New Delhi, May 25 (UN) Sunrisers Hyderabad won the toss and opted to bat against Kolkata Knight Riders in an IPL clash at Arun Jaitley Stadium here on Sunday.
KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane explained the decision, saying, "We were looking to bowl first either way. The teams that chased in the last two games won at this venue, and they chased things down quite easily. Playing after 18 days feels like a challenge, but we are just trying to focus in the practice sessions."
Rahane expressed the team's mindset ahead of the game, adding, "We know everyone is going home after this game, so we are just trying to play to win and play to entertain. We had our moments this season, it is all about accepting the mistakes and learning from the good things. It is about playing for the fans, playing for pride."
He also praised youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi, saying, "Angkrish has been fantastic, he is an opening batsman, but he has adapted to playing at four or five. I hope he builds from this and gets to represent India as well. He has been working hard and could have a bright future ahead of him."
On team selection, Rahane confirmed, "No changes. We are playing after 18 days, so not really sure about the team."
SRH captain Pat Cummins commented, "It looks like a good wicket. We've just clicked, the bowlers have been sharp and the batters have played to potential. Always hope to find momentum early. The good thing is we know we can keep this squad going forward."
Cummins added, "We have played well in the last 3-4 games and will try to find that consistency. Same team as the last game."
The stage is set for an intense contest as SRH look to set a challenging total batting first.
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