IPL 2024, SRH vs PBKS: Punjab Kings Win Toss, Opt To Bat First; Check Playing XIs

Hyderabad: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will face off against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their final group stage match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 today, with a top-two finish on the line. A victory is crucial for SRH as it will secure them a crucial playoff advantage.

Currently sitting at number three in the points table, SRH need a win to potentially leapfrog into the coveted top two. This position offers an extra safety net during the high-pressure playoff stage. However, Hyderabad’s last match against Gujarat Titans was abandoned due to rain, granting them a point for qualification but robbing them of vital game time.

Despite pleasant weather gracing Hyderabad for the past few days, Sunday’s forecast carries a chance of afternoon showers. These showers could either disrupt the match or even lead to a washout, jeopardizing SRH’s top-two hopes.

Already eliminated from the competition, PBKS enter the match with a free spirit. The Kings will be looking to end their season on a positive note by securing a morale-boosting victory against SRH.

Historically, SRH hold the upper hand against PBKS, boasting a dominant 15-7 win-loss record in their 22 meetings since 2013. Their most recent encounter on April 9 saw SRH emerge victorious by a narrow margin of 2 runs.

The Hyderabad pitch is expected to be batting-friendly, potentially leading to a high-scoring encounter. While spinners might find purchase later in the innings due to the daytime conditions, batters are likely to dominate throughout the match.

Playing XIs

Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh, Atharva Taide, Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Jitesh Sharma(w/c), Ashutosh Sharma, Shivam Singh, Harpreet Brar, Rishi Dhawan, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar

PBKS Impact Subs: Arshdeep Singh, Tanay Thyagarajan, Prince Choudhary, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Harpreet Singh Bhatia

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, Rahul Tripathi, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Sanvir Singh, Pat Cummins(c), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, T Natarajan

SRH Impact Subs: Travis Head, Umran Malik, Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, Jaydev Unadkat