IPL 2020: Eliminator, SRH vs RCB – SRH Predicted Playing XI

Three wins in three games – that is what the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) needed after botching up a simple chase against the Kings XI Punjab, and despite all odds against them, the manner in which David Warner’s men have turned the tide in their favour has been simply inspirational.

However, finishing third on the table, SRH won’t have the luxury of making a mistake when they meet the struggling Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Eliminator on Friday, at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Their opponents have not been having the best time and, despite a top-four finish, are entering into this crucial clash with four consecutive defeats.

Meeting each other this time, both the teams must be wary of the dismal record that teams finishing third and fourth have when it comes to lifting the trophy – only once has a team featuring in the Eliminator managed to win the title that year (the Sunrisers, in 2016).

Openers: Wriddhiman Saha (WK), David Warner (C)

SRH’s strategy of dropping Jonny Bairstow to accommodate Kane Williamson in their eleven has led them to promote Wriddhiman Saha as an opener, which turned out to be a rather fortuitous and lucky move.

Averaging 71 with the bat this year, Saha has adapted impeccably well, giving his captain Warner a big sigh of relief. In the last of their three must-win encounters, the duo went on to wreck a star-studded lineup of bowlers and finish the games singlehandedly for their team.

Given the intensity of this clash, they both would be keen to continue in the same vein and help their team in the crucial encounter.

Middle Order: Manish Pandey and Kane Williamson

Manish Pandey, with 380 runs in 14 innings at 35 and three half-centuries this season, has proven himself to be a vital cog in the wheel of SRH once again.

Courtesy of the scintillating partnership between the openers in the last match, Pandey did not get a chance to pick his bat up, although he has played impressively in the tournament, despite lacking support many times.

His partner Kane Williamson has been in a decent run of form and has managed to whack some crucial cameos at a time when his team have needed him the most.

All-Rounders: Priyam Garg, Abdul Samad, Jason Holder

With only 109 runs with the bat at a dismal average 15.57, one can state that Priyam Garg  has been far from his best in the season without much hesitation.

Furthermore, the young sensation, Abdul Samad, who created immense ruckus and was touted as one of the probable “emerging players” for the season, has not been much different and has done too little to reach closer to the expectations from him.

The other all-rounder in the team, Jason Holder, has not gotten too many chances with the bat, though with the ball, the experienced campaigner has used his overs, and has gotten 10 wickets in five games.

Bowlers: Rashid Khan, Sandeep Sharma, T Natarajan, Shahbaz Nadeem

Sandeep Sharma has been spot on this season and has bagged 13 wickets in eleven fixtures. Being a bowler with more wickets than anyone else in the powerplay, Sharma has constantly troubled the best in the business and has, without fail, gotten his team early breakthrough.

The undisputed champion in the format,  Rashid Khan, has once again, been making the difference with his guile. With a bag full of variations, and an extremely frugal attitude, Rashid has bagged 19 wickets at an economy rate of 5.28 this year.

The yorker-expert T Natarajan and has constantly been in the wickets for the team. Alongside an ever-reliable Sandeep Sharma and Jason Holder, he has managed to keep things tight and has clicked well at the death overs too. He will pick himself alongside spinner Shahbaz Nadeem.