IPL 2024 : Punjab Kings (PBKS) death bowling in focus against power-packed Sunrisers in IPL 2024.

Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings look like two teams who have had very similar journeys so far this IPL – two wins from four games and sitting in the middle of the points table – but their passage to get there could have hardly been more contrasting. If Sunrisers have been the second-quickest batting team in powerplays this IPL (before the CSK vs KKR game on Monday) with a run rate of 11.66,Punjab Kings have been the second-worst bowling in the death overs (17-20) this IPL, leaking runs at 12.65.

PBKS and SRH are currently placed sixth and fifth on the points table, respectively, with similar records of two wins and two losses from four matches each. Both teams have shown flashes of brilliance but have also faced inconsistencies, making this match a pivotal moment in their campaigns.

 PBKS vs SRH previous match performances.

Both the teams have won two of the four matches they have played so far, but a higher net run rate has put SRH fifth on the points table – one place ahead of their rivals in the upcoming match. The Orange Army is coming on the back of an impressive win six-wicket against five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan and Co will be riding high on the confidence of their incredible last-over win against Gujarat Titans (GT), all credits to their ‘mistaken identity’ Shashank Singh. As we head into an exciting affair, let’s take a look at probable XIs, pitch report, top pics, fantasy teams and many more.

PBKS vs SRH Head To Head Records

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has maintained a dominant record against Punjab Kings (PBKS), winning 14 out of their 21 encounters in the league. The previous meeting between these two teams in IPL 2023 saw PBKS suffer a defeat by eight wickets. However, PBKS will be hoping to capitalize on their home advantage and the support of the local crowd to turn the tide in their favour.

Total Match	21
PBKS Won	7
SRH Won	14

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report

The surface at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur is quite a sporting track, offering assistance to both batters and bowlers. Opting to bat first after winning the toss could be an optimal decision at this venue. The pitch is known for its bounce, which should benefit the fast bowlers, particularly in the early stages of the match.

It is a newly built stadium and only one IPL match has been played here. In the PBKS vs DC match earlier this season, the first innings score was 174 and the home team chased down the target with four balls to spare. The pitch is more in favour of the batters but the pace bowlers will also get help.

This is going to be just the second IPL game at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in Mullanpur. In the first match, Kings started on a winning note against Delhi Capitals by chasing down 175. The spinners didn’t leak as many runs as the quicks on that night, but it’s been more than two weeks since then and conditions could easily have changed.

Big Picture – Sunrisers might exploit Kings’ death bowling

Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings look like two teams who have had very similar journeys so far this IPL – two wins from four games and sitting in the middle of the points table – but their passage to get there could have hardly been more contrasting. If Sunrisers have been the second-quickest batting team in powerplays this IPL (before the CSK vs KKR game on Monday) with a run rate of 11.66, Kings have been the second-worst bowling in the death overs (17-20) this IPL, leaking runs at 12.65.

Sunrisers’ fresh batting approach this IPL has largely been because of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma’s success at the top. While Head carried forward his stellar form from 2023, Abhishek’s firepower has surprised many. Hardly a household name in T20 cricket, he has left many big-hitters behind in recent months with his boundary-hitting.

Since October 2023, Abhishek has smashed 101 boundaries (47 fours and 54 sixes) in 326 balls, which adds up to one boundary every 3.23 balls, second only to Andre Russell’s 3.12 (taking into account stats for batters with at least 50 boundaries in this period).

Abhishek’s methods might be high-risk but they’ve brought high-reward: he has not been dismissed very often while going for the big hits. His 101 boundaries have come across 14 innings in which he has averaged 46 while batting in the top three.

He has struck two centuries in this phase, which also includes ten knocks for champions Punjab in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he was the second-highest scorer while striking at 192. He has been smashing runs at 217.56 this IPL. If in the last two IPLs he hit a six almost every 25 balls, this IPL he is doing it five times as often, hitting a six every five balls.

And he has done it against pace and spin, in the powerplay and the middle overs. With batters like Head alongside him, and Heinrich Klaasen and Abdul Samad to follow, the Kings bowlers will have to up their game significantly. They will be hoping their international bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel fare much better in the death overs. Kings will play their next four games in Mullanpur, and will want to take full advantage of home comforts to climb up the points table.

Team news and Impact Player strategy

Punjab Kings
Kings were without Liam Livingstone in their last game because of injury. He was replaced by Sikandar Raza, who couldn’t make an impact with either bat or ball against Gujarat Titans. Livingstone resumed training with the team on Monday but is still being assessed. For their impact subs, Kings have consistently subbed out Arshdeep Singh for a batter like Prabhsimran Singh, or vice versa.

Sunrisers Hyderabad
T Natarajan returned in their last game after recovering from injury but Mayank Agarwal missed out because he was unwell. It is as yet unclear if Agarwal is fit for Tuesday, although he trained on Monday.

For their Impact Player strategy, Sunrisers have kept it straightforward so far by swapping out one of the top-order batters – Head, Abhishek or Agarwal – for a frontline quick like Natarajan or Umran Malik, except in one game where they brought in allrounder Washington Sundar while batting first because they were 114 for 5.

In the spotlight – Pat Cummins and Arshdeep Singh

Pat Cummins was once a powerplay enforcer with the ball for Kolkata Knight Riders who went for quite a few runs, but a change of role in a new team has seen his numbers improve. He is now bowling a lot more in the middle overs (7-16), conceding runs at just 7.75 an over, his second-best economy rate since his maiden IPL season of 2014. If he can continue that form, it will bode very well for Sunrisers.

Arshdeep Singh made his name in the IPL with his swing upfront and his nerveless death bowling. However, his death-bowling exploits have faded in the last couple of seasons. If he was economical in that phase (7.58) in IPL 2022, he failed to pick more than four wickets. And when he picked seven wickets at the death in IPL 2023, he leaked 9.50 runs an over. This IPL has been even worse – just one wicket and an economy rate of 11.70 in 20 balls. Will the real Arshdeep please stand up?