Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Predictions: SRH are out of the competition but can play spoilsport for others

Playing in their thirteenth game of the season Sunrisers Hyderabad will welcome Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 65th game of the season at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on 18th May. SRH are out of the competition but can play spoilsport for others. Who will win this game?

The Sunrisers' disappointing season continues as they suffered another loss in their recent fixture against the Gujarat Titans on Monday. This defeat has officially eliminated them from contention for a spot in the playoffs, as they are unable to catch up with the top four teams.

Despite their elimination, the Sunrisers still have two remaining matches, including this one, and they will be aiming to play with pride and end the season on a positive note.

The team's batting has been a major letdown throughout the season, and their struggles persisted in the last match with yet another failure from the top order. Despite having talented players such as Abhishek Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Harry Brook, and Rahul Tripathi in their lineup, the Sunrisers have failed to find their form.

At this stage of the season, it is difficult to have confidence in any of the Sunrisers' top order batsmen. Rahul Tripathi, in particular, has had a poor season that may even impact his place in the Indian team.

However, there has been one standout performer for the Sunrisers, and that is Heinrich Klaasen. He has consistently performed well in the lower order, even scoring a couple of half-centuries. Klaasen is a proficient player against both pace and spin, and his performances provide a glimmer of hope for the team. Additionally, he offers attractive odds in betting markets for being the top scorer or hitting a six.

Turning to the bowling department, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar has been impressive in recent matches and even claimed a five-wicket haul in the previous game. He will receive support from Marco Jansen, Fazalhaq Farooqi, and T Natarajan in the seam bowling department, while Mayank Markande and Aiden Markram will play crucial roles during the middle overs. Despite having a promising squad at the start of IPL 2023, the Sunrisers have failed to live up to expectations.

One of the key factors contributing to their failure is the lack of a cohesive strategy from the team management.

Anmolpreet Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen, Abdul Samad, Marco Jansen, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Markande, Umran Malik, Fazalhaq Farooqi

RCB encountered a rough patch in their campaign with consecutive losses against the Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians. However, their recent commanding victory over the Rajasthan Royals has revitalized their chances, putting them back in contention for a top-four finish.

To secure that spot, RCB must win both of their remaining two matches, including this one, and also rely on favorable outcomes in a couple of other matches.

Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis once again provided RCB with a strong start, solidifying their reputation as one of the best opening pairs this season. Following Kohli's departure, Glenn Maxwell continued the momentum, forging a vital 69-run partnership with Du Plessis for the second wicket, establishing a solid foundation.

It's widely acknowledged that RCB's success heavily relies on their top three firing on all cylinders. The persistent struggles of the middle-order, exemplified by Mahipal Lomror and Dinesh Kartik's lackluster performances, remain a concern. However, Anuj Rawat's valuable cameo ensured a competitive total. Addressing this batting weakness is crucial for RCB's success moving forward.

In the previous match, RCB's bowlers delivered a stellar performance, dismissing the formidable RR batting lineup for a mere 59 runs, the lowest total by any team this season.

Mohammed Siraj and Harshal Patel have been the linchpins of RCB's seam bowling attack, while Wayne Parnell impressed with his spell in the last match. Spinners Karn Sharma and Michael Bracewell contributed with four wickets between them and will be eager to continue their impressive form in this game.

The powerplay performances of Siraj and Parnell's variations could prove pivotal in RCB's match against SRH as well.

Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Anuj Rawat, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Michael Bracewell, Wayne Parnell, Karn Sharma, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj

The Rajiv Gandhi Stadium pitch is characterized as a dry and flat surface. The absence of significant grass means the ball will come onto the bat smoothly. A score ranging from 170 to 180 is considered average on this pitch. As the match progresses, cracks and rough patches will develop, offering spinners the opportunity to extract turn. The weather forecast indicates dry and warm conditions, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius. We expect Sunrisers to win the game.