IPL 2018: SRH vs KXIP, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) probable playing XI against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP)

The second and third placed teams on the Indian Premier League points table - Kings XI Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad - face off at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad in the 25th match of this season.

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While the Kings XI are expected to make one change to their playing XI, here's how the Hyderabad-based franchise might line up tonight.

Shikhar Dhawan has been one of Sunrisers' best batsmen so far in the tournament, along with Kane Williamson. With 135 runs in five innings at an average of over 40, the southpaw has ensured that SRH manage a swift start almost every time they take the field.

Accompanying him at the top would be the captain, who has already slammed three half-centuries, and amassed 259 runs at a strike rate of over 130. Williamson and Dhawan are extremely crucial for SRH and an off day for both of them would leave the bowlers with a mountain to climb.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha, who had opened the innings until the last match, is expected to walk in at number three. The diminutive batsman hasn't had the best of tournaments and has only 62 runs to his name in six innings.

SRH's record buy Manish Pandey has been disappointing so far and has not even crossed the 100-run mark in the tournament. The Karnataka batsman has 88 runs in six innings, which includes a knock of 57 against Kings XI. Pandey would want to regain his touch against the same opponents tonight.

Yusuf Pathan, Shakib Al Hasan and Mohammad Nabi would form the lower middle order for SRH. Both Shakib and Pathan have had starts in the tournament, which they have failed to capitalise on. On the other hand, Nabi has featured in only one of the matches where he scored 14 runs with the bat and scalped Ishan Kishan's wicket as well.

Thus, the Afghanistan international is expected to retain his place in the side.

As far as bowling is concerned, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is expected to make a return to the playing XI at the expense of Basil Thampi. The Uttar Pradesh bowler had to sit out of the last match because of back spasms, however, he is supposedly fit enough to feature in the match.

Afghanistan's Rashid Khan, who has six wickets in as many matches, will handle the spin department, while Siddarth Kaul - SRH's highest wicket-taker with 9 wickets thus far - and Sandeep Sharma will complete the line-up.

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