It was just a couple of days back, that former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh claimed, SRH might not win the IPL 2026, due to their bowling, but then they somehow managed to come up with a decent bowling show against KKR; Hyderabad won by 65 runs. There, Unadkat returned with figures of 3/21, Eshan Malinga bagged 2/14, while Nitish Kumar Reddy bagged 2/17. But a prolonged absence of Pat Cummins doesn’t make things better for them.
As per a report in ESPNCricinfo, he is back in Australia, to undergo a final scan, and all depends Cricket Australia. Come Sunday, Ishan Kishan’s team will take on LSG, and SRH will have to hope, all goes well with their bowling. Batting is as sorted as ever, they scored over 220 in the last match as well.
InsideSport takes a look at the Predicted XI of SRH vs LSG.
Batting needs no change whatsoever
Travis Head hasn’t fired all cylinders until now. In 2 matches he has 57 runs at an average of 28.50. But still, he has been striking at 190. His partner Abhishek Sharma has been ordinary too. Two matches have fetched 55 runs at a strike rate of 189. But both of them are perhaps the best opening pair IPL has seen in a long time, and in last match achieved the feat of 1000 runs together. So, no changes can be possible at the top.
Ishan was good with 80 in the last match, and is the skipper too, will follow at 3. High-strike rate young batters like Aniket Verma and Salil Arora stay put for some more time.
Hyderabad need to try something new
Last match went well for them, but they have a host of new Indian bowlers, who they could try. There is a certain pacer from Bihar — Sakib Hussain, who can bowl at 150 kmph. He doesn’t have the most experience, but what better way to test him, than in IPL. Plus, the team has Shivam Mavi as well, who would be looking to play his first match in the league after 2022. IN 32 matches he has 30 wickets to his name.
Some spin options available too
Shivang Kumar, the chinaman could be a useful bowler for them. Yes, Harsh Dubey has done decent, but a wrist spinner can be a game-changer. He in fact is an all-rounder. In 5 T20s, he has 4 wickets, and conceded 63 runs.
Harshal Patel is one possible player whom STH could have in their playing XI, given that he is an experienced candidate in the IPL with 151 wickets from 120 matches. Shivam Mavi and Ehsan Malinga could be the impact player options.
Predicted SRH playing XII vs LSG
Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (C & WK), Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Liam Livingstone, Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Sakib Hussain / Harshal Patel
Impact player: Shivam Mavi / Ehsan Malinga
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