Hyderabad, Apr 5 (UNI) Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), desperate to arrest their losing streak, will bank on their impressive home record as they face Gujarat Titans (GT) in a crucial IPL 2025 encounter on Sunday.
Having won four of their last five games at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, the Pat Cummins-led side will look to tap into familiar conditions and fans support to bounce back after three successive defeats.
SRH’s campaign, marred by a misfiring top order and underwhelming bowling performances, is in urgent need of revival, and there’s no better setting than home to stage it.
In contrast, Gujarat arrive with momentum on their side, buoyed by back-to-back wins, including a convincing eight-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Led by Shubman Gill, GT will look to continue their upward march, though they face the challenge of countering SRH’s batting-heavy lineup on what is arguably the best batting surface in the league.
SRH's batting order boasts firepower, but it has lacked consistency this season. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma are yet to find form, while Ishan Kishan’s strike rate has been below par.
Heinrich Klaasen, one of the few positives in the lineup, will be key in the middle overs, alongside Nitish Kumar Reddy and Kamindu Mendis. Cummins and Aniket Verma add depth to the lower middle order, but a strong start remains vital.
On the bowling front, SRH have struggled. Mohammed Shami and Cummins haven’t provided early breakthroughs, while the spin attack, led by Zeeshan Ansari and Mendis, has lacked bite. Harshal Patel and Simarjeet Singh will need to step up, particularly on a pitch that offers little help for pacers.
GT, meanwhile, have their top order in good nick. Jos Buttler’s aggressive 73 in the last outing and Sai Sudharsan’s consistency offer solidity at the top. Gill will anchor, while the middle order, featuring Sherfane Rutherford and Shahrukh Khan, has the firepower to accelerate.
Bowling remains GT's Achilles heel, especially after the exit of Kagiso Rabada. Mohammed Siraj and Arshad Khan will need to shoulder the new-ball duties, while Rashid Khan’s lack of form is a concern. R Sai Kishore and Prasidh Krishna will be tasked with controlling the run flow in the middle overs.
The pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium is expected to be a batting paradise. With an average first-innings score of over 200 in the past two seasons, runs are likely to flow. Spinners may find some purchase in the second half, which makes batting first a significant advantage. The weather forecast is clear, with no rain expected.
With dew unlikely to be a factor, both captains will be tempted to bat first and post a challenging total. Chasing under lights has proved tricky at this venue, especially with spin coming into play late in the innings.
GT lead the head-to-head record, having won two of their last three meetings against SRH, with one match yielding no result. However, history at this ground favours the home side.
Gujarat Titans come into the game with confidence, but on a batting-friendly surface and with a strong record at home, Sunrisers Hyderabad start as favourites. A high-scoring thriller is on the cards.
Probable XIs
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (c), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Aniket Verma, Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, Simarjeet Singh, Zeeshan Ansari, Travis Head (Impact Player).
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Arshad Khan, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Sherfane Rutherford (Impact Player).
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