Just before the beginning of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australian star Travis Head revealed which Indian cricketer is the hottest.

India and Australia are getting ready to face each other in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which will be a five-match Test series in Australia. Perth Stadium will host the Test series opener from November 22. 

Travis Head is an important name for Australia for the upcoming home Border-Gavaskar Trophy. As a middle-order batter, he is struggling in Test cricket. He has to prove his ability in the upcoming home Test series against India.

Travis Head on the hottest Indian cricketer

Before the beginning of the Test series, Head chose the hottest Indian cricketer. While he also got the option of Shubman Gill from the interviewers, Head chose the Indian captain Rohit Sharma. The 30-year-old Aussie cricketer feels that Rohit is attractive physically as well as in cricket skills. 

Head said on 7Cricket, "I don't think he's that good-looking. Potentially [he's got some work to do]. I think there's been hotter. I like Rohit's work and I am happy with the Dad setup, I think he's got the most style out of all of them. He stands at the top, takes them on, double stepping blokes in the powerplay. Both [physical attractiveness and cricketing skills].

"I think people will [find him attractive]. Yeah, I just like the way he gets about it, Yeah, around the sheds. I am happy with it, I am happy with his setup. Jasprit, got some work to do. Maybe, after the Test matches [you pass that on]."

"So Rohit plays a pull shot and you're thinking ... 'that's a good looking man.'"

Somehow the conversation with Travis Head ended there, when the starting point was ... Jasprit Bumrah's bowling.@gradecricketer pic.twitter.com/FqocYbQxoQ

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) November 15, 2024

Travis Head has to prove his place in Test cricket

Head is ready to play his 50th Test match. In his 49 Tests, the left-handed batter scored 3173 runs with an average of 41.75. He has scored seven centuries and 16 half-centuries.  

When India toured Australia in the 2018/19 season, Head scored 237 runs in seven Test innings with an average of 33.85, including two half-centuries. During their last Test series in India in the 2022/23 season, Head scored 235 runs in six innings. 

The IPL retention deadline is less than 24 hours away, and the SunRisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) possible retention has been revealed, including two new additions.

October 31 is the deadline for the IPL retention. Earlier, ESPNcricinfo reported that Heinrich Klaasen will be the top retained player for SRH, along with Pat Cummins and Abhishek Sharma. That report also suggested that Klaasen will be valued at INR 23 crore, while the captain Cummins’ value will be INR 18 crore. Abhishek Sharma will earn INR 14 crore. 

SEE ALSO: CSK’s retention hints spark IPL 2025 buzz

Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy are the other retentions for SRH

Now, ESPNcricinfo has brought another information about SRH retention. Without any surprise, Australian cricketer Travis Head and Indian cricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy will complete the capped player retention for SRH. The report further added that Head will earn INR 14 crore, while Reddy will be signed for INR 6 crore.

While there is no news about any uncapped player retention by SRH, the IPL 2016 winners can use the only Right-to-Match (RTM) card for an uncapped player during the mega auction.

SRH players shined in the IPL 2024

SRH stormed in the IPL 2024, where they set a new example of T20 cricket aggressiveness. It was the third time when SRH played an IPL final, where they suffered a defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to finish the season as the runners-up.

Head was the leading run-scorer for SRH and the fourth-leading run-scorer in the IPL 2024. He scored 567 runs in 15 innings with an average of 40.50 and a strike rate of 191.55, including one century and four half-centuries.

Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen were the next two most run-scorers for SRH in the IPL 2024. Sharma scored 484 runs with a strike rate of 204.21, and Klaasen scored 479 runs with a strike rate of 171.07. Sharma also took two wickets.

Captain Pat Cummins was the joint ninth leading wicket-taker for SRH in the IPL 2024 by finishing with 18 wickets in 16 matches. However, the Indian left-arm pacer T Natarajan was their leading wicket-taker in the IPL 2024 season with 19 wickets. 

Nitish Kumar Reddy scored 303 runs in 11 innings with an average of 33.66 and a strike rate of 142.92. He also took three wickets in that season. 

This means that SRH can’t retain their most successful bowler Bhuvaneshwar Kumar. The only 100 wickets taker for SRH has taken 157 wickets in 145 matches. In the last season, Kumar took 11 wickets in 16 matches. However, he was one of the most economical bowlers, especially in the powerplay. 

