Hyderabad, May 4 (UNI) With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will look to salvage pride as they take on Delhi Capitals (DC) in Match 55 of the Indian Premier League 2025 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Monday.
SRH have been all over the place this season, managing just three wins from ten outings and sitting ninth on the table with a dismal net run rate of -1.192. Even four consecutive wins may not be enough to push them into the top four, making every game from here on a battle to stay relevant.
In contrast, Delhi Capitals are better placed with six wins in ten matches. A victory here would take them closer to sealing a playoff berth, although a recent dip in form—three losses in the last four matches—has raised concerns.
SRH will once again rely heavily on their top-order, especially Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, to provide a flying start. Abhishek has shown flashes of brilliance, including a 74 off 41 against Gujarat Titans, but Head’s continued struggles—particularly against left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc—remain a concern.
The middle order comprising Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Ishan Kishan has lacked consistency, and the bowling unit—featuring Mohammed Shami, Pat Cummins, and Harshal Patel—has failed to deliver collectively. Shami’s expensive spells, averaging 11.23 an over, have further compounded their problems.
For DC, KL Rahul continues to lead from the front, scoring 371 runs in nine innings, ably supported by Abishek Porel and the returning Faf du Plessis. Axar Patel and Tristan Stubbs have lent stability to the middle order, while Starc and Kuldeep Yadav remain key threats with the ball.
The pitch at Hyderabad is expected to favour batsmen, particularly if pitch number two is used again, where previous games have yielded scores in excess of 220. With four out of five matches this season won by the chasing side at this venue, the toss could once again prove crucial.
Despite home advantage, SRH will enter the match as underdogs, with Delhi Capitals tipped as favourites based on form and balance.
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