The resurgent Sunrisers Hyderabad take on Punjab Kings as Kane Williamson-led side won the toss and opted to bowl first in their IPL match on Sunday.
In a major jolt to Punjab Kings, skipper Mayank Agarwal misses out the game as Shikhar Dhawan took over the reins in the former's absence. The Karnataka right-hander received a blow on his toe during practice and is recovering from the same. Meanwhile, Prabhsimran Singh was included in the side to compensate for Agarwal. On the other hand, Kane didn't change a bit in SRH's playing XI.
"Mayank got hit on his toe, he should be fine for the next game. So, there's just one change for us - Prabhsimran is in. We are performing well without depending on individuals - need to continue playing well as a unit, the bowling can get better, we're working on it. The team is new and we're taking time to settle. The toss could be an advantage, it's a bit sticky, the ball could turn, but if we put up a good total, we can put them under pressure," PBKS stand in captain Shikhar Dhawan said before the match.
"We will bowl first. It's something we've done recently, we need to just play according to our plans. The wicket will hold up for the entire game, just need to make those small improvements, the signs are good, and need to adjust to the conditions early. Same team for us," SRH skipper Kane Williamson said.
Sunrisers began their campaign with two defeats but bounced back with three successive wins -- against Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders -- and look good for more, going by the trend of their improving performance.
Punjab Kings had a morale-boosting 12-run win over Mumbai Indians in their last outing and the Sunrisers would certainly know that the Mayank Agarwal-led side, who are in the third spot, would be a tough team to beat.
Head-to-head:
Sunrisers Hyderabad have dominated the proceedings against Punjab Kings in the IPL over the years. SRH have a huge advantage over Punjab Kings in the head-to-head record between the two teams with 18 wins in 24 meetings.
Pitch report
"It's hot and humid today - it's a used pitch, it's dry, there are tufts of grass. Pace could be the key for the fast bowlers. The captain winning the toss might opt to bat first on this track," reckons for India player Rohan Gavaskar analyses the pitch.
Sunrisers Hyderabad's Playing XI:
Abhishek Sharma, Kane Williamson(c), Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran(w), Shashank Singh, Jagadeesha Suchith, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Marco Jansen, Umran Malik, T Natarajan.
Punjab Kings' Playing XI:
Shikhar Dhawan(c), Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma(w), Shahrukh Khan, Odean Smith, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Vaibhav Arora, Arshdeep Singh.