IPL 2018: SRH vs RR - 3 key player battles to look forward to

Sunrisers Hyderabad and the Rajasthan Royals will begin their campaign on Monday and will be the last two teams to start their IPL season 11.

Both the teams had a good auction, but both lost their captains, who were retained prior to the auction. Only time will tell which team will be capable enough to reach the playoff. As of now, both teams are capable and have an interesting mix of players.

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D'Arcy Short vs Rashid Khan

Short and Rashid played important roles in their teams, helping reach the finals. Short was the top run scorer in last BBL with 504 runs and was the player of the tournament, but couldn't take his team past the Strikers in the finals.

Even though Rashid did not play that finale due to national duty, he helped the strikers with great bowling performances and ended up topping the bowling stats in most wickets (18) and best economy rate (5.65).

The rivalry between the two has been pretty even till now, but one can say that Rashid had a slight upper hand. In one of the two league stage matches between the sides, Short scored 96 runs off 58 deliveries and took his team to victory, but the figures of Rashid were 2-18 from 4 overs.

An economy of 4.5, when Short was scoring two runs a ball, is commendable and is the reason for Rashid having the upper hand.

Stokes vs Braithwaite

Braithwaite and Stokes

The 2016 T20 World Cup final night was one which Stokes and Braithwaite will never forget. It transformed Stokes as a player, he became a better player after the debacle. Stokes has transformed into the all-rounder every other team will envy of not having.

Carlos Braithwaite is still a hard-hitting all-rounder who can bowl at a decent pace and has a lot to offer.

Braithwaite did not have the opportunity to go against Stokes in the last time in the IPL. But there is a chance that he might get it this time around with SRH. SRH may prefer only one overseas batsman, which would be Kane Williamson.

It would be great to see a Stokes vs Braithwaite, maybe it is Stokes' time.

Bhuvaneshwar Kumar vs Jaydev Unadkat

Unadkat was the top Indian player in 2018 auction

The only bowler who even had a chance to win the purple cap last year was Unadkat. Unadkat was not in the XI at the start of the tournament for RPS, but once he got the opportunity, he made full use of it and came very close to Bhuvaneshwar Kumar.

Having played only 12 matches, Undakat picked 24 wickets (Average: 13.41, S/R: 11.45) at an economy of 7.02, slightly better than Bhuvaneshwar Kumar's economy of 7.05. Bhuvi picked up 26 wickets (Average: 14.19, S/R: 12.07) from 14 matches and was always leading in the wicket-taker's list. Unadkat also picked up a hat-trick and maiden over in the last over of SRH innings.

It will be interesting to see whether the top Indian at the auction or Mr. Consistent will come out on the top. This battle is not just for the match but will continue throughout the season.