Australia claimed a commanding 28-run victory over England in the first T20I, securing a 1-0 lead in the series. After being sent in to bat, Australia stormed to 86 runs in the powerplay, with Travis Head blasting a quickfire 59 off 23 balls. However, after Head's dismissal on the final ball of the powerplay, England’s spinners pulled things back. Despite Australia’s strong start, they collapsed from 118/2 to 179 all out, losing eight wickets for 71 runs. Liam Livingstone's 3/22 played a key role in restricting Australia from reaching a bigger total.

England’s chase began on a shaky note, losing three wickets for 46 runs in the powerplay. Australian bowlers, led by Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa, kept the pressure on, making it difficult for England to build momentum. A crucial 54-run partnership between Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran offered hope, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the target. Australia’s disciplined bowling attack ensured England were bowled out well short, giving the visitors a crucial win to start the series.

See Also: Tammy Beaumont Shines with a Stellar 150-Run Knock in England's Dominant Display

A Breakdown of Travis Head’s Match-Winning Knock Against England

Travis Head’s blistering knock of 59 off just 23 deliveries set the tone for Australia’s aggressive start in the 1st T20I against England on September 11, 2024. His dominant display during the powerplay propelled Australia to 86 runs, leaving England's bowlers struggling to find their rhythm. Head’s innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, as he capitalized on anything that was slightly off target, dispatching deliveries to all parts of the ground with ease.

As shown in the pitch map analysis, Head targeted deliveries primarily in the "good" and "back of a length" zones, where he consistently found boundaries. The red markers, indicating boundaries, are scattered heavily in these areas, demonstrating his strength in punishing anything pitched slightly short. England’s bowlers tried mixing their lengths, but Head was quick to react, smashing both good-length deliveries and back-of-a-length balls to the fence. His quick hands and precise footwork enabled him to score at a strike rate of 256.52, effectively taking the game away from England in the first six overs.

The attempt to bowl fuller or aim for yorkers met with some success, as indicated by the grey dots on the pitch map representing dot balls or singles. However, the England bowlers couldn’t maintain consistency in these areas, and when they missed their mark, Head was relentless. Full deliveries that strayed even slightly from their intended length were driven powerfully, while back-of-a-length deliveries were pulled with authority. The red dots on the good and back-of-a-length zones emphasize how Head took complete control over the bowlers.

England’s struggles to contain Head's explosive start were compounded by their inability to execute a tight line and length, as their seamers were taken to the cleaners. Despite some good deliveries scattered in between, Head's attacking intent made it difficult for England to build pressure. His flurry of boundaries, particularly through the leg side, left England searching for answers, as he dismantled their new-ball attack before Saqib Mahmood finally dismissed him on the final ball of the powerplay.

In the end, Head’s contribution proved invaluable as Australia, despite a middle-order collapse, posted a competitive total of 179. His innings not only gave Australia the early advantage but also ensured that they could dictate terms throughout the remainder of the game. England’s bowlers may have regrouped later in the innings, but Travis Head’s early burst set up the platform for Australia’s eventual 28-run victory, marking a dominant start to the T20I series.

See Also: Nissanka's century seals consolation win for the touring side

A comical moment took place involving Travis Head and Andre Russell during the 2024 Major League Cricket (MLC) match between the Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) and Washington Freedom (WSF) at Morrisville on Sunday, July 14 as well. The veteran player was stunned to see his bat get broken and fly out of his hands as soon as he hit the ball to the mid-on region.

However, a short-of-length delivery from West Indies all-rounder Andre
Russell beat Travis Head for speed as the batter tried to play a pull shot. The bat flew from his hands towards the square leg umpire whereas the ball went to the mid-on region, which caused a surprised look on the Aussie batter’s face.

Here is the video:

SEE ALSO: ‘It’s coming home’ – Team India to reach New Delhi on Thursday

Travis Head scored a brilliant 32-ball 54

However, following the moment, Travis Head scored a brilliant 32-ball 54 with two fours and six sixes as well. Chasing a below-par total of 130 for the win, the 30-year-old ensured WSF faced no hiccups in between and reached the target in only 16 overs with eight wickets in hand. Head got the support from the skipper Steve Smith, who remained unbeaten on 42 from 36 deliveries.

