🏏IPL 2024: Qualifier One - SRH vs KKR at Ahmedabad @ 7:30PM IST🏏

🏏IPL 2024: Qualifier One - SRH vs KKR at Ahmedabad on 21/05/2024 @ 7:30PM IST🏏

[Logo Credit: Wildestdreams]

Batting powerhouses collide as KKR, SRH set their eyes on IPL final spot

The two sides have not met since their respective season openers in March, which KKR won by four runs

Two batting powerhouses collide

Two of the quickest-scoring teams in this IPL could produce another run-fest in the first qualifier in Ahmedabad, especially if it serves up a bouncy, red-soil track. Phil Salt has left the IPL but Kolkata Knight Riders still have enough power in the form of Sunil Narine, Andre Russell and Rinku Singh. Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen can certainly match up to that power or even overpower KKR.

Sunrisers Hyderabad have also figured out an aggressive No.3 option in Rahul Tripathi to strengthen their top order. But can they dial down their aggression and still find a way, if Ahmedabad throws up a slow, black-soil turner? In March, which seems ages go, SRH managed only 162 for 8 on a black-soil surface that suited Gujarat Titans' spinners.

Regardless of the colour and nature of the surface, Narine and Varun Chakravarthy have the pedigree to take wickets or restrict the opposition. But KKR will have to rock up cold on Tuesday, having endured washouts in their last two league matches, including one in Ahmedabad. Especially, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Salt's like-for-like replacement, who has not featured in IPL 2024 and last played cricket in mid-March.

It was back on May 11 that KKR had confirmed their place in the playoffs after beating Mumbai Indians in a truncated game at home. They haven't been in action since and it might not be easy to hit the ground running after a ten-day break, table-toppers or otherwise.

[Tag credit: Sutapasima]

KKR Vs SRH Ahmedabad weather report for today

The Ahmedabad weather has not been kind to the cricket lovers as of late. The Gujarat Titans Vs Kolkata Knight Riders clash was abandoned a couple of days ago due to rain, and the prediction doesn't look good for today as well.

The temperature will be on the higher side at 41 degrees celsius, and it will be sunny for most of the day. However, as per accuweather, there is prediction for passing showers, but that won't affect the match.

The team which wins the battle will go through to the finals, and the losing team will get one more chance to qualify, as they get to play the Qualifier 2.

PITCH REPORT

Going by the history of this venue, the team that bats first has been able to put up a huge score on the board and win the match. Since the skies are clear and there is no threat of rain, one expects the captain to win the toss to bat first. Pace bowlers will get good movement off the wicket, while the spinners, too, will enjoy considerable success in the second half of the game.

Team news and Impact Player strategy

Kolkata Knight Riders

Nitish Rana is fit again and could stay in the team as an Impact Player option, in place of one of the specialist bowlers, having scored 33 off 23 balls against MI in Kolkata. KKR, though, might have to choose between left-arm fingerspinner Anukul Roy and right-arm seamer Vaibhav Arora.

Probable XII: 1 Sunil Narine, 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 4 Venkatesh Iyer, 5 Nitish Rana, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Anukul Roy/Vaibhav Arora, 11 Harshit Rana, 12 Varun Chakravarthy

Sunrisers Hyderabad

SRH have been fairly consistent with their Impact Player strategy with one of the batters slotting in for T Natarajan. Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, the young legspinner from Jaffna, has done fairly well in his two IPL outings and could keep his place unless SRH want to bring back Aiden Markram for his steady batting and offspin against a potentially left-hander heavy KKR middle order. Jaydav Unadkat for his change-ups is another option.

Probable XII: 1 Travis Head, 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Rahul Tripathi, 4 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6 Shahbaz Ahmed, 7 Abdul Samad, 8 Sanvir Singh, 9 Pat Cummins (capt), 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11 Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, 12 T Natarajan

In the spotlight: Rinku Singh and T Natarajan

After torching IPL 2023 with his finishing skills, Rinku Singh hasn't had many opportunities to do that in IPL 2024. He also could not find a place in India's main squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. He has faced only 113 balls in 11 innings this season at a healthy strike rate of 148.67. That might pale in comparison to some of the heavy hitters that will be on display on Tuesday, but count Rinku out at your own peril.

