Match Preview SRH vs KKR: The Virtual Eliminator

MATCH FACTS
What: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders
When: Sunday, May 18, 2014. 8pm, IST
Where: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal
Head-to-Head: Tied at 1-1

Sunrisers Hyderabad face the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in a match of insurmountable importance for them. A win is an imperative for Shikhar Dhawan’s men if they are to challenge for the fourth and final playoff spot and stop the Knights pipping them to the post. SRH will need to regain their mental strength after their heart-breaking loss to the table toppers Kings XI Punjab after posting in excess of 200 batting first.
The Knights on the other hand would be sky high on confidence after three wins in a row which has put them in prime contention to take the final playoff berth. However they know a defeat today would pull them right back into the muddle and they would want to avoid complications by getting the points tonight. The form of their openers and spinners are key to KKR getting past the finish line.
. STANDINGS
SUNRISERS HYEDRABAD: 5th with 8 points (10 matches played)
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS: 4th with 10 points (10 matches played)

POSSIBLE PLAYING XI
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD: Aaron Finch, Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner, Lokesh Rahul, Naman Ojha, Moises Henriques, Irfan Pathan, Amit Mishra, Karn Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Dale Steyn
MUMBAI INDIANS: Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthhappa, Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan, Shakib al Hasan, Ryan ten Doeschate, Suryakumar Yadav, Piyush Chawla, Morne Morkel, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
SHIKHAR DHAWAN knows that the competition for the openers’ spot in India’s limited overs squad is heating up and primary source are his counter-parts for the day: Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthhappa. Time for the ‘Moustached Marauder’ to lit up the stage again. And what a stage it is!
UMESH YADAV can book a ticket for himself on the flight to London later this summer with a few eye-catching performances. The 23-year old from Vidharbha always had the pace, can he deliver some performances now that the KKR management has clearly bestowed their faith in him?

PROBABLE OUTCOME
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD win this one and heat up the already scorching battle for fourth place.