However, it was Head’s first fifty of the competition, taking his overall
tally to 87 runs which came at an average of 29 and a strike rate of over 164 in four matches so far as well. Also, the win meant WSF remained unbeaten with a third win in as many completed games and a lone No Result so far as well.

Sitting at the top of the standings with 7 points in 4 outings and 3
games to go, WSF are almost certain for a top-four finish to reach
the playoffs. While Travis Head’s half-century made the headline of WSF’s run chase, a strong bowling show in the first innings also set the stage for their
win as well.

After winning the toss and electing to field first, WSF bowled LAKR out to 129 in 18.4 overs. USA’s Saurabh Netravalkar continued his stellar form from the 2024 T20 World Cup, finishing with the figures of 4/35 in 3.4 overs. He was ably supported by Glenn Maxwell (3/15) and Lockie Ferguson (2/31) as well.

The curtains on arguably the most exhilarating of all T20 World Cups were drawn with India’s magnificent triumph over South Africa in a pulsating final that aptly summed up the entire tournament. It twisted this way and that till the very end, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. India, with their embarrassment of riches in terms of talent and an unerring determination to win, emerged victorious, solidifying their position as one of the true behemoths of modern cricket.

With this victory, India became just the third side to win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup twice, England (2010, 2022) and West Indies (2012, 2016) being the only other teams to have achieved the feat.

See Also: India-W vs South Africa-W Day 3 Stumps: India Women in strong position as South Africa Women trail by 105 runs in their second innings

Top 5 game-changing moments of T20 World Cup 2024

1. Suryakumar Yadav’s catch

The final over was nail-biting with South Africa needing 16 runs to win. David Miller smashed the ball over the bowler, destined to fly over the boundary ropes. But then, Suryakumar Yadav intervened.

He plucked it out of thin air, juggled it as he went over the ropes, and managed to hold on with his feet millimeters away from the boundary cushion. Third umpire Richard Kettleborough deemed it a legal catch, extinguishing South Africa’s last batting hope with Miller departing for 21.

Kagiso Rabada got a lucky boundary on the next ball after Miller’s dismissal, but South Africa managed just four more runs in the final four balls, including another dismissal, as India secured a narrow 7-run win.

2. Bumrah bagged wicket of Rizwan

Jasprit Bumrah’s prized scalp of Mohammad Rizwan (31 off 44) in the 15th over was a turning point. Rizwan, guiding Pakistan with composure, fell to Bumrah’s stunning delivery, flattening the stumps.

The moment India won the game came in the first ball of the 15th over. The stumps lay flattened. Mohammad Rizwan, on his knees, dragged himself onto his feet from the pits of disgust. Jasprit Bumrah was wheeling away wildly, his equally excited teammates leapt onto him.

The match almost in the jaws of Pakistan, Bumrah produced a moment as only he could. Bumrah’s electrifying celebration reflected the importance of this wicket. Rizwan’s dismissal brought the crowd to their feet and reinvigorated India’s supporters.

3. Bumrah’s picked wicket of Travis Head

Travis Head’s resilient knock and partnership with Mitchell Marsh brought Australia within reach of India’s challenging target of 206 runs. Kuldeep Yadav broke this crucial partnership, but it was Bumrah’s dismissal of Head in the 17th over that was pivotal.

Bumrah, bowling from around the wicket, delivered a slower ball on the stumps. Head backed away and attempted a big swing but was completely deceived by the change in pace. The ball went high into the off side, where Rohit Sharma, positioned at covers, settled under the ball and took a pressure-filled catch. Head’s dismissal was a significant relief for the Indian camp, bringing them closer to victory. With Australia’s required run rate climbing, they needed 53 runs off the final 17 balls.

4. Aiden Markram’s superman-show

In the final over against England, Aiden Markram took a brilliant catch to dismiss the in-form Harry Brook, sealing the game for South Africa. Brook was looking in good touch against the Proteas as he helped stitch a crucial partnership with Liam Livingstone worth a 78-run stand in 42 balls to take England’s chase of 164 back on track. While Liam Livingstone was dismissed after a 17-ball 33, Brook looked to carry on and went past his half-century in relatively quick fashion and was looking to put an end to the chase.

