In match 21 of the ongoing Indian Premier League, Sunrisers Hyderabad are set to meet Rajasthan Royals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Monday. The match is crucial, with both sides heading in very different directions early in the tournament. Rajasthan have been the standout side so far, ticking every box with four wins in four matches. Their incredible start is the result of the manner in which they’ve controlled games. Their victories have also bolstered their net run rate, which further shows their dominance.

On the other hand, Hyderabad’s campaign has been less stable. Having one win from four outings, they’ve struggled to maintain momentum. Despite boasting explosive names like Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, and Abhishek Sharma, the performances haven’t come together consistently. The top order has been brilliant, but the middle order lack direction, and their finishing with the ball has been unreliable. A major problem for Hyderabad has been their bowling unit. The pace-heavy attack has struggled to hold nerve in pressure situations.

Rajasthan, on the other hand, appear well-drilled in every department. Their opening combination of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal has laid strong foundations. The middle order, featuring Dhruv Jurel and Riyan Parag, has kept the momentum going.

Their pace bowling attack is strong with the likes of Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger. And the spin options of Ravi Bishnoi and Ravindra Jadeja provide an edge. With all this, Rajasthan will aim to extend their winning streak to consolidate their position at the top, while Hyderabad will look to revive their campaign. 

Head-to-head

Matches - 21

SRH won - 12

RR won - 9

Sunrisers Hyderabad probable XII: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (c&wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Liam Livingstone, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Harshal Patel, Eshan Malinga, Praful Hinge

Rajasthan Royals probable XII: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma