The second part of the double header in the Indian Premier League on Saturday comes from Hyderabad as the Sunrisers welcome bottom of the table Kings XI Punjab to town. Both sides will see this as a chance for another win which sets this one up to be a good game.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
The Sunrisers began the season really poorly and remarkably despite suffering three key injuries they have found a settled side and solid combination as a result and have bounced back to win their last two matches and they have the opportunity to kick on from here.
Dave Warner has led the way with the bat for the Sunrisers but Shikhar Dhawan’s half century in the last match could be the turning point to their season. All of a sudden their batting looks strong again and the variety they have with the ball makes them a very dangerous proposition.
Kings XI Punjab
Kings XI might have changed their captain from last season but their fortunes haven’t changed. They were horrible last season and have begun this campaign in the same form. They have one win from their four matches but in the other three they were well beaten.
The overseas players for the Punjab side need to stand up and be counted. Shaun Marsh’s half century in the last game proved to be in vain but at least it was a start. The form of Glenn Maxwell, David Miller, Mitchell Johnson and Kyle Abbott is more than a concern especially with the first two named undroppable.
Team news
It would be a surprise if the Sunrisers make a change to their set up after back to back wins and unless Kane Williamson is fit I would expect them to be unchanged. Ashish Nehra and Yuvraj Singh remain out injured.
Kings XI need to either change their personnel or the order in which the players they go with bat or bowl. Their balance is probably affected slightly by playing three opening batsmen but they need to find a way for Maxwell to have a licence to roam free.
Form
Sunrisers Hyderabad: LLWW
Kings XI Punjab: LLWL
Head to head: Sunrisers Hyderabad 4-2 Kings XI Punjab
At Hyderabad: Sunrisers Hyderabad 2-1 Kings XI Punjab
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium
The first two matches in Hyderabad in this tournament have been relatively low scoring but I don’t think that was anything to do with the wicket, I just think the sides batting first did so poorly. Both sides chasing have chased down middle of the road targets with plenty to spare so maybe the wicket gets better for batting the longer the match goes.
Despite the relatively low scoring games the sixes have flowed so if the side who bats first does it well there is no reason why this one won’t be a high scoring game.
Betting
I like the home side Sunrisers Hyderabad in this one. You could argue there is little value in them but sometimes you just have to back the side who is most likely to win and I think that is them. I wouldn’t normally advocate backing them at short prices but Dhawan’s return to form strengthens them massively.
Kings XI just look like an unbalanced side to me and one in desperate need of a combination that works. The problem is with three of their overseas players set in stone they have no room to move and until they work out how best to utilise their side I think they’ll continue to struggle. It is the Sunrisers for me.
Tips
WON – Back Sunrisers Hyderabad to beat Kings XI Punjab for a 4/10 stake at 1.73 with William Hill
Back them here:
