These two teams started their Indian Premier League campaign in style, winning first two games convincingly made them look most balanced side.
Since their last two games were away fixture, they failed to impress everyone. Sunrisers Hyderabad is defending their crown theys started well but when they came out of Hyderabd started struggling. Both the teams have played four games so far, winning two of them and losing the same number of matches as well.
Sunrisers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rashid Khan is fighting battle for “Purple cap” and this is one of the biggest positives this team has, when you have Two Top wicket takers of the tournament from your side, you know how good your bowling is. Rashid Khan is find of the IPL 2017, he is making every good batsman struggle against himself. be it Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma or Gautam Gambhir. Kings XI Punjab coming out from their adopted home Holkar Stadium, First they got defeat in Kolkata and then they were dominated by Delhi in North Indian Derby.
Overview-
SRH- They started brilliant this season but now their campaign since last two games is looking shaky. Kings Xi Punjab are in the same frame as well, but the kind of squad Sunrisers having with them it will not be surprising if they still get in the top position from here. For me they look most balanced and threatening squad of this IPL.
KXIP- Again the same story like SRH, winning first two games in home and then tasting defeat in away games. Equipped with young faces as well as with some experienced faces Kings XI Punjab has the capability to make a good comeback. Glenn Maxwell so far has been impressive with his boys.
View On The Think Tank-
SRH- This match is scheduled in Hyderabad and they will be looking to field the squad they did in the last game. I don’t think just because of Mustafizur’s reputation they are going to make any changes in their squad to bring him in. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been brilliant so far and skipper Warner is using him very well.
KXIP- Kings XI Punjab think tank might look to make one change in their opening combination with Martin Guptill still craving for a chance to play in this season. Guptill can be a better option to get and explosive start to KXIP and then they later can capitilize. KXIP bowling requires a big score to defend.
Tracking The Strength-
SRH- The strongest bowling line-up amongst all the team. As I said earlier that their two players fighting for purple cap and it is kind of a competition within the team, it is kind of good for them. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is currently leading the chart of Purple Cap.
KXIP- Their explosive middle order which has the ability to decimate any kind of bowling attack on their own day, though they still require the same in Opening but their middle order is looks strong for this format with Glenn Maxwell, Eoin Morgan and David Miller.
Head to Head-
Sunriser Hyderabad has always been a stronger side whenever they have faced Kings XI Punjab, in their eight meetings SRH has won six times and Kings XI only winning twice. In previous season it was 2-0 score line in favor of Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Prediction-
Since Hyderabad is playing at home so I will put them up as a favourite against Kings XI Punjab. Though Kings XI Punjab is capable of bouncing back too but home advantage is one important factor we can not ignore. Hyderabad ia traditionaly a slow wicket so I guess both the team will be looking to Bat first and put up 170-180 in the board.