Cricket

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have opted to cancel their practice session ahead of their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 final clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday. The decision was made to prioritize player fitness amidst the scorching temperatures and humidity in Chennai.SRH secured their place in the summit clash after defeating Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 on Friday. The team opted for a rest day to recover from their previous match. In contrast, KKR, who defeated SRH in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday, have had a longer break and held a practice session on Friday. They are expected to have another net session on Saturday evening.KKR's lack of match practice could be a concern, as their last two league matches against Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals were abandoned due to rain. However, SRH captain Pat Cummins expressed confidence in his team's batting strength and the experience of his bowlers.Cummins praised the team's performance in Qualifier 2, highlighting the contributions of Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma. He also acknowledged the role of left-arm orthodox bowlers in the team's success."The boys have been fantastic all season. There's a great vibe in the squad... We knew our strength was our batting and we wouldn't underestimate the experience we have in this squad," Cummins said.The IPL 2024 final promises to be an exciting encounter between two evenly matched teams. SRH will be looking to lift their second IPL trophy, while KKR will be aiming for their third title.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season culminates in a thrilling final between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday. KKR, the league stage toppers, defeated SRH in Qualifier 1, while SRH overcame Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2 to secure their place in the final.Four Intriguing Facts About the IPL 2024 Final:1. Cummins' Potential Hat-Trick: If SRH emerges victorious, Pat Cummins will become the third Australian captain to lead a Hyderabad-based franchise to an IPL title. Adam Gilchrist (Deccan Chargers, 2009) and David Warner (SRH, 2016) have previously achieved this feat.2. Costliest Players in IPL History: The 2024 IPL auction witnessed record-breaking deals for SRH's Nicholas Pooran (INR 20.50 crore) and KKR's Mitchell Starc (INR 24.75 crore). Both players will showcase their skills in the final.3. Absence of Indian T20 World Cup Squad Members: Unlike previous years, the IPL final will not feature any players from India's 15-member T20 World Cup squad. KKR and SRH do not have any representatives in the Indian team for the tournament scheduled from June 2 to 29.4. No New Champion: The IPL will not crown a new champion this year. Both KKR (2012, 2014) and SRH (2016) have previously won the title. Among the four playoff teams, only RCB remained without an IPL triumph.The final promises an exciting clash between two former champions, with both teams eager to add another trophy to their cabinet. The presence of star players like Cummins, Starc, and Pooran adds to the anticipation of a thrilling encounter.

Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) hopes of reaching the Indian Premier League (IPL) final suffered a setback after their eight-wicket defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Qualifier 1. Despite the disappointing result, captain Pat Cummins remained optimistic, acknowledging that his team had earned the right to bounce back.SRH's batting woes began early as Mitchell Starc's pace proved too much to handle in the powerplay. The Hyderabad-based franchise was eventually dismissed for a below-par 159 in 19.3 overs. In contrast, KKR's openers, Venkatesh Iyer and Shreyas Iyer, played scintillating knocks to chase down the target in just 13.4 overs.Cummins admitted that SRH's performance was below par, but he emphasized that such setbacks are part and parcel of T20 cricket. "We have earned the right to have one of those days and still win tournaments," he said. "Not our day, but good thing we have another crack at it."The decision to bring in Sanvir Singh as SRH's Impact Player also raised eyebrows. However, Cummins explained that the move was made to bolster the team's batting at the expense of an extra bowling option.Despite the setback, SRH still have a chance to reach the final. They will face the winner of the Eliminator between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Friday. Cummins expressed confidence that his team can bounce back and secure a berth in the title clash."Going to a new venue helps as well. It is going to be a bit different feel to here, so you start again," he said. "We have got a good body of work behind us this season to look back on, so we erase this one and move on."

