SRH eye batter show, RR look to spin a win

SRH openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma; Yuzvendra Chahal; RR spinner R Ashwin with skipper Sanju Samson. Pics/AFP

IPL's best power-hitters, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, will face a very different challenge in wily spin twins Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin when Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a high-octane second Qualifier here on Friday.

‘Travishek' as the duo is affectionately called by the fans have taken power-hitting to a new level. Head (533 runs at 199.62) and Abhishek (470 at 207.04) have hit 72 sixes apart from 96 boundaries between them.

If that's not enough, they have a swashbuckler in Heinrich Klaasen (413 runs at 180), who also has 34 maximums to his credit.
But playing on a Uppal shirtfront that resembled a national highway or at the Kotla or Wankhede is completely different from playing at the Chepauk, where the strip will be sticky in nature.

The ball stops and stroke-makers do have a tough time when it comes to hitting through the line.

Ashwin, who has played all his cricket at this ground, knows the strip like the back of his hand, and his form has improved towards the back end of the tournament.

With the country's best leg-spinner Chahal for company, RR would be hoping that Head, Abhishek and Klaasen can be disposed off quickly to gain control of the proceedings.

As for their bowling, the onus would once again be on T Natarajan, who has been SRH's top wicket-taker this season, and playing on his home turf here, he would love to exploit the conditions.

Also, the experienced duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Cummins have a lot to deal with as the former has been wicket-less in his last two games.

SRH's problems lie in not having two quality spinners.

As for RR, the side finally ended its five-game winless streak, thanks to its all-round show against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

In batting, the top-order displayed some positive signs, especially Yashasvi Jaiswal, and he would love to continue the form ahead of the T20 World Cup in the Americas next month.

However, skipper Sanju Samson will have to do better, given that he hasn't crossed the 20-run mark in the last three contests.

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