During the final over of the chase, England needed 14 runs in the last six balls to win the match. Anrich Nortje was bowling the last over and Brook aired the very first delivery. Markram took a brilliant catch running back from mid-off. He had his eyes set on the ball as he was running back and looking over his right shoulder. He stretched fully and completed the catch to take the game away from England.

5. Axar Patel’s magic against Jos Buttler

In the semifinal between India and England, Axar Patel’s impressive delivery on the very first ball dismissed Jos Buttler, who attempted a reverse-sweep but misjudged the ball.

It was the first delivery of the fourth over and Axar Patel bowled it full on off. Jos Buttler had made his mind and went for a reverse-sweep but got into a bizarre position and the ball looped up in the air off the bottom of his blade behind the stumps. 

Rishabh Pant took an easy catch, giving India the breakthrough they needed. Patel’s dismissal of Buttler set the tone for India’s defense, leading to their competitive total of 171.

Australia’s T20 World Cup 2024 preparations have taken an unexpected but strategic turn. Key players such as Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Travis Head will miss their national side’s warm-up matches as they return home to Australia for a brief respite. This move aims to ensure these key players are well-rested and refreshed ahead of the high-stakes tournament.

Key players Missing Warm-Up Matches

Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Travis Head, pivotal members of Australia’s squad, will not participate in the warm-up matches. After a gruelling season, including their participation in the IPL final, the decision was made to give them a short break to recharge. This temporary absence is part of a broader strategy to prioritize player well-being over immediate match readiness.

See Also: OTD in 2012: KKR won their maiden IPL title by defeating CSK

Impact of IPL Participation

The IPL has seen significant participation from Australian players, with Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green being notable mentions. Maxwell and Green were integral to Royal Challengers Bangaluru’s playoff run, showcasing their prowess in one of the world’s most competitive T20 leagues. Their experience in the IPL is expected to be invaluable for Australia’s World Cup campaign.

Strategic Break Before the World Cup

The rationale behind allowing players a short break is rooted in long-term planning. Australian team management believes that a few days at home with family will help players mentally and physically rejuvenate. Mitchell Marsh, who will captain Australia in this global event, emphasized the importance of flexibility and prioritizing players’ needs.

“It’s important to be flexible. Guys have been at the IPL. They’ve been playing a lot of cricket so we’ve prioritized giving them a couple of days at home, see their family, refresh and play the long game for this tournament. We’ll get to our 15 eventually but it’s really important that we give them a break, even if it’s [just] a couple of days at home,” Marsh told cricket.com.au.

“I’m just ticking off the last few things I need to tick off to be fit and available. All went well today. It’s been progressively slow but finally getting there now and looking forward to getting stuck into the tournament,” the T20 skipper added.

Australia’s Warm-Up Matches

Australia’s warm-up matches are scheduled before their opening game against Oman in Barbados on June 5. These matches are vital for assessing the team’s form and making necessary adjustments. The absence of critical players might pose a challenge, but it also allows other squad members to step up.

Group Stage Fixtures

Australia’s campaign starts against Oman, followed by group-stage matches against England, Namibia, and Scotland. These fixtures will test Australia’s depth and adaptability, especially given their opponents’ diverse playing styles.

Australia squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.Travelling

Reserves: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matt Short.

The 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League, a tournament that has always set the benchmark for the shortest format of the game, has once again raised the bar.

This year, we’ve witnessed some incredible performances, with shattered long-standing records and international and emerging players making their mark on Indian soil. The batters of the tournament have indeed embodied the spirit of IPL 2024. In this listicle, we’re taking a closer look at the top five extraordinary batting innings that have captivated the cricketing world in the 2024 edition. 

1. Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders) vs Rajasthan Royals- 109 runs off 56 balls

Hailed as one of the toughest spinners, Sunil Narine, the Trinidadian spinmeister, has proved his impeccable calibre with the bat, thanks to the IPL platform for displaying his willow-handling skills. Though he started his stint as an opener during the 2017 Big Bash League, his long stint with the Kolkata Knight Riders helped him unleash batting prowess, and the clash against Rajasthan Royals summed it all up.

Against a robust Royals bowling attack on the vast Eden Gardens track, Narine pumped up his batting shots and got off to a flying start. With 13 boundaries and six sixes, he had hit his first-ever century across his batting timeline, with a commendable strike rate of 194.64. To add things up, this memorable batting innings made him the first player in the IPL to have scored a hundred and picked a five-wicket haul.

2. Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals) vs Kolkata Knight Riders- 107* runs off 60 balls

To give a small continuation to Sunil Narine’s memorable first century, it was in the same clash of the best; the fans witnessed another stupendous batting innings. After giving a target of 224 runs to the Rajasthan Royals, the away side was up for it amongst the vast grounds of the Eden Gardens. But he had got off slightly slow as he made only 25 off his first 18 balls.

But although struggling with the injury that kept him out of the last RR game and rapidly running out of batting partners, Buttler stayed the course. And taking the match to an enthralling last ball, Buttler’s innings of 107* runs off 60 balls, with nine fours and six sixes, he had taken his visitor’s side team to a victory by two wickets, which kind of overshadowed Narine’s commendable knock. 

3. Will Jacks (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) vs Gujarat Titans- 100* runs off 41 balls

With a quick-pace triple-digit mark and an awestruck reaction by King Kohli, Will Jacks’s century is a wholesome and flavourful batting innings. Starting things off with 17 runs in just 17 balls, in the successive 24 balls, the English batter hit the remaining runs to reach his first-ever IPL century.

Though he had come lately to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting campaign, he had proved to be an instrumental element to the team’s middle order batting, which led him to a memorable six-consecutive winning stint, which led them to seal the final playoffs spot, when they just had a mere 1% chance, symbolising the team’s resilient and robust mentality approach. 

See Also: First batch of Indian Team leaves for USA ahead of T20 World Cup 2024

4. Travis Head (Sunrisers Hyderabad) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru- 102 runs off 41 balls

In the clash between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad on the small dimensions of Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru broke the long-held record of the highest team score ever in IPL, where Sunrisers Hyderabad took that title away from the previous holders of Bengaluru, thanks to the swashbuckling Aussie batter, Travis Head.

With already announcing his stint in the IPL from an excellent first-match performance, Head accelerated his performance and got him to this stage, where he proved to be handy in scoring the highest team total of IPL of 287/3 by making a century off just 39 balls. In his innings of 102 runs off 41 balls, he hit nine fours and eight sixes at a colossal strike rate of 248.78. 

5. Shashank Singh (Punjab Kings) vs Gujarat Titans- 61* runs off 29 balls 

In this listicle, we have seen all the centuries making the mark, but a few innings have created a long-lasting impact, but it didn’t require a triple-digit mark. One such innings is by the Punjab Kings’ middle-order batting powerhouse, Shashank Singh. It all started in last year’s IPL auction when the Kings bought him instead of another player with the same name, leading to a case of mistaken identity.

With several rumours goofed up, the franchise clarified it and mentioned that he was always on their planned list. As it implies, the batter from Chattisgarh paid back the trust and scored an impeccable innings of 61* runs off 29 balls in a 200-run chase against the Gujarat Titans. This innings is a testament to seizing any opportunity given to a person from different walks of life, which also bolstered the batter’s confidence and led him to be a valuable batting asset to the Punjab Kings. 

The IPL 2024 final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai was electrifying. With fans on the edge of their seats, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) set the stage ablaze by reducing Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to a precarious position early in the match.

Toss and Team Strategies

Winning the toss, SRH captain opted to bat first, hoping to put up a challenging total on the board. KKR’s bowlers, spearheaded by the fiery Mitchell Starc, executed their plans perfectly. SRH reeled at 21 for three within the first five overs, thanks to some exceptional bowling.

See Also: T20 World Cup 2024: Virat Kohli likely to miss India’s only warm-up match; Reports

Mitchell Starc’s Magic

The most expensive player of IPL 2024, Mitchell Starc, lived up to his billing by claiming the prized wicket of SRH opener Abhishek Sharma in the first over. Starc’s good length delivery, angling in and pitching on the middle stump, left Sharma stranded without footwork, resulting in an easy dismissal. Sharma, who had a stellar season, could only manage two runs off 5 balls.

Vaibhav Arora Joins the Party

Vaibhav Arora sent Travis Head back to the pavilion for a duck in the next over. The away-swinger found Head’s faint edge, which keeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz comfortably caught. With both openers dismissed within the first two overs, SRH’s innings was in tatters.

