It is finally time for the playoffs of the Indian Premier League 2024. KKR and SRH are set to face each other in the Qualifier 1 of the tournament, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Both teams have been superb on their day in the tournament and it is expected to be a really close encounter on Tuesday, May 21. While KKR are one of the most balanced sides in the tournament, with superstars in all departments, SRH have the X-factor, the ability to snatch the game away from the opponents within just a few overs of the match.
KKR have come into the Qualifier 1 with clear dominance over the other teams. The Gautam Gambhir-mentored team has found their mojo in the IPL 2024 and have won 9 out of their 14 matches, finishing at the top of the table. While Sunil Narine has been KKR's best player in the tournament, the rest of the side has chipped in whenever required. The bowling department has had a few bad days here and there, but have mostly come clutch in the tournament.
KKR's biggest asset is the array of match-winners they have in their line-up. Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Mitchell Starc, Harshit Rana, and Shreyas Iyer have the ability to win games single-handedly in the competition.
Pat Cummins' SRH on the other hand have enjoyed a unique campaign. While no one will argue that Cummins' team is the most well-rounded side in the tournament, but the amount of fear that this team has struck against the opposition with their tall batting order is simply stunning. SRH's template has been bat first and win games but at the end of the season, they have successfully completed dominant chases against LSG and PBKS.
Three of the biggest Australian cricketers - Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Travis Head are playing in this particular fixture. Starc and Cummins are two of the most expensive players in the history of the competition but have had contrasting tournaments.
While Cummins as a bowler and captain has been revered in the IPL 2024, Starc has leaked runs in every phase of the game. While there is no doubting Starc's unmatched ability as a wicket-taker, but that has just not come off this season.
Travis Head, the least-earning member of the trio has enjoyed the best tournament, hitting 553 runs already. Head is the third-highest scorer this season and is expected to have an impact on the game.
There are several members in both teams who have the ability to change the game on their day. But eyes will be on Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, who have been one of the most deadly opening pairs in the IPL. Against LSG, these two chased down a target of 167 in just 9.4 overs, making the mockery of the bowlers, and SRH will hope that they can come clutch once again on Tuesday.
For KKR the onus will be on the wily duo of Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, two of the most experienced T20 players in the history of the game, Bonafide legends of the format, KKR will pin their hopes on the duo to deliver with both bat and ball against the SRH side which is full of surprises.
KKR will not have the services of Phil Salt in the game, who has been prolific at the top order with Sunil Narine. Barring that they have their full team available and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who is equally threatening as an opener, will take the place of Salt.
KKR have a well-rounded side and in case they bowl first in the match, their spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy might turn the game for them.
SRH, on the other hand, have won their last two matches in dominant fashion. The batters have clicked and the bowlers have come clutch when it mattered the most. The spin bowling department is still SRH's weakest link this season with the inexperienced Vijayakanth Viyaskanth operating as a lone specialist spinner. It is possible that SRH take a call between him and Marco Jansen, depending on the pitch conditions in Ahmedabad.
KKR hold the advantage over SRH in the recent past and have dominated the contest 17-9 in the Indian Premier League. In the ongoing season, the two teams have met only once, in a thriller at Eden Gardens. In the meeting at Eden Gardens, SRH almost pulled off a victory in the 209-run chase, but Harshit Rana came clutch and defended 13 runs in the final over against Heinrich Klaasen and Pat Cummins.
This is the same ground where GT vs KKR got abandoned in 13 May. However there are no chances of rain during the match hours on Tuesday, 21 May.
KKR vs SRH: Full Weather Report
The pitch is expected to assist the batters in the encounter and dew is also expected to play a role later in the evening. With both teams stacked with top batters, this could turn out to be a really high-scoring encounter.
Rahamanullah Gurbaz (wk), Sunil Narine, Angkrish Raghuvanshi/Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh , Mitchell Starc, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy
Impact Player: Vaibhav Arora
SRH Predicted XI
Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, Rahul Tripathi, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pat Cummins (c), Sanvir Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth/Marco Jansen
Impact Player: T Natarajan
KKR have a well rounded side with experience in every department. The team is in form and has the ability to return from adversity. On the other hand, SRH have that X-factor in them where they can blow the opposition out of the water with their incredibly aggressive batters.
It is going to be a close contest, but KKR might win this one and qualify straight into the finals.
