It is the final day of the round robin matches of IPL 2016, and some teams are still fighting for the playoff spot. Sunrisers Hyderabad have already qualified for the playoffs, but they will have their eyes on the top two spots, which can be attained with a win over Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.
KKR, meanwhile, will be keen to defeat SRH, and clinch their playoff spot as well. In result of a loss, they can still go through, but it will depend on their net run rate.
KKR, after their two back-to-back losses, have themselves to blame for their current position in the playoff race. With such a crucial match for both KKR and SRH, they have to be spot on with their playing XI in Kolkata.
Andre Russell, who suffered a hamstring injury in their game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, is still not fit, resulting in the West Indian's absence from the game with Sunrisers Hyderabad. It is going to be a big loss. Jason Holder replaced Russell in the last game, but Colin Munro, who is an incredible hitter, could get a game in this important fixture.
Umesh Yadav is fit for the game, after he missed the last few games due to an injury, but it remains to be seen if the KKR team management decides to play the experienced bowler or retain Ankit Rajpoot, who has been decent so far. Besides these changes, KKR are not expected to make any modifications in the playing XI that featured against Gujarat Lions.
SRH, on the other hand, have played some brilliant cricket, and their top order, including David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan, has been brilliant. They are expected to play the same XI that took the field against Delhi Daredevils, but they might be prompted to push Eoin Morgan up the order, and allow him more time at the crease and use his big-hitting skills.
SRH have great firepower in their batting line-up, which includes Yuvraj Singh, Moises Henriques and Deepak Hooda. Besides their openers functioning well, it is their bowlers who have helped SRH win some of their game in IPL 2016.
With Mustafizur Rahman, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Karn Sharma and Henriques as key bowlers, SRH could well finish in the top-two if their players come up with an all-round performance.
Expected playing XI: Kolkata Knight Riders: Gautam Gambhir (c ), Robin Uthappa (wk), Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan, Suryakumar Yadav, Shakib Al Hasan, Colin Munro, Piyush Chawla, Morne Morkel, Sunil Narine, Ankit Rajpoot
Sunrisers Hyderabad: David Warner, Shikhar Dhawan, Eoin Morgan, Yuvraj Singh, Deepak Hooda, Moises Henriques, Naman Ojha(wk), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Karn Sharma, Mustafizur Rahman, Barinder Sran