SRH’s Struggle for Stability

The quick fall of wickets continued to plague SRH. Despite a few boundaries from Rahul Tripathi and Aiden Markram, the team needed help finding stability. Tripathi’s dismissal, courtesy of another brilliant delivery from Starc, left SRH at 23 for three.

Rahul Tripathi’s Short Stay

Trying to guide the ball through the leg side, Tripathi got a thick top edge that Mandeep Singh caught near the square leg. His departure for 9 runs put SRH in a deeper hole.

Aiden Markram’s Resilience

Aiden Markram attempted to anchor the innings with a few crucial boundaries, but the relentless pressure from KKR’s bowlers made it difficult to build a substantial partnership with Nitish Reddy. But Nitish Reddy is caught behind on the last ball of Harshit Rana’s first over, adding Rana to the list of successful KKR bowlers. Once again, an away-swinger does the trick for a KKR pacer. SRH stand at 47/4 after 7 overs.

Reddy c Gurbaz b Rana 13(10)

Lowest Powerplay scores for SRH in IPL 2024
37/2 vs RR Hyderabad
40/3 vs PBKS Mullanpur
40/3 vs KKR Chennai *
45/4 vs KKR Ahmedabad

Mitchell Starc
World Cup 2023
Group stage: 10 wkts in 8 matches
Knockouts: 6 wkts in 2 matches
IPL 2024
Group stage: 12 wkts in 12 matches
Play Offs: 5* wkts in 2 matches

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) showcased their bowling prowess in the IPL 2024 Qualifier 1 against SRH. Mitchell Starc led the charge, delivering a devastating spell that left the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) reeling.

Mitchell Starc’s Fiery Starc

Mitchell Starc wasted no time in making an impact. On the second ball of the match, he clean-bowled SRH opener Travis Head, who departed for a two-ball duck. It was a perfect delivery that swung away, sneaking through the gap between Head’s bat and pad to knock over the stumps. This early breakthrough set the tone for KKR’s dominance.

See Also: Afghanistan rope in Dwayne Bravo as bowling advisor for T20 WC 2024

Early Collapse for SRH

Following Head’s dismissal, SRH’s woes continued. Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi attempted to stabilize the innings, but their efforts were short-lived. Vaibhav Arora joined the attack, dismissing Abhishek Sharma and further deepening SRH’s troubles. Starc wasn’t done yet; he struck again to remove Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shahbaz Ahmed, reducing SRH to a precarious 44/4 by the end of the powerplay.

Middle Order Struggles

As SRH tried to rebuild, KKR’s spinners, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, tightened the noose. Heinrich Klaasen, who had taken Narine for 16 off eight balls, was caught off Varun Chakravarthy’s second delivery. Varun’s consistent performance has been a cornerstone for KKR, with 39 wickets in 27 IPL innings since the start of IPL 2023.

Rahul Tripathi offered some resistance, scoring a spirited 55 off 35 balls. However, a brilliant piece of fielding by Andre Russell resulted in Tripathi’s run-out. SRH’s attempts to counter the collapse by bringing in Sanvir Singh as their Impact Player at No.8 failed, as he was bowled for a duck by Narine. This double strike left SRH in tatters at 123/7.

Lower Order Collapse

With the score at 126 for 9, SRH was staring down the barrel of a sub-140 total. Pat Cummins provided some late fireworks, scoring 30 off 24 balls, but it was too late. SRH were eventually bowled out for 159, a score that seemed below par on a good batting surface.

Starc’s final over saw him claim his third wicket, dismissing Shahbaz Ahmed with a deadly inswinging yorker. His spell of 3/20 was instrumental in dismantling SRH’s batting lineup and earning KKR a significant advantage.

KKR’s Clinical Bowling Performance

Andre Russell and Varun Chakravarthy continued to apply pressure on SRH. With his accurate and deceptive spin, Varun picked up crucial wickets, while Russell’s athleticism in the field contributed to key dismissals. Their combined efforts ensured SRH never got the momentum to post a challenging total.

Despite some late resistance from Cummins, SRH was bundled out for 159. Starc’s brilliant spell and disciplined bowling from the rest of the KKR attack highlighted the team’s comprehensive bowling strategy.

