Match detailsSunrisers Hyderabad
Will Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma tee off again?•Associated Press
In the spotlight
After setting the stage alight with a new, sixy avatar last season, Ajinkya Rahane hasn’t quite found the same rhythm in IPL 2024. His strike rate has been 127.78, and he is averaging 23. For reference, he struck at 172.49 last season. He made a 30-ball 35 the last time these two teams met and CSK will hope he can go better on Sunday. Despite middling returns, CSK have persisted with him, even pushing him up to open in the last three matches, but it’s still failed to unlock his best.
With Head, Abhishek and Heinrich Klaasen hogging the limelight, Aiden Markram has been a relatively quiet figure for SRH this season. He showed his worth scoring an important fifty in a low-scoring chase when these two sides last met, which could be his big role in the side. The heavy hitting has been left to the others, he just needs to ensure they don’t slide with the loss of early wickets. But with Glenn Phillips warming the bench, SRH would want Markram to start returning better numbers.
Pitch and conditions
Chepauk has seen 200 crossed three times in four matches this season – two of those instances in the last game there. Other than that, it’s not been the most free-flowing deck and could be a challenge for SRH’s approach. However, if the pitch is anything like the last game, the batters will be licking their lips.
Stats that matter
Abhimanyu Bose is a sub-editor with ESPNcricinfo