Debutants Gujarat Lions are on a roll this season. With consecutive match-winning half-centuries from Aaron Finch, this Suresh Raina-led side is a good bet to go through to the top four. Gujarat Lions will be facing Sunrisers Hyderabad at Rajkot.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
David Warner is quite dejected with the continued failure of Shikhar Dhawan at the top. With top players such as Yuvraj Singh, Kane Williamson and Ashish Nehra out due to injuries Warner faces a dilemma. The side has consistently underperformed, with the exception of Warner who has had two superb knocks, one a match-winner against defending champions Mumbai Indians, and Eoin Morgan.
If fit, Kane Williamson at the top of the order might do some good. He can be brought in place of Moises Henriques. Naman Ojha has decent scores against his name.
If Yuvraj is fit, he can be brought in place of Ashish Reddy or Bipul Sharma.
It remains to be seen whether Yuvraj Singh, Kane Williamson and Ashish Nehra recovers before the third week of the tournament. The Hyderabad team has already lost two of its three matches, and time is running out.
With Mustafizur Rahman bowling beautifully, the bowling department is settled. If Nehra returns then Barinder Sran or Ashish Reddy can be rested. Again here, the injuries to the main players disturb the strategies of Warner.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Henriques and Bipul Sharma have done reasonably well. Barinder Sran (3 for 28) bowled brilliantly against Mumbai Indians.
My playing XI for Sunrisers Hyderabad will be
David Warner (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Moises Henriques, Eoin Morgan, Deepak Hooda, Naman Ojha, Bipul Sharma, Ashish Reddy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mustafizur Rahman, Barinder Saran.
Gujarat Lions
This side has had a dream run so far in this IPL. Gujarat Lions has a very balanced side with match-winning performers.
The destructive Aaron Finch and Brendon McCullum at the top should send shivers down the spines of opposition bowlers. If they get going, Gujarat Lions are in for a very big score. Three consecutive match-winning half-centuries from Aaron Finch and good starts from Brendon McCullum have made them a deadly combination.
With Suresh Raina himself at No.3, Gujarat Lions will have no problem with their batting performance. With Dinesh Karthik, Dwayne Bravo and James Faulkner at the middle the team has little to worry. Raina will be happy that Ravindra Jadeja will be returning to the side.
The bowling is led by Praveen Kumar, Ravindra Jadeja, James Faulkner, Pravin Tambe and the ever-reliable Dwayne Bravo.
Gujarat Lions is now second on the points table with three wins from three matches. The table is led by Kolkata Knight Riders.
To me, with the kind of form Sunrisers Hyderabad are in, the match will be a cake walk for Gujarat Lions.
My playing XI for Gujarat Lions
Aaron Finch, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina (captain), Dwaye Bravo, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, James Faulkner, Praveen Kumar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Praveen Tambe and Shakab Jakati.
