IPL 2024: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals, Qualifier 2 – Who said What?

Sunrisers Hyderabad advanced to the IPL 2024 championship game by defeating Rajasthan Royals by a margin of 36 runs. In order to complete the task and advance to the summit match, where they will take on Kolkata Knight Riders on May 26, the Pat Cummins-led team was merciless with the ball and brilliant with the bat.

When batting first, Abhishek Sharma was unable to produce, as the Sunrisers lost early wickets of Aiden Markram and Rahul Tripathi. But Tripathi made an incredibly important cameo of 37 runs off 15 balls. Eventually, Heinrich Klaasen and Travis Head formed an important alliance to save SRH from financial ruin. With 175 runs in the first innings, SRH was led by 34 runs from Head and 4 half-centuries from Heinrich Klaasen.

Although the total didn’t appear secure at the midway point, the Hyderabad bowlers were outstanding in winning by a significant margin. Skipper Cummins completed the task by expertly analyzing the situation and making effective use of his spinners. While Abhishek Sharma, who did not bowl during the competition, took two wickets and conceded 23 runs in his four overs, Shahbaz Ahmed claimed three wickets and may have changed the tide of the match in favour of the SRH.

Also Read: IPL 2024: Rajasthan Royals 2nd innings highlights against SRH in 2nd qualifier match

Even though Dhruv Jurel scored 56* runs off 35 balls toward the end, it was not enough to save Rajasthan. Hyderabad defeated KKR quite easily, and on May 26 at Chepauk, they will play again.

1. The momentum shifted with Tripahi’s cameo

Abhishek looked well in the opening over, hitting several boundaries, but Trent Boult was able to get rid of him on the last delivery. Although it was anticipated that they would temporarily slow down, Rahul Tripathi had other ideas. He was instrumental in forming SRH’s innings in the early going and didn’t want to alter the strategy.

2. Klaasen ended RR’s game.

Things might have turned out differently for the Sanju Samson-led team if Rajasthan had taken Heinrich Klaasen early. Up until the nineteenth over, when Rajasthan was forced to retreat, he stayed at the crease. Because to his 50, SRH amassed 175 runs, which was sufficient to win and advance to the championship game.

3. Salutations to Captain Cummins

Cummins employed his bowlers in a way that was very remarkable tonight. It was vital to bring Shahbaz, Markram, and Abhishek at the appropriate moment, and Cummins did a perfect job at it. There was a lot of discussion prior to the competition about whether Cummins is the best choice for SRH, but the Australian has now completely silenced them.

Losing captain Sanju Samson said:

It was a big game. I am really proud of the way we bowled in the first innings. We were found short of options in the middle overs against their spin, that’s where we lost the game. It’s very hard to guess actually when we are expecting some dew or when we are not. The wicket started behaving differently in the second innings, the ball started turning a bit, they used that advantage really well. They bowled their spin in the middle overs against our right-handed batsmen, that’s where they were one-up against us.

Against their left-arm spin, when the ball was stopping, we could have tried a bit more reverse-sweep or maybe use of the crease a bit more. They also bowled really well. We have had some brilliant games not only this season but from the last three years, it has been a great project for our franchise. We have found some really great talent for the country. Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel and a lot of them are looking really exciting not only for RR but definitely for the Indian cricket team. We have had some great seasons from the last three years.

On Sandeep Sharma) I am really happy for him. By not being picked in the auction and coming back as a replacement, the way he bowled, he has definitely delivered. If we look at the numbers, Sandeep Sharma in the last two years, he will be the next guy after Bumrah. He has done a great job. (Final) The condition suits both of them, so let’s see how they come back again in the powerplay. SRH batsmen are very interesting, they can definitely take the game away. KKR also will be confident, they look very exciting. It’ll be a great game, that’s what IPL has been giving us for the last 16 years.

Winning skipper Pat Cummins said:

(on SRH’s turnaround from 2023) You’ve seen that in the way we played. The finals was the goal and we’ve made it. (Finding another way to win tonight) We knew our strength was batting but we wouldn’t underestimate the experience in the side like Nattu, Unadkat and Bhuvi. (Shahbaz as the Impact Sub choice) That was Vettori’s choice, he likes his left-arm spinners. (Using Sharma’s four overs) I felt there was a bit of a grip. (Total felt enough at the break?) Finals are always funny. These turn into tough chases. Needed early wickets and we got that. (Seeing how dew works in India) I won’t ever pretend to work out how it works. (Final) For the whole franchise, there are 60-70 of us who are involved, it is really gratifying. Hopefully one more

POTM Shahbaz Ahmed said:

(You knew you’ll be an impact player?) Captain and coach said that we’ll use you according to the situation. My role is to play lower-order and since we had a collapse, I got a chance. (Pitch for today’s bowling for him) When I was batting, I felt this wicket had something when Sandeep and Avesh were bowling. Felt there’ll be purchase later. (His SRH experience, being traded, not playing every game) I am feeling proud to be MOTM in such a big match. The team environment has been relaxed. (Celebration tonight?) We’ll save the celebrations for after the final. For now, it’s about relaxation.”