IPL 2024 SRH v RR Preview - Have Sunrisers peaked too soon?

Key match stats

Pitch Stats – IPL records at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium

Pitch stats from the 10 most recent IPL matches played at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium

Team form SRH vs RR
SRH: WWWLL
RR: LWWWW

Recent meetings: IPL 2023 - SRH won by 4 wickets, RR won by 72 runs

Weather

General Forecast: Dry and Clear
Chance of dew: Low

Preview SRH vs RR

The SRH power hitting juggernaut seems to have hit a brick wall in recent matches. After breaking the record total in an IPL innings twice this season, the last 2 matches have seen SRH limited to 171 by lowly RCB and then bowled out for 134 by CSK.

Of course, SRH could look to prepare a significantly easier pitch to bat on than the surface that they found in Chennai. Certainly scoring against spin has been an issue for this Sunrisers Team for some time and opposition appear to be realizing that it still represents a significant chink in the otherwise intimating armor of their batting line-up.

Rajasthan certainly have the tools in their bowling attack to look to exploit that weakness but will they be given the chance? In recent IPL matches at the Rajiv Gandhi spinners haven't generally been able to control the scoring but RCB's slow bowlers did manage to take 5 wickets here last week.

Equally, Rajasthan have shown in recent games that they are quite happy to mix it with the big hitters in IPL 2024. A great run chase against KKR was followed by clinical displays against LSG and MI where it felt like Rajasthan had plenty left in the tank if they had needed to up the scoring rate. Unlike SRH, the Royals are showing that they can win in various conditions and match circumstances.

Another victory here for Rajasthan would all but book their place in the playoffs. However, they'll be acutely aware of just how quickly things can change in this tournament.

Last season, they started IPL 2023 by absolutely thrashing SRH here at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium on their way to 4 wins from their first 5 games. Thereafter, they suffered a dramatic loss of form that lead to a run of 4 straight defeats culminating in the return match against SRH which they lost on the last ball.

The last match here at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium against RCB was played on a more typical pitch. In that game, batting generally looked tougher as the match went on and we are unlikely to get dew falling that might change that dynamic tonight. In fact, while the Rajiv Gandhi pitch report above that is based on the last 10 IPL matches suggests a fairly even contest between sides batting first and sides batting second, a longer term view shows that 20 of the last 31 games here has been won by the side batting first.

Since losing to SRH last season, Rajasthan have won 8 of their last 12 IPL games batting 2nd. Let's see if they'll be happy to continue chasing or whether they'll consider that conditions may be better suited to defending.

SRH RR head to head

RR bowling vs SRH batting

Sandeep Sharma is one of a few players over the last couple of seasons to take full advantage of a 2nd opportunity to play in the IPL. After being released by Sunrisers he was left without a team coming into the 2023 season until receiving a late call into the RR squad as an injury replacement. He's been an integral part of the Royals squad ever since and his experience of conditions at the Rajiv Gandhi will be key here tonight.

Sandeep Sharma Rajiv Gandhi IPL record

Other Rajasthan quicks, including Avesh Khan and Trent Boult, have found things difficult in previous matches at this stadium and I wouldn't expect them to find a pitch tailor made for them tonight. Avesh has bowled 5 overs here in the IPL and conceded 77 runs, an economy rate of 15.4!

Prior to the match here last season, Boult had taken only 1 wicket in his previous 3 games at the Rajiv Gandhi. His 2 wickets then in the first over of Sunrisers' chase in the equivalent fixture of IPL 2023 all but ended the game as a contest and his battle against Head and Abhishek Sharma will be absolutely crucial.

Head head to head Boult T20 cricket

This will be a case of fighting fire with fire. We know that Boult will look to bowl a full length and swing the ball early on and we know that if it's pitched up, Head is going to have a go at it. While not a huge sample size, it's Head who has come out on top in previous match ups.

Klaasen head to head Chahal T20 cricket

Chahal will be keen to celebrate his call-up to India's World Cup squad with a strong performance here. As noted above, SRH have struggled when pace has been taken off the ball in recent matches. Again though, the head to head between Klaasen and Chahal shows that both are willing to take risks in the pursuit of runs and wickets.

SRH bowling vs RR batting

Another Rajasthan player who will be keen to justify his inclusion in the World Cup squad is captain Sanju Samson. There were plenty of rumors suggesting that he wasn't going to get picked but he appears to have forced the issue with the sheer weight of runs he's scored this season. He also has a very good record at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.

Sanju Samon Rajiv Gandhi IPL record

In simarly good form after a slow start to the season are Rajasthan's opening pair of Buttler and Jaiswal although RR will need to make plans for the loss of the England captain in a couple of weeks time.

Buttler head to head Bhuvi

Bhuvi will be tasked with making early inroads into this strong Royals line-up and he has dismissed Buttler 4 times in the powerplay the last 10 times they've met across all T20 cricket.

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All stats used in this blog are from my own databases which are freely accessible below
IPL player head to head records
IPL player records by stadium
IPL stadium records.
Images are my own with the exception of player profiles and highlights within GIFs which are not intended to infringe copyright- read full disclaimer. Background images are used under a creative commons license or otherwise royalty free.