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Rahul Tripathi (MoM) - I enjoyed myself tonight. The time with KKR was special, and now it is special with SRH as well. Varun bowls well, I didn't expect him to pitch it up and that's why I went through with that lofted shot. I have been struggling with my health over the last few days and the management did a very good job with me. There are days when things get tough, but I enjoy the hard work and the good days. Before going in to bat, I am a litte fidgety, but I am happy that I got this innings today.
Kane Williamson (SRH skipper) - This was a step up again. It was important to take early wickets with the ball. A little bit of dew came in which was helpful for us. The death bowling was great too. Rahul Tripathi was amazing and so was Aiden Markram, although in different roles. Marco, with his bounce and pace, was a big part of our attack with Bhuvneshwar, who swings the ball. It is just about getting the fields right for Malik. He touches 150 kmph on every ball and has been nicked off for fours.
Shreyas Iyer (KKR captain) - Yes, I feel drained. I thought it was a good total. Rahul Tripathi didn’t allow us to settle down. Credit to the pace with which they played. We put on a great batting effort. Was a bad day with the ball.
Aiden Markram - This feels good. When Tripathi gets going, you have time to settle in and he really set a nice platform. It was good to get the win for the side. Him (Pooran) and I, we laugh about it, we've struggled a bit in the past so it's nice to get it done. You get more used to it with time. By no means a finished product, certainly happy to have done it again tonight. Sometimes things just fall into place and I'm enjoying it here with the Sunrisers. It's been a great few weeks so far, hopefully we can keep this momentum going. In the past, I've taken it to the last over and we actually lost the game. The sooner we could get it done, the quicker the nerves get off the system.
Stunning win for Hyderabad (SRH 176/3 | Overs 17.5)
Sunrisers Hyderabad are on a roll! They lost their first two matches of the season but have now won three games in a row. Chasing 176, the Orange Army lost Abhishek Sharma and Kane Williamson inside six overs but then came Rahul Tripathi and Aiden Markram took the game away from KKR. The two put on 94 runs and SRH chased down the total with more than two overs to spare. Tripathi smashed four fours and six maximums in his 37-ball 71, while Markram scored 68* off 36. The latter hit six fours and four sixes and only left the field once the job was done. Meanwhile, KKR have now lost three back-to-back matches.
Earlier, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Marco Jansen, T Natarajan and Umran Malik were brilliant in the first half of the first innings before Nitish Rana and Andre Russell put on a show in the last nine overs. Rana smacked six fours and two sixes in his 36-ball 54 and scored a half-century after 19 innings. Meanwhile, Russell went berserk the moment he stepped onto the field and blasted four fours and as many sixes in his 25-ball 49*. KKR were 75/4 at the end of 11 overs but managed to smash 100 in the final nine overs. For SRH, Umran Malik (2/27) and Jansen (1/26) were phenomenal.
Second IPL fifty for Markram (SRH 158/3 | Overs 17)
The South African let Tripathi dictate terms till he was around but has taken over the role of an aggressor. He gets to his second IPL fifty off 31 deliveries but needs to make sure he completes the job. Meanwhile, Sunil Narine ends with figures of 0/23. Another economical outing for the spinner.
Horrible outing for Chakaravarthy (SRH 153/3 | Overs 16)
Varun Chakaravarthy , who conceded 44 runs in the previous match, has once again leaked 45 runs in three overs. Iyer brought him back into the attack thinking Tripathi is back in the hut but Markram went after him and smashed him for a four and six to bring the equation down to 23 off 24. This should be easy!
Russell gets the big wicket (SRH 140/3 | Overs 15)
Tripathi was batting like a dream but he will have to go back to the hut after scoring 71 off just 37 deliveries. He greeted Russell with a six over deep backward square leg but then mistimed one straight into the hands of the fielder at long-on. He has done his job and the onus is now Markram and Pooran to finish the job. However, the over ended on a horrible note for KKR as Jackson let four byes behind the stumps. 36 needed off 30.
Three consecutive boundaries (SRH 127/2 | Overs 14)
Kolkata were starting to build some pressure on Tripathi and Markram as the boundaries were drying up but the latter slammed Umesh for three fours in as many deliveries and has put SRH in a commanding position. The first one was a top-edge but the next two were smashed towards the cover region. 49 needed off 36!
Back-to-back good overs for KKR (SRH 113/2 | Overs 13)
It felt like Tripathi and Markram would run away with the game but Cummins and Narine have brought some control in the last two overs. SRH have only managed eight runs in the last two overs and now need 63 off 42 deliveries. However, KKR need to break this stand as soon as possible.
