Sunrisers Hyderabad are one of a clutch of teams chasing the minor placings in the regular season table in the 2015 Pepsi Indian Premier League (IPL). On Saturday, they face the table topping Chennai Super Kings at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad.
The Hyderabad based side are in only their third season of IPL competition, and appear to still be in the process of establishing themselves as a team. While their visitors on Saturday are the epitome of what ever T20 side the world over strives to be. A well balanced side, with match winners in every department, and a team that is always challenging for honours.
Top of the table on Thursday, despite losing to the reigning Champions the Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai, also have a game in hand on their nearest rivals the Rajasthan Royals, and already look like racing certainties to make it through to yet another IPL semi-final. Continuing a sequence that has seen them make it through to the knockout stages every year since the tournament started in 2008.
The teams met in the early stages of this season’s tournament in Chennai, with the hosts running out very comfortable winners. The New Zealand captain, Brendon McCullum carrying on his splendid form from the World Cup and making a terrific century, finishing 100 not out from 56 balls, with nine sixes. He currently has 18 sixes to his name in the competition, and is the leading hitter of maximums, four ahead of Chris Gayle.
The Sunrisers have match winners of their own. with the likes of Dhawan and Warner in their lineup, and Chennai will be wary of a team for whom victory is vital in their battle to keep their season alive. However, in truth, despite losing for the second time in 2015 on Thursday, the Super Kings should have too much strength in depth for the Sunrisers.