What

No team has defeated the Sunrisers Hyderabad more often than the Kolkata Knight Riders – their opponents in Match 37 of VIVO IPL 2017.

In the context of this season, SRH and KKR are the form-teams. Both teams come into this match at the back of convincing wins in their respective previous matches; while KKR destroyed DD, SRH thrashed KXIP. Both teams have a solid and performing batting line-up, and a well-balanced bowling attack that has the knowledge of how to take wickets. That’s what makes this contest a mouth-watering clash. KKR sit top of the table with seven wins from nine matches, while SRH have 5 wins and 3 defeats, plus one point from the washed-out match against RCB.

When

30 April 2017, 2000 Hrs IST

Where

Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad

The Protagonists

No team has realised more runs from their opening batsmen this season than Sunrisers Hyderabad. David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan have contributed to the extent of 48% of the runs scored by the team’s batsmen; that clearly helps establish their importance to the team.

Even if Sunil Narine - who KKR have successfully employed as pinch-hitting opener - fails, there are plenty of inform batsmen in the rest of the line-up. Prominent among them is Robin Uthappa, who is batting like a dream; the batsman from Karnataka has made a few changes to the technical aspects of his game, appears to be enjoying his game, is brimming with confidence and as a result is piling on the runs. The right-hander enjoys batting with his captain Gautam Gambhir, who sits on top of the run-scorers list this season.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rashid Khan have been the wicket-takers for SRH, while KKR will look towards Nathan Coulter-Nile, Sunil Narine and Kuldeep Yadav to do their bit with the ball.

Match within the match

Gautam Gambhir, considered among the best-players of spin bowling, against Rashid Khan promises to make for an interesting contest. The teenager won round one of the contest when he castled the KKR skipper in Kolkata. Despite repeated exposure, batsmen have struggled to pick the SRH leg-spinner; it will be interesting to see how the experienced Gambhir handles the leg-spinner this time round.

Head to Head

Overall: Matches played – 10, Sunrisers Hyderabad Won – 3, Kolkata Knight Riders Won – 7

Last 5 Matches: Sunrisers Hyderabad Won – 1, Kolkata Knight Riders Won – 4

When the two teams met at the Eden Gardens earlier this season, Manish Pandey’s 68 powered KKR to 172-6, after which the hosts restricted the visitors to 155-6.

Trivia

Sunrisers Hyderabad have a 100% record at home this season; they’ve won all the four matches they’ve played at the RGICS this season.

Kolkata Knight Riders have the highest overall scoring rate this season – 9.31.

Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad have the two-highest average opening partnerships this season; while KKR’s average opening partnership reads 55.13, SRH’s average opening stand reads 47.13.

What Next

For Sunrisers Hyderabad: Return fixture (Away) Vs. Delhi Daredevils, May 2

For Kolkata Knight Riders: Return fixture (Home) Vs. Rising Pune Supergiant, May 3