What a knock! (SRH - 105/2 | Overs 11)
Rahul Tripathi just keeps doing it again and again! The right-hander gets to his fifty off just 21 deliveries and has put SRH in a commanding position. SRH invested a lot in him and he is repaying the faith. Aiden Markram too smacked Chakaravarthy for a six and a four and the spinner has now leaked 32 runs in two overs. These two are taking the game away from KKR. Tripathi is going after every bowler and has already whacked four fours and five sixes. 71 needed off 54.
Tripathi takes the attack to KKR (SRH 77/2 | Overs 8)
You gotta love this man! Rahul Tripathi is single-handedly making sure SRH don't fall too behind when it comes to the required rate. The right-hander pulled Russell for a six after Williamson got out and then managed to get a four and a six off debutant Aman Hakim Khan. And, if that was not enough, Tripathi went after Varun Chakaravarthy in his very first over. He is making batting look easy. What a talent! The right-handed batter lofted Chakaravarthy for a boundary towards the cover region and then smoked him for consecutive sixes in the same region. The pressure is now on KKR as SRH need 99 off 72. SRH have slammed 42 runs in the last three overs.
Russell keeps contributing (SRH 39/2 | Overs 5.2)
The all-rounder was superb with the bat and has now got the big wicket of SRH captain Kane Williamson. The right-hander greeted Russell with a boundary towards deep mid-wicket but ended up dragging the next ball back onto the stumps. This wasn't as short as he would have expected. He departs for 17 off 16.
Williamson needs to get going (SRH 27/1 | Overs 4)
Prior to this encounter, in 60 deliveries faced during the powerplay this season, Williamson operated at a strike rate of 76.7, which happens to be the lowest for any batter in the tournament thus far (min four innings), with a 58.3% of dots. He is once again scoring at way below 100, while Rahul Tripathi already has two boundaries in five deliveries. KKR have two world-class spinners and Williamson will have to make sure he makes up for all the dot balls.
Cummins gets the first breakthrough (SRH 3/1 | Overs 1.4)
Abhishek Sharma made match-winning contributions in the last two encounters but could only manage 3 off 10 in this game. The young left-hander never looked comfortable and eventually dragged one back onto the stumps. Wanted to pull this one but was cramped for room. This is just the start KKR needed. Don't forget, Cummins too has a point to prove with the ball in hand.
Russell goes berserk (KKR 175/8 | Overs 20)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Marco Jansen, T Natarajan and Umran Malik were brilliant in the first half of the innings before Nitish Rana and Andre Russell put on a show in the last nine overs. Rana smacked six fours and two sixes in his 36-ball 54 and scored a half-century after 19 innings. Meanwhile, Russell went berserk the moment he stepped onto the field and blasted four fours and as many sixes in his 25-ball 49*. KKR were 75/4 at the end of 11 overs but managed to smash 100 in the final nine overs. For SRH, Umran Malik (2/27) and Jansen (1/26) were phenomenal. Now, can SRH chase it down?
Rana departs (KKR 142/6 | Overs 17.2)
The left-hander gets an edge and has been caught behind for a well-made 54 off 36 deliveries. This was full and just outside off but the appeal wasn't big. SRH still went for the review and the replays suggested there was a clear edge. The onus is now on Russell to make the most of these two last overs.
Russell on fire (KKR 138/5 | Overs 17)
There's a reason why you pay so much money to have Andre Russell in your side. The big man once again got the better of Bhuvneshwar and accumulated 16 runs off the over. There were a couple of superb yorkers but Russell pounced on deliveries that were short and in the slot. A short and wide delivery was played over short third man before he got one in his arc and hammered it over extra cover. There was one on the pads and Russell flicked it towards deep backward square for another four.
What an over! What a spell! (KKR 122/5 | Overs 16)
Umran Malik meant business tonight and he ends with figures of 2/27. The tearaway quick got two crucial wickets of Shreyas Iyer and Jackson and then conceded just two runs in his final over against Russell. The big man tried his best but was simply undone by pace.
14th IPL fifty for Rana (KKR 120/5 | Overs 15)
Kolkata desperately needed Nitish Rana to get some runs tonight and the left-hander hasn't disappointed. Rana gets a fifty after 19 innings and couldn't have asked for a better time to return back to form. He gets to the landmark off 32 deliveries but his team would want him to keep going and make the most of these last five overs.
