Published: May 15, 2016, 08:02 AM (IST)
Edited: May 15, 2016, 01:04 PM (IST)
Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) will host Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 46 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016 at Mohali on Sunday. SRH are one win away from being the first team to qualify for the IPL 2016 playoffs. On the other hand, KXIP need a win in order to stay in with a chance of making it to the playoffs, but a loss will knock them out. SRH have the most potent bowling attack of the tournament, but their batting needs to be sorted out. Here is a speculative look at the team SRH could field against KXIP. Live Cricket Scorecard: Kings XI Punjab vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL 2016 Match 46 at Mohali
Top order: There is no question about the fact that David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan have formed the backbone of the SRH batting. The duo has been in good form and more often than not at least one of the two has gone on to get a good score. With both openers in fine form, SRH have had the luxury of attacking from the outset. However, the No. 3 position remains a bit of a problem for SRH. With Kane Williamson looking out of sorts, he could be replaced with Eoin Morgan, though if that happens Morgan will bat in the middle order. This could allow wicketkeeper Naman Ojha a chance up the order.
Middle order: Yuvraj Singh has looked good since his comeback, and has managed to tonk a few sixes in his first couple of games back. However, he has not yet managed to make a sizeable contribution to the total. He will want that to change against his former team KXIP. Morgan could make a comeback to the side in favour of the out-of-form Williamson, and if that happens his job will be to smash it all over the place from the start. He has not been in great form recently but he is always a threat.
Moises Henriques is one of the silent performers who often flies under the radar. He has been useful with the ball and powerful with the bat, and will continue to offer middle-order support to the other batsmen. Deepak Hooda is another big hitter who has done fairly well in his few chances so far. Hooda has yet to play a game-changing innings but if the management decides to send him up the order things could change.
Bowlers: Regardless of how strong or weak their batting may be, SRH have always relied more on their bowling. In Mustafizur Rahman SRH have arguably the finest bowler on display, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ashish Nehra could well make it to the IPL 9 team of the tournament. Barinder Sran remains their one weak link, but he is not too much of a liability either.
SRH likely XI against KXIP: David Warner (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Naman Ojha (wk), Yuvraj Singh, Eoin Morgan, Moises Henriques, Deepak Hooda, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Barinder Sran, Ashish Nehra, Mustafizur Rahman.
