SRH set to continue playoff chase after extended break in IPL 2024

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are set to return to action after a seven-day break in the ongoing IPL season, which is a rarity among teams in this edition. Their last match, held on May 8, witnessed a dominant performance by openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who propelled SRH to victory against Lucknow Super Giants with an explosive display of batting, reaching 167/0 in just 9.4 overs. This victory not only boosted their confidence but also significantly improved their net run rate, leading to the elimination of Mumbai Indians from the playoffs race.

During SRH’s break, two more teams, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), secured their spots in the playoffs, with KKR also securing a place in the top two. SRH still has a chance to feature in Qualifier 1, but they need to win their next two matches and hope that Rajasthan Royals drop one, which would bring net run rate into play.

 “Yeah, it is a bonus to have a week’s break in an IPL tournament; I’ve been involved with SRH for just over a decade now and I think there’s never been a break like that before,” says Sunrisers’ assistant coach Simon Helmot. “It’s nice to refresh…nice to have the time to catch up with friends and family.”

“The most supporting crowd that I can ever remember…”

The return to action for SRH raises questions about whether they can maintain their aggressive form after the extended break. Throughout this season, SRH’s performances have ignited excitement among fans, resulting in sell-out crowds in Hyderabad, a phenomenon not seen in previous seasons. SRH will be eager to reciprocate this support with another victory, which would confirm their place in the playoffs.

“We remember the first years here at SRH when we were developing a fan base. There may have been some space in the crowd, there may have even been times when there was some support for the opposition as well. But hasn’t that changed?…I’ll say this year has been the most vocal, the nosiest, and the most supporting crowd that I can ever remember,” says Helmot, who calls the crowd their “13th impact player”. 

In their upcoming match, SRH will face the Gujarat Titans, who have been knocked out of the playoffs race after rain disrupted their previous game in Ahmedabad. Despite a lacklustre season, the Shubman Gill-led Titans aim to end on a positive note and potentially disrupt SRH’s aspirations. In their last match before the abandonment, the Titans posted a formidable total of 231 against Chennai Super Kings, with contributions from Gill and Sai Sudharsan.

However, their middle order has struggled throughout the season, with only two fifty-plus scores and the lowest average among all teams. The Titans will rely on bowlers like Mohit Sharma and former SRH player Rashid Khan to contain SRH’s aggressive batting lineup.

SRH’s upcoming matches in IPL 2024

The match between SRH and GT is scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 16, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. SRH holds the advantage of playing on home turf, where they have secured four wins out of five matches this season. However, they faced a defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore due to the effective combination of change of pace and spin on a slow surface. In head-to-head encounters, SRH has lost three matches in a row against GT, but this will be their first meeting in Hyderabad.

Both teams will be closely monitoring their lineups for the upcoming match. SRH has no fitness concerns, while GT may consider sticking to their recent combination, which includes Matthew Wade and Kartik Tyagi. Key matchups to watch out for include Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s success against Gill and the effectiveness of SRH’s spinners against GT’s top-order batsmen.

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In summary, as SRH returns to action after a break, they aim to continue their aggressive form against the struggling Gujarat Titans. With playoffs hopes at stake, both teams will be eager to put their best foot forward and secure a positive result in their final league match of the season.