Just when KKR was building some momentum (KKR 103/5 | Overs 13)
Nitish Rana smoked two sixes and a four in the last two overs before Sheldon Jackson joined the party and slammed Umran for a maximum. However, before he could do any substantial damage, the wicketkeeper-batter was undone by the pace. The right-hander went for the pull but got a top-edge. Natarajan did well to get under the ball and took a good catch. Before Jackson perished, Rana flicked Natarajan for a maximum and also got one six of maximum. KKR need this man to keep going.
Phew, what a yorker! (KKR 70/4 | Overs 10)
There's a reason why SRH retained Umran Malik. This man has got some serious pace and he has knocked over Shreyas Iyer with a stunning yorker. The KKR skipper tried to back away and play a shot through the off-side but Malik saw him and fired in a pacy yorker. Iyer couldn't get his bat down on time and was knocked over for 28 off 25. Dale Steyn looks delighted with this in the SRH dugout.
Poor first over from Suchith (KKR 67/3 | Overs 9)
Kane Williamson finally introduced some spin and Iyer and Rana managed to get a boundary each. The left-arm spinner started the over by bowling one down the leg to Iyer and the KKR skipper just guided it towards fine leg before Rana did the same. This will ease some pressure as one of these two will have to play more shots.
Onus on Shreyas Iyer, Rana (KKR 57/3 | Overs 8)
The surface is still offering good bounce but these two batters have done well to put on 26 runs for the fourth wicket. Nitish Rana hasn't been in great form but he already has a couple of boundaries to his name. The left-hander first used Umran Malik's pace and got one four towards deep backward square leg and then charged down the track against Shashank Singh and whacked him towards extra cover. KKR too have a solid bowling attack but they would need at least 170 on the boards. There are some big hitters yet to come and SRH will have to be careful.
Six, and out for Narine (KKR 31/3 | Overs 5)
Promoted at No. 4, the left-hander from West Indies announced his arrival by smashing Natarajan for a six over long-on but the seamer got his revenge on the very next delivery. The next one was a low full-toss on the middle and leg stump and Narine ended up chipping it straight to the fielder at cover-point. This is quality stuff from the SRH seamers and KKR are in massive trouble at the moment.
Was only a matter of time (KKR 25/2 | Overs - 4.1)
Bhuvi and Jansen were superb in the first four overs but it's T Natarajan who has got rid of Venkatesh Iyer. The left-arm paceman got this one to come back in from the length and the opener wanted to flick this one towards the leg side but ended up leaving a huge gap between his bat and pad. The ball easily sneaked through and disturbed the stumps. Venkatesh's poor run of form continues as he departs for 6 off 13.
Superb stuff from Bhuvi, Jansen (KKR 25/1 | Overs - 4)
Kolkata have managed to score at six runs per over but the batters have hardly looked comfortable against Bhuvneshwar and Jansen. The two of them are making the ball talk and there has been a lot of movement on offer. Meanwhile, Jansen is bowling short and quick and both Venkatesh and Shreyas haven't been able to tackle him.
Finch falls to Jansen (KKR - 11/1 | Overs 1.2)
Got him! Well, the Australian white-ball skipper lasted for only five deliveries on his debut for KKR. Marco Jansen got this one to keep going away with the angle and Finch threw his bat at it without moving his feet. The front foot didn't move at all. Got an inside edge and the wicketkeeper took an easy catch.
Finch v Bhuvneshwar (KKR - 9/0 | Overs - 1)
The right-handed opener doesn't have a great record against Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The right-arm seamer has dismissed Finch three times in 12 innings and the latter had a strike rate of just 84.9. However, that didn't stop Finch from lofting Bhuvi down the ground for a six in the very first over. The ball is moving but Finch did well to cover the line of the ball.
This is what Aman Khan can do
SRH elect to bowl
Hyderabad skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to field first. The Orange Army are without Washington Sundar and Jagadeesha Suchith gets a game tonight. Meanwhile, KKR have brought in Finch, Aman Khan and Sheldon Jackson. They come in for Sam Billings, Ajinkya Rahane and Rasikh Salam.
Kane Williamson - We are going to have a bowl first. It has been a good wicket but the dew factor is the reason why we are fielding first. The team is improving and growing as a unit. KKR is a strong side.
Shreyas Iyer - I am happy batting first. Finch comes in and Aman Khan comes in. Sheldon Jackson is in as well. There are a few injuries in the camp. We had a good break in between.
Playings XIs
KKR - Aaron Finch, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Sheldon Jackson (wk), Aman Khan, Pat Cummins, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy.
SRH - Abhishek Sharma, Kane Williamson (c), Rahul Tripathi, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Aiden Markram, Shashank Singh, Jagadeesha Suchith, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Marco Jansen, Umran Malik, T Natarajan.
