Travis Head vs Trent Boult (Source: IPL)
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) will be taking on each other in the Qualifier 2 of the IPL 2024. The match is set to take place on the 24th of May 2024 at 7:30 PM (IST) at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Both teams would be eager to play the match, as it will provide them an opportunity to enter the final of the tournament. The winner of the match will face KKR in the final on Sunday.
SRH lost the Qualifier 1 to KKR in a one-sided match. The 2016 champions were outplayed by the 2-time champions in all the departments. Some individual brilliance from Rahul Tripathi, Heinrich Klaasen, and Pat Cummins were the highlights of the match for the Orange Army. But they need to do better in the upcoming matches to be able to win the title.
On the other hand, RR won the match against RCB in the Eliminator to break the losing streak. After finally being back to winning ways, they would be high on confidence. Their problems aren’t entirely solved. The 2008 champions need their batters to fire. Barring Riyan Parag, Sanju Samson, and Yashasvi Jaiswal to an extent, other batters have not been that good. In Chennai, a collective team effort is essential for RR.
Also Read: IPL 2024, Qualifier 2: Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Match Preview
Here are the top player battles to watch out for in the Qualifier 2 of the IPL 2024:
3. Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Yashasvi Jaiswal vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar ( Source: IPL )
Yashasvi Jaiswal played a good knock against RCB in the last match. He has been inconsistent this season. But whenever the Southpaw has fired, RR seemed to have performed well. His start early in the innings will be crucial for RR. On a wicket like Chennai, a good start will be key for the teams. Given his aggressive nature, Jaiswal can be the difference between the two sides.
From SRH, Jaiswal’s counter would be Bhuvneshwar Kumar. It will be a battle of youth vs experience. Bhuvneshwar has bowled well at this stage in the IPL in the past. He needs to believe in himself and deliver the goods. With the new ball, he can swing both ways and trouble the batters. If he can remove Jaiswal early, RR will be in trouble, which could help SRH to have an upper hand.
Also Check: Orange Cap in IPL 2024 – Most Runs
2. Travis Head vs Trent Boult
Travis Head vs Trent Boult (Source: IPL)
Travis Head has been one of the best batters of this season. The Southpaw has scored runs at a good rate in an aggressive way. When on song, it is very difficult to stop him. The star batter can play long innings and take the match away from the opponents right in the powerplay overs. In the last match against KKR, he could not fire well. The Australian would be hoping to return to scoring ways against RR.
The best bet to stop him would be Trent Boult. In the game against KKR, he was dismissed by Mitchell Starc, a left-arm pacer. Trent in his last game was brilliant. Against RCB, he was 1/6 at one stage after the first 3 overs. With the new ball, he is a menace. If anyone can stop Head from doing early damage, it will be the Kiwi Thunderbolt with his swing at a good pace.
1. Heinrich Klaasen vs Ravichandran Ashwin
Heinrich Klassen vs Ravichandran Ashwin ( Source : IPL )
Heinrich Klaasen is one of the best batters in the middle overs phase. He does not seem to have any weakness against pace or spin as he plays them equally well. The South African can hammer the bowlers for fun after getting set in the middle. In the match against KKR, he scored 32(21) and helped SRH to maintain a good run rate. Under pressure, he can play fine knocks.
RR’s best bet to stop him would be Ravichandran Ashwin. The right-arm off-spinner has been economical throughout the season. He may not necessarily take wickets but his miserly spells force batters to take risks against other bowlers. If batters try to take risks, they can claim wickets. It will be a great battle to watch out for.