T Natarajan was taken to the cleaners by Ayush Badoni, but he bounced back against Punjab Kings, coming away with 2 for 33 in his four overs, in a 215 vs 214 game. His bowling isn't just about the yorker anymore - he has also developed a deceptive slower bouncer to handcuff batters in the middle and death overs. Natarajan, though, will have to be wary of Russell, who has taken him for 43 off 26 balls for just one wicket at a strike rate of 165.38 in the IPL.

Stats that matter

• Bhuvneshwar Kumar has a favourable match-up against Narine, dismissing him twice in 25 balls while keeping him to just 28 runs in the IPL.
• No spinner has taken more wickets than Varun's 38 in 26 IPL innings since the 2023 season started.
• Narine is four hits away from 100 IPL sixes. Thirty-two of those have come this season. His opponent Abhishek is the top six-hitter this IPL with 41.
• According to ESPNcricinfo's logs, Bhuvneshwar has bowled 31 yorkers in IPL 2024. Only Jasprit Bumrah (56) has bowled more yorkers this season. Avesh Khan has also hit the blockhole 31 times, with Natarajan (27) slotting not too far behind.

Form guide

Kolkata Knight Riders WWWWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)

Sunrisers Hyderabad WWLWL

Previous meeting

Head didn't even play the last time these two sides met, with SRH picking Marco Jansen ahead of him. Harshit Rana stopped Klaasen and SRH in the last over, earning a four-run victory for KKR at Eden Gardens. In the early half of the season, chasing was a concern for KKR, but they've remedied that heading into the playoffs.

Team Watch:

Kolkata Knight Riders

Injuries/Availability: All players, barring Phil Salt, are available.

Tactics and Match-Ups: Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma are among the rare few batters who have enjoyed an upperhand in the battle against Sunil Narine. The veteran spinner could be held back to be utilised in the middle and late overs in a bid to control Heinrich Klassen, who enjoys a favourable matchup against the other KKR spinner - Varun Chakravarthy.

Andre Russell has dismissed Abhishek twice in 10 balls, and conceded only 11 runs. Don't be surprised if the West Indian has an early go against the in-form southpaw

Probable XII: 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 substitute: Vaibhav Arora]

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Injuries/Availability: They have a clean slate on this front

Tactics and Match-Ups: Andre Russell hasn't enjoyed a high-scoring rate in Ahmedabad, striking at just under 140 in four innings at the venue. SRH bowlers will look to force him to hit towards the long square boundaries

Probable XII: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, Rahul Tripathi, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pat Cummins (c), Sanvir Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth [Impact substitute: T Natarajan]

Ami KKR 💪

Go boys win it

Thanks for the tag 💜🧡.

May the best team win...

Head to Head: KKR 17 - 9 SRH. The Knight Riders have been even more dominating since 2020, having won seven of their nine face-offs. The playoffs records of the two sides are almost similar, with KKR winning eight and losing five while SRH have won 5 and lost six.

Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad will face off in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2024 in Ahmedabad on Tuesday for a place in the final.

This is only the fourth meeting between the two teams in the IPL Playoffs. Sunrisers have a slender edge over Knight Riders in this stage of the season. However, KKR has a clear advantage in the overall head-to-head record in IPL.

Here is the record between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of their match at the Narendra Modi Stadium:

KKR vs SRH Head-to-Head Record in IPL

Played: 26

Kolkata Knight Riders: 16

Sunrisers Hyderabad: 9

Tied: 1

Last Result: KKR beat SRH by four runs (IPL 2024, Eden Gardens)

KKR vs SRH Head-to-Head Record in IPL Playoffs

Played: 3

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1

Sunrisers Hyderabad: 2

Last Result: SRH beat KKR by 14 runs (IPL 2018, Qualifier 2)

KKR Win/Loss Record in IPL Playoffs

Played: 13

Won: 8

Lost: 5

Last Result: Lost by 27 runs to Chennai Super Kings (IPL 2021 Final)

SRH Win/Loss Record in IPL Playoffs

Played: 11

Won: 5

Lost: 6

Last Result: Lost by 17 runs to Delhi Capitals (IPL 2020 Qualifier 2)

HEAD TO HEAD LAST 5 MATCHES

KKR won by 4 runs 24-Mar-2024

KKR won by 5 runs 05-May-2023

SRH won by 23 runs 15-Apr-2023

KKR won by 54 runs 15-May-2022

SRH won by 7 wickets (with 13 balls remaining) 16-Apr-2022