SRH innings progression
Overs 1-7: 50/4 (RR: 7.14)
Overs 8-12: 60/1 (RR: 12.00)
Overs 13-19.3: 49/5 (RR: 6.53)

20 wickets by Varun Chakaravarthy this season is the joint-most for him in an IPL edition. Last year he took 20 wickets as well.

Highest 10th wicket partnership in the IPL
55* – Shikhar Dhawan & M Rathee (PBKS) vs SRH, Hyderabad, 2023
33 – Pat Cummins & V Viyaskanth (SRH) vs KKR, Ahmedabad, 2024*
31* – Tom Curran & Ankit Rajpoot (RR) vs KKR, Dubai, 2020
31 – Andre Russell & CV Varun (KKR) vs DC, Delhi, 2023

Best bowling figures for KKR in the playoffs
4/21 – Sunil Narine vs RCB, Sharjah, 2021
3/13 – Umesh Yadav vs PBKS, Kolkata, 2014
3/20 – Nathan Coulter-Nile vs SRH, Bengaluru, 2017
3/34 – Mitchell Starc vs SRH, Ahmedabad, 2024*
3/35 – Kuldeep Yadav vs SRH, Delhi, 2016

Sunrisers Hyderabad delivered a stunning performance against Lucknow Super Giants, initially restricting them with tight bowling at the start and then spectacularly chasing down a target of 166 in just 9.4 overs, setting the record for the highest score in the first 10 overs of any T20 match. This commanding victory propelled them to third place on the points table, bringing their total to 14 points from 12 matches and significantly boosting their net run rate.

The chase was so overwhelmingly dominant that Lucknow didn’t even deploy their Impact Player. Much praise is due to Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who both blazed to their fifties in just 16 and 19 balls, respectively. Their partnership not only crossed a hundred runs during the powerplay but also marked the second time this IPL season that they achieved the highest powerplay scores recorded in any T20 match.

See Also: IPL 2024: Player Analysis: How did Rahul Chahar turn his season from struggle to success?

Understanding Elite Powerplay Hitter (ePH) metric in detail

The Elite Powerplay Hitter (ePH) is a cutting-edge cricket analytics tool designed to evaluate and rank batters based on their performances during the powerplay overs. This metric scores players on a scale from 0 to 10, where the score reflects the batter’s effectiveness and impact in the early stages of an innings compared to other prominent players during the season.

The ePH considers a variety of key performance indicators including strike rate, frequency of boundaries, total runs scored, and more. This comprehensive approach provides a nuanced understanding of a player’s ability to perform during the powerplay. By highlighting the most dynamic and productive batters, the ePH offers crucial insights that can inform team strategies and player assessments.

Sunrisers Hyderabad features a powerful opening partnership with Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, both of whom excel in the Elite Powerplay Hitter (ePH) rankings this season. Travis Head, in particular, stands out with an ePH score of 8.8, making him the second-best powerplay hitter in the league. His prowess in maximizing the field restrictions and scoring rapidly is evident in his aggressive approach during the powerplay.

This ability to accelerate early in the innings has been instrumental in laying a solid foundation for SRH’s batting efforts, consistently putting the team in advantageous positions as the innings progresses. Abhishek Sharma, not far behind Travis Head, boasts an impressive ePH score of 7.5, ranking him third among the top powerplay hitters this season. He effectively complements Head’s explosive starts by maintaining a robust strike rate and frequently dispatching the ball to the boundary in the initial overs.

Together, Head and Sharma form a dynamic opening duo that consistently hands SunRisers Hyderabad an early advantage in their matches. Their combined effectiveness during the powerplay not only underscores their strategic value to the team but also highlights their critical roles as main contributors to SRH’s batting force. Travis Head was named Player of the Match after his dazzling performance, scoring 89 runs off just 30 deliveries. He expressed how enjoyable the innings was, especially as he and Abhishek Sharma successfully finished the game for their team.

Head explained that he focuses on positioning himself early and reacting quickly to each delivery, which played a key role in his ability to stay ahead of the run rate. He took advantage of the favorable conditions to play an aggressive innings, highlighting his recent efforts to improve his game against spin by hitting effectively around the ground. Additionally, Head mentioned that he has been consistent with the approach he has used over the past year with the Australian team, aiming to bat with uninhibited aggression and confidence.