KKR have two debutants
Australian white-ball captain Aaron Finch is set to debut for Kolkata and this will be his ninth IPL franchise. Meanwhile, a young dynamic batter from Mumbai, Aman Khan will be playing his first IPL game. The right-hander is known to be a big-hitter of the ball and can also bowl medium pace.
Here's what Finch has to say: "Feeling very good. The boys have gotten off to a really great start. It is a great franchise to be a part of. I think I bring some experience to the top of the order. My game has been really good coming from Pakistan. It is a really consistent group. They play really aggressively. Shreyas is leading calmly with McCullum. There is a bit of movement with the new ball at all venues. If you have to win the tournament, you have to win after batting first at some stage."
Pitch report - Simon Doull
"Looks like a magnificent surface. Lovely grass coverage on it, all that does is just give it a really nice pace. Good pace, good bounce. Batters have made the most of scoring runs in the early stages here. It's harder to score in the death overs. Dimensions - 68 metres on one side away to point - not a very big hit down there at all and over third man it is very small. But 81 metres to the leg-side and a huge hit out to cow corner (89 metres). Bat first, put runs on the board and if you get 185-190, you'll be okay. It's a really good surface. Don't worry about batting first."
How big a loss is Washington Sundar?
The dearth of off-spinning all-rounders in the country is a truth. Washington Sundar is one of the prime all-rounders in that department. Thus far in the tournament, the Tamil Nadu off-spinner has already shown great control over his bowling, picking up crucial wickets for the franchise. In four matches this season, the 22-year-old has picked up four wickets, averaging just 27.5. In the powerplay, Washington’s strike rate is 12, at an economy rate of just 6.
But generally, Sunrisers are one of the rare franchises who have not bowled a lot of spin in the middle-overs. In Washington’s absence, the franchise have the option of going with Shreyas Gopal or Jagadeesha Suchith. For the Sunrisers, the Tamil Nadu off-spinner has proven to be an attacking option more than a defensive one, which is why Gopal might get the nod. In Indian conditions, the leg-spinner averages just 21.4, and can be a big threat on Friday. He will be up against KKR, a side who have the lowest average against wrist spin in the competition.
KKR’s tricky dilemma with Ajinkya Rahane
A top-order that consists of Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer and Nitish Rana isn’t the most convincing of top orders in the shortest format. And KKR have paid a price for it in both their losses. In the other two games, they have heavily relied on their lower-order, Andre Russell and Pat Cummins to come up with the goods. While the trio of Venkatesh, Shreyas and Nitish have shown potential through the tournament, it puts Rahane’s place under the scanner.
If Williamson’s conservatism is questionable, so is Rahane’s, who strikes just at 92.7. If KKR do not want to go back to Sunil Narine as an opener or pick Aaron Finch in the setup, they could either use Sheldon Jackson at the top, open with Nitish Rana or bring Baba Indrajith into the setup, at the top. Each of the above option are more than capable of batting at the top of the order and making quick runs. And two out of the three will still keep the left-right combination ticking, something that the franchise has relied on this season.
A question over Sunrisers’ conservatism
Having faced 76.5 overs, Sunrisers’ batting numbers in the tournament reads: A run-rate of 8.2, a strike rate of 136.4 with the least fours and least sixes. A line-up that boasts the likes of Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Abhishek Sharma and Nicholas Pooran amongst others, reflecting such numbers is a big worry.
Their clash against the Royals was a rare outing, where batting seemed to be on a minefield, with help for the pacers. However, since then they have approached run-chases with impeccable precision. But going up against the Knight Riders, their conservative approach will be under the scanner, especially of their skipper Kane Williamson.
In 60 deliveries faced during the powerplay, the Kiwi batter averages 23, scores at a strike rate of 76.7, which happens to be the lowest for any batter in the tournament thus far (min four innings), with a 58.3% of dots. With a plethora of hitters in the setup, is it high time for Williamson to shed the conservative tag?
Build-up
Kolkata Knight Riders received a severe beating at the hands of Delhi Capitals in their previous encounter. It was a loss that stung the highs of the wins against Mumbai and Punjab Kings, giving the Knights a reality check after their honeymoon start to the 2022 season. Now, in front them are Sunrisers Hyderabad, a team that has changed their fortunes over their last two fixtures.
They hustled past a dejected Chennai Super Kings before rampaging past the in-form Gujarat Titans. The arrival of Marco Jansen has finally made the bowing unit more formidable. During Sunrisers’ commanding win over the Titans, there were concerns over the fitness of their Indian stars, Rahul Tripathi and Washington Sundar. While the former is expected to take the field, the latter will miss this clash with an injury.