IPL 2024 Qualifier 2: SRH vs RR, Key Players, Pitch Report and More

Competing for a place in the highly awaited IPL 2024 final are the Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The exhilarating match is scheduled to happen on Friday, May 24, at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium. As the Kolkata Knight Riders have already secured their place in the final, both teams are eager to outshine each other and claim the remaining spot. This blog post offers in-depth coverage of SRH vs RR Qualifier 2 Head-to-Head, pitch conditions, and key players to give fans a comprehensive insight into what to expect during this eagerly awaited event.

Road to Qualifier 2

Pat Cummins-led Sunrisers Hyderabad enters this game off a difficult 8-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders. KKR effortlessly chased down the target, with Cummins' late cameo and Rahul Tripathi's impressive fifty propelling their total to 159. However, SRH still has an opportunity to qualify for the championship game based on their exceptional season-long performance, securing the second spot in the points standings.

The Rajasthan Royals' skipper, Sanju Samson, recently guided his side to an exciting 4-wicket victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Eliminator match. As RR attempted to reach a 173-run goal, Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer made critical contributions that allowed them to win and advance to Qualifier 2.

Also Read: IPL 2024: Unveiling Batsman with Most Centuries in IPL History

Head-to-Head: SRH vs. RR

Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals have competed in 19 IPL matches, with SRH winning 10 games compared to RR's 9, giving them a slight advantage. Despite this, their head-to-head record remains the same, and in their most recent encounter during IPL 2024, SRH secured a victory in a closely-fought match by a small margin. This high-stakes game promises to be even more exhilarating as it will be the first time they compete in Chennai this season.

Pitch Report: MA Chidambaram Stadium

The MA Chidambaram Stadium field has provided a fair fight between bat and ball. The pitch tends to slow down and help spinners as the game goes on, as seen by the average first innings score of about 164 and average second innings score of 151. This season, this field has witnessed a mix of low-scoring contests and thrilling high-scoring contests. The ground's dimensions—square boundaries around 67 meters and straight boundaries at 70 meters—also affect the dynamics of the game, favoring spinners and skillful batsmanship in particular.

Weather Forecast:

Cricket enthusiasts in Chennai can anticipate mostly favorable weather conditions for the upcoming match. Although the sky will be cloudy, there is a 0% chance of rain, ensuring that the game will proceed without any interruptions. Despite the potential for temperatures to reach 32 degrees Celsius, which may challenge the players' stamina, the presence of winds at approximately 19 km/hr should offer some relief. The forecast also indicates a humidity level of around 76%, which could impact both batsmen and bowlers.

Key Players to Watch

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH):

- Rahul Tripathi: Tripathi has been a reliable player for SRH; his ability to anchor and accelerate will be important. His form and significance to the SRH batting lineup are highlighted by his fifty in the previous game.

- Pat Cummins: The captain of the SRH team leads the bowling attack in addition to making contributions at bat. In this knockout round, his leadership and all-around abilities will be crucial.

- Aiden Markram: Markram, who has a reputation for keeping the innings under control and scoring runs fast, will be an important member of the SRH batting lineup.

Rajasthan Royals (RR):

- Sanju Samson: The squad has benefited greatly from the aggressive batting and smart thinking of the RR skipper. His guidance during this pivotal match will be greatly dependent on his leadership.

- Riyan Parag: His decisive innings in the Eliminator won the game and demonstrated his capacity to produce under pressure.

- Shimron Hetmyer: Hetmyer's rapid runs may turn the tide of the game and provide the middle order much-needed pace.

- Ravichandran Ashwin: On the spin-friendly Chennai surface, Ashwin's outstanding bowling display in the Eliminator, when he claimed significant wickets, makes him an indispensable player.

Sunrisers Hyderabad Squad:

Jaydev Unadkat, Jhathavedh Subramanyan, Marco Jansen, Mayank Agarwal, Mayank Markande, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins, Rahul Tripathi, Sanvir Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, T. Natarajan, Travis Head, Umran Malik, Upendra Singh Yadav, Wanindu Hasaranga, Washington Sundar, Abdul Samad, Abhishek Sharma, Aiden Markram (c), Akash Singh, Anmolpreet Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Glenn Phillips, Heinrich Klaasen.

Rajasthan Royals Squad:

Jos Buttler, Kuldeep Sen, Kunal Rathore, Nandre Burger, Navdeep Saini, Prasidh Krishna, Ravichandran Ashwin, Riyan Parag, Rovman Powell, Sandeep Sharma,  Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Trent Boult, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yuzvendra Chahal. Sanju Samson (c), Abdul Basith, Abid Mushtaq, Adam Zampa, Akash Vashist, Avesh Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira, Jason Holder.

Match Expectations

SRH and RR have experienced seasons full of ups and downs, characterized by exceptional individual displays and significant team triumphs. The revelation of SRH's aggressive approach to the game has been noteworthy, yet their recent defeat has exposed weaknesses that RR could potentially take advantage of. With their current momentum and a well-balanced team, Rajasthan Royals will aim to make the most of their form and the favorable conditions at Chidambaram stadium.

Also Read: Qualifier 1 Highlights: KKR's Comprehensive Win Over SRH Secures Final Spot

Conclusion

The stakes are extremely high as Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals get ready for their match in Qualifier 2. Both sides are capable of winning the IPL 2024 championship since they possess both offensive power and depth of strategy. This game is expected to be an exciting display of talent, strategy, and perseverance. At Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium, fans can anticipate a thrilling matchup where the winning team will get the opportunity to go on Kolkata Knight Riders for the coveted IPL championship.