IPL 2020

RR vs SRH – Match Preview, Head to Head, and Playing Conditions

The Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad still have a chance to stake a claim for that 4th spot in the points table. Steve Smith has made significant contributions as a captain in the last couple of games and will want to score in this must-win game. His Aussie teammate David Warner is the leading run-getter for SRH this with a flurry of consistent scores. Royals won a nail-biting thriller by 5 wickets in the last game these 2 sides met just a few days back.

RR won a one-sided contest against CSK and this has made this game even more interesting. The bowlers particularly their leg spinners held the CSK’s batsman in the middle-overs and restricted them to a below-par 125. Chasing a mediocre 126, the RR’s top order lost their plot in the first 6 overs losing 3 wickets in the period. It was only with the help of a match-winning partnership between Smith and Buttler, they were able to make no fuss about this target.

SRH are on a 3 match losing streak and desperately in need of a win to keep themselves relevant for a top-4 finish. Chasing a relatively small target of 164 runs, SRH was off to a good start with Williamson opening with Bairstow for a change but lost their way after losing 4 quick wickets. In the end, it was left too many to get for Warner who scored a fighting 47 but a limping Russell defended 16 runs to take the match to a super-over finish. SRH could manage only 2 runs off the super-over and eventually lost the game.

Key players from both sides

Batsman – Jonny Bairstow, David Warner, Steve Smith, and  Jos Buttler.

The last match heroes with the bat for RR  Steve Smith and  Jos Buttler will once again be the key players for them here vs SRH. Smith may have a second fiddle to Jos Buttler scoring just 28 in a 98 run stand between the duo but it was an important knock in the context of the game. The latter played a master class on a surface where everyone else failed.  David Warner coming down the order was to accommodate an injured Kane and will be a one-off, so the regular opening pair of him and Jonny Bairstow will have to step up their game again in this crucial match.

All Rounder- Vijay Shankar, Abdul Samad, Rahul Tewatia, and Ben Stokes.

Vijay Shankar is viewed as a talented all-rounder but has not proved yet in IPL and he needs to contribute much better with the bat than what he is doing now. He bowled well last game giving only miserly runs but with the bat, he has been a disappointment. Abdul Samad looked in decent touch hitting a couple of powerful shots and SRH even sent him in the super-over. The management’s confidence in the youngster seems to be high and hopefully, he delivers in the coming games. Rahul Tewatia wasn’t required with the bat lat game but he was instrumental in curbing the flow of runs when he bowled and will have a good memory of their reverse fixture. He along with the experienced Ben Stokes will be key for RR in all the departments of the game. The latter has been opening the batting since his return but is yet to strike big and hasn’t been entrusted with the bat that much.

Bowlers – Rashid Khan, T Natarajan, Jofra Archer, and Kartik Tyagi.

Kartik Tyagi is one to look forward to the future and has a good calm head in especially in the death overs. He proved it in the last game picking up an important of Watson and not going for many.  Jofra Archer was back to his best with the ball but had an indifferent game in the field with a dropped catch and a couple of miss fields. Rashid Khan, the pick of bowlers for SRH has had a couple of ordinary games and not in his usual wicket-taking best. This game provides him an opportunity to make things right. The yorker specialist Natarajan is the joint wicket-taker along with Rashid with 11 scalps but sometimes has been on the expensive side. SRH will hope this duo can perform this game as well.

Battles to look forward

  1. Jofra Archer vs David Warner
  2. Rashid Khan vs Jos Buttler
  3. T Natarajan vs Steve Smith

David Warner has been subdued this season and has been found struggling in his early part of the innings against fast bowlers. Jofra Archer doesn’t give anything away and if he can get the wicket if the SRH skipper once again, it will boost RR’s chances. Jos Buttler is the man in form for the Royals and after his brilliant knick last game, he seems to be a dangerous man for them. Rashid Khan has a knack for getting the best of players out , we have to see who wins this mini-battle. Steve Smith’s with his unorthodox approach may quite possibly up against sharp toe crushers of Natarajan and let us see who comes on top.

Head to Head between RR and SRH.

  • Matches Played: 12
  • CSK Won: 6
  • RR won: 6

Significant Approaching Milestones.

1- Sandeep Sharma needs 1 more scalp to take his 100th IPL wicket.

Match conditions

Venue: Dubai international cricket stadium, Dubai. 

Date & Timings: October 22, 2020, at 7.30 PM IST.

Weather: Clear with the temperature around 32 C.

Pitch: Likely to be a slow surface with possible due later on.



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