Shah Rukh Khan's Heartwarming Gesture After Unintentional Interruption of CommentatorsDuring the post-match celebrations of Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) emphatic victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Qualifier 1 of IPL 2024, co-owner Shah Rukh Khan inadvertently interrupted commentators Suresh Raina, Akaash Chopra, and Parthiv Patel during their on-field broadcast.As KKR secured a resounding eight-wicket triumph, a jubilant Shah Rukh embarked on a lap of honor to acknowledge the cheering fans. However, in his excitement, he unknowingly crossed paths with the commentators, who were providing their analysis of the game.The momentary interruption was met with a heartwarming gesture from Shah Rukh. Realizing his mistake, he immediately apologized and embraced Chopra, acknowledging the inconvenience he had caused.Shah Rukh's genuine remorse and subsequent apology were a testament to his humility and respect for the commentators. The incident highlighted the camaraderie and mutual respect that exists within the IPL community.Meanwhile, KKR's victory was a testament to their dominance throughout the tournament. Pacer Mitchell Starc's devastating spell in the powerplay, claiming three wickets, set the tone for their bowling performance. Sunrisers Hyderabad's batting lineup struggled to cope with the pressure, with only Rahul Tripathi and Heinrich Klaasen offering significant resistance.In response, KKR's openers, Venkatesh Iyer and skipper Shreyas Iyer, put on an unbeaten partnership to guide their team to victory in just 13.4 overs. Iyer's 58 not out and Iyer's 51 not out showcased their exceptional batting skills and composure under pressure.With this win, KKR secured their place in the IPL 2024 final, marking their fourth appearance in the championship match. Sunrisers Hyderabad, on the other hand, will have one more opportunity to reach the final when they face the winner of the Eliminator in Chennai on Friday.

Mitchell Starc, the experienced Australian pacer, played a pivotal role in Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2024. Starc's three-wicket haul in the powerplay set the tone for KKR's triumph, restricting SRH to a modest total of 159.Starc's first victim was his Australia teammate Travis Head, who was castled by a sharp inswinger. He then dismissed Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shahbaz Ahmed in consecutive deliveries, leaving SRH reeling at 3/25. Starc's performance was particularly impressive considering his inconsistent form throughout the tournament."I have played a fair bit of cricket and have been fortunate enough to play in some big games and big occasions," Starc said after the match. "It was nice to get the team off to a good start that we needed today."Starc's wickets were crucial as they removed SRH's dangerous openers and disrupted their momentum. The pacer's ability to swing the ball and generate seam movement proved too much for the SRH batters."The way Sunrisers take on the powerplay, they've sort of matched us throughout the season in terms of getting off to good starts," Starc said. "It was great to get powerplay wickets and I think our bowling group was fantastic throughout."Starc's performance was praised by KKR coach Tom Moody, who said, "Class from Starc. We know that he has had a difficult three-quarters of the tournament, but that's why you pay big money to big-game players."Despite the dew factor, which made the wicket skiddier, Starc remained confident that the surface would improve for batting in the second innings. "The wicket is going to get a little bit better just with the dew and the bit of skid but in turn, it is also going to swing a little bit," he said.

Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad, the top two teams from the Indian Premier League (IPL) group stages, will face off in Qualifier 1 of the playoffs at the Narendra Modi Stadium on May 21. The match promises to be a high-scoring thriller, as both teams have adopted an aggressive batting approach this season.In their opening match of the tournament, KKR and SRH engaged in a nail-biting contest that KKR ultimately won by four runs. The match set the tone for the season, with both teams showcasing their explosive batting lineups.KKR, led by Shreyas Iyer, boasts a formidable batting unit featuring Sunil Narine, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh. Their bowling attack, anchored by Mitchell Starc and Varun Chakravarthy, has also been impressive.SRH, captained by Pat Cummins, has a equally dangerous batting lineup. Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, and Heinrich Klaasen have been in excellent form, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan lead a potent bowling attack.The match is expected to be a close contest, with both teams having the potential to win. KKR will be looking to maintain their momentum and secure a berth in the final, while SRH will be determined to bounce back from their recent losses and keep their title hopes alive.The winner of Qualifier 1 will advance directly to the final, while the loser will face the winner of Qualifier 2 in the second qualifier. The final will be played on May 29 at the same venue.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the high-stakes Qualifier 1 of IPL 2024 at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday. Former India cricketer and cricket analyst Aakash Chopra has identified Abhishek Sharma as a key positive in SRH's batting lineup.SRH, led by Pat Cummins, finished the league phase second with 17 points from 14 games, narrowly edging out Rajasthan Royals on net run rate. Chopra praised Sharma's consistent performances and predicted a bright future for the young batter."Abhishek Sharma is the shining star. He comes and plays in a fearless and carefree manner. Sharma ji's son will be playing for India within 45 days," Chopra elaborated.Chopra emphasized Sharma's importance in the upcoming match, noting his ability to handle spin. "I feel Abhishek Sharma will open for India on the Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka tours. He plays extremely well and will have to play even better in this match because you will get Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy in the opposition," Chopra reasoned.Sharma has been a standout performer for SRH this season, amassing 467 runs at a striking rate of 209.41 in 13 innings. He is the second-highest run-scorer for the team behind Travis Head, who has scored 533 runs.Chopra also highlighted the contributions of other key batters in the SRH lineup. "Travis Head likes this pitch. He scored runs here in the World Cup final and defeated us very badly. Nitish Reddy is in very good form. Rahul Tripathi played well in the last match," he said.As SRH prepares to face KKR, the performance of their top order, particularly Abhishek Sharma, will be crucial in determining the outcome of the match.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 has witnessed an unprecedented display of batting firepower and bowling strength, with a staggering 1,208 sixes struck in just 70 matches. Among the teams leading the charge is Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), who have climbed from last place last year to second this year, thanks to their fearless batting approach.SRH's batting prowess is exemplified by their league-leading 160 sixes in 13 matches. Led by the dynamic Australian pacer Pat Cummins, SRH will be eager to continue their impressive run in the first qualifier against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.KKR, mentored by Gautam Gambhir, have been the form team this season. Their opening pair of Sunil Narine and Phil Salt have been devastating, but with Salt leaving for national duty, his replacement, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, will be under pressure to perform. The middle-order, featuring Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer, and Nitish Rana, has provided consistent support, while Rinku Singh and Andre Russell have made vital contributions down the order.SRH's bowling attack, featuring veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, left-arm pacer T Natarajan, and Cummins, will pose a significant challenge to the KKR batting lineup. With Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga missing in action, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Shahbaz Ahmed will provide the spin bowling options.SRH's batting has been equally impressive, with left-handed batters Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma setting the tone from the start. Head and Sharma both strike at a rate in excess of 200, making them a formidable threat to any opposition. Rahul Tripathi, Reddy, and Heinrich Klassen provide the impetus in the middle order, while Abdul Samad and Ahmed are also capable hitters.KKR's bowling attack will be led by Mitchell Starc, who has the potential to decimate any batting unit. Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora have bowled well in tandem, while the spin bowling duo of Varun Chakaravarthy and Narine have been difficult to get away and have struck crucial wickets.In the only clash between the two teams earlier this season, KKR edged SRH by four runs in a high-scoring thriller at the Eden Garden. If that game is anything to go by, Ahmedabad should be in for a humdinger of a clash. The weather in Ahmedabad has been very hot, and it remains to be seen how the playing surface will play out.

In a thrilling encounter at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) surpassed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to become the team with the most sixes in T20 history. Led by Pat Cummins, SRH chased down a formidable 215-run target set by Punjab Kings (PBKS) with five balls to spare.Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen were the architects of SRH's victory, smashing 66 and 42 runs respectively. Sharma's blistering knock included five fours and six sixes, while Klaasen contributed three fours and two sixes. Nitish Kumar Reddy also chipped in with a valuable 37.PBKS had earlier posted a challenging total of 214/5, thanks to a half-century from Prabhsimran Singh (71) and significant contributions from Rilee Rossouw (49) and Atharva Taide (46). T Natarajan was the pick of the SRH bowlers, claiming two wickets for 33 runs.With this victory, SRH equaled the record for scoring the most 200-plus totals in a single IPL edition, joining the likes of Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, and RCB. They now have eight wins and five losses in the ongoing IPL 2024, placing them second in the points table.PBKS, on the other hand, remain in ninth place with five wins and nine losses. Arshdeep Singh was their most impressive bowler, taking two wickets for 37 runs.Abhishek Sharma was adjudged the Player of the Match for his match-winning fifty.