Power-Hitters Head and Sharma Face Spin Challenge in IPL Qualifier

IPL's most formidable power-hitters, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, will face a formidable challenge in the form of seasoned spin twins Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin when Sunrisers Hyderabad takes on Rajasthan Royals in a high-stakes second Qualifier on Friday.

Head and Sharma, affectionately known as "Travishek" by fans, have redefined power-hitting with their exceptional performances. Head has amassed 533 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 199.62, while Sharma has contributed 470 runs at an equally impressive strike rate of 207.04. Together, they have unleashed a barrage of 72 sixes and 96 boundaries.

However, the Chepauk pitch, known for its slow and sticky nature, poses a different challenge for the power-hitters. The ball tends to stop and stroke-makers face difficulties in hitting through the line.

Ashwin, a master of his craft at this ground, has an intimate understanding of the pitch's behavior. His form has also improved significantly towards the latter stages of the tournament. With the country's premier leg-spinner, Chahal, as his partner, Royals will be hoping to neutralize Head, Sharma, and their explosive teammate Heinrich Klaasen (413 runs at 180) early on.

SRH's bowling attack will once again rely heavily on T Natarajan, their leading wicket-taker this season. Playing on his home turf, he will be eager to exploit the conditions. The experienced duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Pat Cummins also have a crucial role to play, especially since Kumar has been wicketless in his last two outings.

SRH's weakness lies in their lack of quality spinners. Mayank Markande is considered mediocre at best, while Shahbaz Ahmed's primary skill is batting rather than bowling.

In contrast, RR has found its rhythm after a five-game winless streak, thanks to a comprehensive performance against RCB. The top-order, particularly Yashasvi Jaiswal, displayed positive signs and will be keen to continue their form ahead of the T20 World Cup in the Americas.

However, skipper Sanju Samson needs to improve his performance, having failed to cross the 20-run mark in his last three contests. Dhruv Jurel, in the middle order, will be under pressure after failing to reach double digits in his last two outings.

The side will also rely on its Caribbean game-changers, Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell, for some of the power-hitting they showcased against RCB. Riyan Parag, who has been in impressive form this season, is another bankable batter for RR.

Tags: #IPL, #Cricket, #TravisHead, #AbhishekSharma, #YuzvendraChahal