SRH vs GL IPL Match 6: Preview, team news and likely XIs

The biggest news coming in so far is Mustafizur Rahman is available for selection and there is no doubt about the fact that the Bangladeshi pace sensation is going to make it to the playing XI. This could well be a sad moment for Rashid Khan as he might feel the axe despite picking up a couple of wickets in his debut Indian Premier League (IPL) game against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). This would make SRH a really really strong side and almost an identical one that played last year's IPL final. 

 

Sunrisers Hyderabad played thrice against Gujarat Lions in IPL 2016 and believe it or not, they were triumphant every single time. So it is like Gujarat Lions are facing their bogey team. They really need to bring their mojo back if they would want to beat this upbeat and dangerous Sunrisers Hyderabad side at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. With Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra and Mustafizur in the seaming department, Warner can sit back and relax and focus on bringing back his form. The statistics suggest that the SRH skipper holds an astounding record at their home ground but he has not been able to hit that form yet. 

 

The Lions on the other hand, need to work on their lineup. Raina made the mistake of playing four overseas batsmen when he knew he has issues with the bowling department. Coach Brad Hodge and Raina should ideally sit down and work harder on selecting their playing XI. Dwayne Smith may be replaced by James Faulkner which will strengthen their batting as well as bowling departments. The Indian bowlers need to up their ante as well or else Gujarat Lions' task in IPL 2017 will become even more daunting. 

 

Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja are still unavailable for selection due to injuries. Meanwhile, the Sunrisers does not have any of such issues as they are coming into this fixture. If Gujarat Lions fails to find their mojo back, it looks like Davi Warner and co. are the favourites to clinch 2 points and reclaim the top spot in the IPL 2017 points table. 

 

Head-to-Head:

 

3 matches: Sunrisers Hyderabad 3 Gujarat Lions 0.

 

IPL 2016: Sunrisers Hyderabad 3 Gujarat Lions 0.

 

Likely XIs:

 

Sunrisers Hyderabad: David Warner (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Yuvraj SIngh, Moises Henriques, Deepak Hoods, Ben Cutting, Naman Ojha (wk), Bipul Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Mustafizur Rahman. 

 

Gujarat Lions: Brendon McCullum, Jason Roy, Suresh Raina (C), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Ishan Kishan, James Faulkner, Andrew Tye, Basil Thampi, Praveen Kumar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Shadab Jakati.