Monday evening’s IPL-15 clash at the DY Patil Stadium here will see 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad take on high-flying debutants Gujarat Titans, the only team with an all-win record thus far in the competition.
Sunrisers, led by the vastly experienced New Zealander Kane Williamson, stopped their two-game losing streak with a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over title holders Chennai Super Kings at the same venue on Saturday.
However, the resurgent Hyderabadis are aware of the hard task on hand as they clash with the Hardik Pandya-led Titans, who go into their fourth match with a full six points from three games.
Gujarat’s unbeaten run
Titans opened their campaign with a five-wicket victory over the other new franchise, Lucknow Super Giants, at the Wankhede Stadium on March 28. They followed it up with a 14-run verdict over Delhi Capitals at Pune on April 2 and then conquered Punjab Kings with a last-ball six struck by Rahul Tewatia at the Brabourne Stadium on April 8.
They go into this fixture after a two-day break while their opposition had just one.
Opener Shubman Gill is in terrific form for the Titans going into the clash with successive scores of 84 and 96. Skipper Pandya—known for his finishing acts—has had good starts.
Armed with a settled bowling combination, including Mohammed Shami, Lockie Ferguson and Rashid Khan, the Titans will fancy their chances, especially if they can put SRH in to bat at this venue that has witnessed some heavy dew fall later in the evening games.
Sunrisers, on the other hand, saw opener Abhishek Sharma come to the fore with a superb innings of 75 that helped them overhaul the modest score of 154 put up by the Chennai Super Kings. Williamson made a steady 32 and Rahul Tripathi finished the game with a 15-ball 39 not out. However, the Hyderabad outfit still lack a finisher late in the order.
Abhishek’s innings earned him praise from head coach Tom Moody. “We recognised right at the beginning of the tournament and even at the auction that Abhishek was going to be an important player for us at the top of the order,” said Moody after the left-hander’s fluent 50-ball knock, containing five fours and three sixes, against CSK.
Moody praise for Abhishek
“He has shown some great signs, he’s an exciting, young, talented player. As we saw today, he delivered,” added Moody about Abhishek, who played for SRH last season and was repurchased at the mega players auction for R6.50 crore that was much higher than his base price of R20 lakhs.
SRH’s bowling attack too looks to have improved after the opening game with left-arm pacer T Natarajan (six wickets in three games) and off-spinner Washington Sundar (four wickets) doing particularly well.
