The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) booked their spot in the IPL 2024 finals with a thrilling 36-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2 (SRH vs RR). While their pace attack has been their strength throughout the season, it was a surprising tactical switch that turned the tide in their favor against RR.
SRH captain Pat Cummins revealed that the game-defining moment came from head coach Daniel Vettori’s tactical decision. Vettori opted to introduce Shahbaz Ahmed as the impact substitute, a move that proved to be a masterstroke. Cummins explained, “That was Vettori’s choice, left-arm orthodox and wanted as many left-arm orthodox as possible.”
Traditionally known for their potent pace attack, SRH surprised everyone by unleashing a spin duo of Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma. This unexpected approach paid off handsomely. Ahmed not only chipped in with 18 valuable runs with the bat but also emerged as a bowling hero, claiming a crucial 3-wicket haul in the middle overs.
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While Abhishek Sharma’s batting performance was not so good, he scored just 13 runs. But he redeemed himself with his bowling. He managed to dismiss the in-form duo of Shimron Hetmyer and RR skipper Sanju Samson, effectively disrupting their batting lineup.
Pat Cummins comment on SRH vs RR
Pat Cummins showered praise on the unexpected heroes of the match. “Abhishek didn’t have his usual destructive outing with the bat… He bowled beautifully and those two won it with their bowling in the middle overs,” he said. He further admits the team’s overall strength, highlighting the experience of their pace attack: “We knew our strength was our batting and we wouldn’t underestimate the experience we have in this squad, it’s a dream having Bhuvi, Nattu and Unadkat, makes my job easy.”
Pat Cummins said "It was Daniel Vettori's decision to bring Shahbaz as an impact player".
Shahbaz vs RR :
Firstly, scored 18(18)
Then, took 3 wickets #SRHvsRR #IPLFinal #KKRvsSRH pic.twitter.com/SZxCmz7C5m— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) May 25, 2024
The combined effort of the left-arm spin duo proved to be crucial in derailing the RR chase. They bowled a collective eight overs, conceding only 47 runs at a highly economical rate of 5.87, while picking up 5 crucial wickets. This strong bowling in the middle overs effectively choked the run flow for RR.
Reflecting on SRH’s IPL 2024 season, Cummins said, “The boys have been fantastic all season. There’s a great vibe in the squad as you can see and the final was the goal at the start of the season and we made it. 170 was a tough chase and had we got a couple of wickets we knew we had a chance.”
Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to bowl first. Heinrich Klaasen’s explosive 50-run knock propelled SRH to a respectable total of 175/9. In reply, the spin duo of Ahmed and Sharma effectively restricted the RR batsmen, preventing them from building partnerships and keeping the run rate in check. The pacers also played their part, stifling any potential late flourish from the Royals. Ultimately, RR fell short by 36 runs, managing only 139/7.
SRH to Face KKR in IPL 2024 Final
With this victory, SRH secured their place in the IPL 2024 finals. They will face a familiar foe in the form of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), setting the stage for a rematch of Qualifier 1. Both teams will be ready to fight tooth and nail for the coveted IPL trophy.
