IPL 2018, SRH vs RCB: 5 player battles to look forward to between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bangalore

In their previous game, RCB’s much-vaunted batting line-up capitulated in an embarrassing fashion against the Chennai Super Kings. They are now in a situation in which they need to win every game and perhaps, this is the worst time to face table-toppers Sunriser Hyderabad. The Kane Williamson-led side finished an excellent chase against the Delhi Daredevils at home the other night and they will be the favourites going into tonight’s game.

The more tantalising thing about this game is the fact that one of the tournament’s best batting sides (at least on paper) is going to take on its best bowling unit and in addition to those, there are going to be plenty of superb individual battles on show tonight.

Here is a look at 5 of the biggest battles that will take place tonight.

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#5 Yusuf Pathan v Tim Southee

In SRH’s previous game, their number 5, Yusuf Pathan, scored a brilliant unbeaten 27 off 12 balls (2 fours, 2 sixes) to ensure that they completed a tense chase against DD and hence, RCB should be wary of the threat he poses in the slog overs. He has a specific role in the SRH side, that is to close out the innings in a flourish. He is averaging 34.80 and striking at 135.93.

However, those figures go up when he plays at home. He averages 43 and strikes at 141.9 at Hyderabad and that is why his battle against RCB’s death over specialist Tim Southee is going to be interesting.

The Kiwi has somehow seemed to have fixed RCB’s death over problems and has recorded an economy rate of just over 8 an over in the three games he has played so far. His accuracy, ability to bowl yorkers, and varying his line, are all going to be a tough challenge for Pathan, but at the same time, he is going to try and get on top of him at every opportunity. This slog overs battle is going to be one to look out for.

#4 Shikhar Dhawan v Yuzvendra Chahal

After going through a pretty rough patch, SRH opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan seemed to have got backs his hitting form in the previous game. His contribution at the top of the order is going to be crucial. However, one thing that has come forth in case of the Indian left-hander in this edition of the IPL is his vulnerability against leg-spin. In his previous game, he was castled by DD’s Amit Mishra and it is interesting to note that he has got out to spinners four times in eight games (two of those against leg-spinners).

In such a situation, it will be very interesting to see how RCB’s star leg-spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal, performs against him and it could prove to be a battle that has a big impact on the SRH's batting effort. In his last game, he went for 9.66 an over in 3 overs and in tonight’s game, he would definitely like to make amends. Perhaps getting the wicket of Dhawan could be the best way to do so.

#3 Alex Hales v Umesh Yadav

In a season in which their bowling has often fallen apart, Umesh Yadav has been one of the few exceptions in the RCB bowling attack and his four overs are going to be absolutely vital for their chances tonight. He is the third highest wicket-taker with a tally of 13 wickets in 9 games (he is 1 wicket behind the highest wicket-takers Hardik Pandya) and has been the lynchpin of the RCB attack.

Tonight, he will be up against one of the game’s most destructive players in Englishman Alex Hales and although the SRH opener has not yet played a truly brutal knock, he looked in his stride against DD.

He hit three fours and three sixes in his 31-ball-45. Their opening skirmish is going to decide whether SRH get off to a flier or RCB stop their batting effort in its tracks in the Powerplay overs.

#2 Bhuvneshwar Kumar v Virat Kohli

Although he failed in the previous game against CSK, captain Virat Kohli remains the team’s highest run-scorer with a total of 357 runs and his runs would be crucial in this final run of games for RCB. He has recorded an average of 51 so far in 9 games and against the best bowling attack in the tournament, Kohli’s performance will be a key factor if RCB are to mount a serious challenge against the table-toppers.

One of the most interesting battles that will take place tonight will be the one between India’s star batsman and Indian pace spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He is a bowler who gives nothing away and his accuracy, pace, and movement can be difficult to handle for most batsmen.

Tonight, one of the best bowlers in the world is going to go head to head against one of the best batsmen in the world and the outcome of their duel is going to have a huge impact on the ultimate outcome fo the game.

#1 Rashid Khan v AB de Villiers

He is quite possibly the most dangerous batsman in the IPL and RCB suffered a bit when he was not unavailable for two games. However, his return to the side in the last game wasn’t particularly great as he got stumped for 1 against CSK and RCB’s innings disintegrated soon after. That being said, he is a player who has no weakness against any kind of bowling and can take any bowler to the cleaners.

He has recorded an average of 46.83 in 7 games, to go along with an astonishing strike rate of 180.12 and it his battle with SRH’s star leg-spinner Rashid Khan that is going to be the highlight of the game.

The Afghan is the most important constituent of the SRH bowling machine and his record in the games that the team has won is quite outstanding. He has taken 10 wickets and gone for only 5.4 an over in the 7 games that SRH have won so far.

Additionally, his vice-like grip on the batsmen in the middle-overs has also been quite extraordinary and that is why the challenge against de Villiers is a mouth-watering one. The South African is going to go after him and therein lies the prospect of an epic contest.