Two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will clash with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the eighth match of the Dream11 Indian Premier League 2020 at the Sheikh Zayed stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
After having false starts in their respective opening matches, both the captains — Dinesh Karthik (KKR) and David Warner (SRH) — will be desperately aiming to get their campaign started and get those vital two points against their names.
KKR, IPL champions in 2012 and 2014, lost their first outing against defending champions Mumbai Indians by 49 runs at the same venue on Wednesday, while SRH choked in the end and faced a narrow 10-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bangalore. The SRH were in the game till most part of the match but Yuzvendra Chahal’s three-wicket haul halted their march.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow played a wonderful innings against RCB and kept SRH in the match. He was involved in a good stand with Manish Pandey. SRH would like to see both continue their batting touch against KKR.
Warner, who unfortunately got run out in the first game, will be looking to bounce back and lead from the front. The SRH will also like to see the useful contribution from all-rounder Vijay Shankar, who was off colour against the RCB.
The SRH team management will also be hoping to see Rashid Khan perform at his best. Another foreign recruit Mohammad Nabi, who was left out against RCB, might break into the playing eleven on Saturday.
The 2016 champions SRH will be coping with the early loss of ace Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh. The big Aussie has been replaced by another giant fellow in the form of Jason Holder of West Indies.
On the other hand, KKR will like to see their out-of-rhythm players Pat Cummins, Eoin Morgan, Sunil Narine and Andre Russel shine through. If these KKR foreign recruits perform to their potential, much of the workload on the skipper Dinesh Karthik will be reduced.
Courtesy: orangecitysports.com
