Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans (SRH vs GT)
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will face Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday, May 16, in a crucial IPL 2024 encounter. SRH are eyeing a playoff berth, while GT seek to end their disappointing season on a high note.
SRH are currently in fourth place with 14 points. With two matches left in the league stage, they must avoid any slip-ups to secure their spot in the playoffs. In their last outing, SRH delivered a performance, securing a ten-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants by chasing down a target of 166 in just 9.4 overs. This impressive win has boosted their confidence, and they will be keen to maintain this momentum.
On the other hand, Gujarat Titans have had a season to forget. Their playoff hopes were dashed after their last game against Kolkata Knight Riders was washed out, leaving them only five wins from 13 matches. Currently sitting in eighth place, GT will try to give their fans something to cheer about as they aim to finish the season positively.
Probable Playing XI
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Abdul Samad, Sanvir Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pat Cummins (C), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, T Natarajan.
Gujarat Titans
Shubman Gill (C), Sai Sudharsan, Matthew Wade (wk), Shahrukh Khan, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mohit Sharma, Sandip Warrier, Umesh Yadav.
Key Players
Travis Head (SRH):
Travis Head has been a standout performer for SRH this season. Opening the batting, he has amassed 533 runs, making him the third-highest run-scorer in the tournament. His incredible average of 53.30 and a strike rate of 201.89 underline his aggressive yet consistent approach. SRH will be counting on him once again to provide a solid start.
Sai Sudharsan (GT):
Sai Sudharsan has been a shining light for Gujarat Titans in an otherwise bleak season. He is the top run-getter for GT with 527 runs, including a century and two fifties. Despite the team's struggles, Sudharsan has shown remarkable consistency and skill, and he will be eager to deliver another stellar performance to finish the season strong.
Match Prediction
Given their current form and home advantage, Sunrisers Hyderabad are the favorites. Their batting lineup has been in excellent touch, and the home crowd support will buoy them. On the other hand, Gujarat Titans have some quality players. Yet, they have struggled to perform as a cohesive unit throughout the season. This lack of synergy has been an issue for them, and it could be their undoing in this match.
Mumbai Indians vs Lucknow Super Giants (MI vs LSG)
Lucknow Super Giants will look to turn things around as they take on Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday, May 17. LSG are heading into this away fixture, having lost their last two games, and the result of the match against SRH on Tuesday is yet to be known. If they want to qualify for the playoffs, they will have to ensure they win both of their remaining games. They are sitting in seventh place with 12 points and two more games.
Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, are already out of the playoff race and will be playing for their pride in this game. They are currently in ninth place with eight points, having won four out of their 13 games so far. It has been a tough season for them with all the controversy regarding Hardik Pandya's captaincy. They have had issues on and off the field, but they will be eager to bring smiles to the fans' faces as they play one last time this season.
Probable Playing XI
Mumbai Indians
Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (C), Tim David, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Piyush Chawla, Jasprit Bumrah, Nuwan Thushara.
Lucknow Super Giants
KL Rahul (C & wk), Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mohsin Khan, Yash Dubey.
Key Players
Suryakumar Yadav (MI): He spent a significant amount of time on the sidelines this season but has been in superb batting form once he recovered from injury. Suryakumar has amassed 345 runs in IPL 2024, including a century and three fifties.
Nicholas Pooran (LSG): He has been exceptional in a demanding middle-order role this season. Pooran has amassed 363 runs in this edition at an outstanding average and strike rate of 60.50 and 162.05, respectively.
Match Prediction
Mumbai Indians have the edge in this contest as they will play at home. However, the Super Giants look like the stronger team. Moreover, they have a playoff berth at stake, and that will push them to deliver their best in this contest. So, LSG is expected to emerge victorious in this battle.