, then KKR would have a big headache on their hand. However, it is going to be a very interesting battle between the seasoned international star and the young pace prodigy, who is still learning the ropes. Needless to say, it will also have a big impact on the game.

#2 Bhuvneshwar Kumar v Chris Lynn

Chris Lynn

After sitting out of the last game in which the SRH conceded in excess of 200, the team’s pace spearhead is expected to come back into the side tonight and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s opening battle with KKR’s Chris Lynn is going to be a high-voltage one. The Australian is maybe one of the world’s most destructive players but he has been playing a different game this year in the IPL and has been the player around whom the rest of the batting has tried to revolve. That being said, he is still capable of brutal hitting and if he can go after Kumar in the early exchanges, then it would give KKR a huge advantage in this game.

On the other hand, Kumar is one of the world’s craftiest bowlers, who is accurate, intelligent and has the ability to move the new ball either way. Lynn, the world’s premier T20 batsman, would be up against one of the world’s premier fast bowlers and that makes it a contest a hugely exciting one. Every cricket fan would be looking forward to this particular battle.

#1 Kane Williamson v Kuldeep Yadav

Kane Williamson

With an average of 62.50, a strike rate of 140.44 and an aggregate of 625 runs so far, Kane Williamson has emerged as one of the best batsmen in this season’s IPL and he is coming into this game in immense batting form. He has scored a fifty in each of his last four games (81,51, 83* and 56) and the SRH captain is in the kind of form that no one is going to be surprised if he gets the 5th one on the trot.

Needless to say, he is one of the world’s top batsmen but the way he has performed this year has been exemplary and it is his ease of spin that has been particularly eye-opening. In tonight’s game, he will come up against one of the world’s most talented young spinners in Kuldeep Yadav and his man of the match-winning performance in the previous game means that he is coming into this game in great bowling form.

His 4.20 broke the back of the Rajasthan Royals batting line-up and tonight he will come up against one of the world’s best players, who is also in brilliant form. It is going to be the make or break battle of the game and one that could swing the game either way.