Key match stats
Pitch Stats – Rajiv Gandhi Stadium
Average first innings score: 171
Average first innings winning score: 180
Average powerplay score: 46.3
Win % batting 1st vs batting 2nd: 75% / 25%
Team form SRH vs KKR
SRH: WLLLW
KKR: LWLLL
Recent meetings: SRH won by 23 runs
Preview SRH vs KKR
If we assume that 8 wins is going to be a minimum requirement for qualifications for the playoffs then these 2 sides very much find themselves drinking at the last chance saloon as far their IPL 2023 seasons go.
KKR, with 3 victories from 9 games to date, would need to win all of their remaining matches to have a realistic chance of qualification. SRH do have a game in hand meaning that they have the possibility of a slip up but when you consider that their next 4 games come against the 4 sides who qualified for last years playoffs, then you can see why Sunrisers really need to take 2 points from this game to maintain an outside shot at qualification.
Of course, if you want to look at this from a glass half empty perspective, then Delhi's surprise win yesterday against the Titans means that the race for the wooden spoon is very much heating up with the loser of this match taking a step closer to that unwanted title.
The issues for both these sides are quite similar and largely boil down to a lack of consistency in selection and performance. When you look at the sides that are performing well so far in IPL 2023, you see squads where everyone knows and feels comfortable with their role. When you look at SRH and KKR, you see sides who have chopped and changed from match to match looking for a formula that works.
| Match Day | SRH top 3 | KKR top 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abhishek, Agarwal, Tripathi | Mandeep, Gurbaz, Anukul Roy |
| 2 | Anmolpreet, Agarwal, Tripathi | Gurbaz, Venkatesh, Mandeep |
| 3 | Brook, Agarwal, Tripathi | Gurbaz, Jagadeesan, Venkatesh |
| 4 | Brook, Agarwal, Tripathi | Gurbaz, Jagadeesan, Venkatesh |
| 5 | Brook, Agarwal, Tripathi | Gurbaz, Jagadeesan, Venkatesh |
| 6 | Brook, Abhishek, Tripathi | Jason Roy, Das, Venkatesh |
| 7 | Brook, Agarwal, Tripathi | Jagadeesan, Narine, Venkatesh |
| 8 | Abhishek, Agarwal, Tripathi | Jason Roy, Jagadeesan, Venkatesh |
| 9 | n/a | Jagadeesan, Gurbaz, Shardul Thakur |
Top 3 selection by match day in IPL 2023
Both these teams experimented with their line-ups over the first couple of games, then appeared to settle on a side before quickly abandoning it. Looking at the top 3 selections above, we can see that SRH have effectively gone full circle while KKR have not been helped by injuries to the likes of Jason Roy but are still taking a scatter gun approach to picking a top order. Why for example did they opt to promote Shardul Thakur to number 3 in their last game ahead of their top run scorer Venkatesh Iyer?
While this blog spends a lot of time looking at the the head to head stats of players and considering the potential match-ups that might favour either side, I'd say that there is still an a need for consistency of selection especially in the top order. Quite simply, if you get your best players in and batting for as long as possible, then you are likely to have a chance of success.
| Statistic | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium IPL 2023 | Rank against all other IPL 2023 venues |
|---|---|---|
| Balls per 6 | 24.9 | 10th |
| Average Powerplay score | 46.3 | 10th |
| Average Death overs score | 49.0 | 7th |
| Pace Economy | 7.9 | 2nd |
| Spin Economy | 7.6 | 3rd |
IPL records at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium for matches in 2023 and rank relative to all other 11 venues used to date in IPL 2023
We saw a run fest when these 2 teams met earlier in the season at Eden Gardens but it seems unlikely that will be the case here at the Rajiv Gandhi. Pace off and into the wicket bowling has been the way to go on the surfaces here in Hyderabad but we did also see it become increasingly difficult to score off the spinners too as the match against Delhi last week went along. I'd imagine that both teams will want to bat first and get off to a fast start!
SRH vs KKR head to head
KKR bowling vs SRH batting
This match will see the top order that has been least effective with the bat in the powerplay come up against a bowling attack that has been leaking runs far too easily while the field restrictions are in place.
IPL 2023 powerplay stats
With the average powerplay score this season being just over 52, we can see that SRH are on average giving up at least an 8 run advantage to opponents by getting off to a slow start.
In their win against Delhi at the Arun Jaitley, Abhishek Sharma showed just what was required on a surface where run scoring was always likely to get harder as the innings progressed. His knock of 67 off 36 balls was a class above anything that the rest of Sunrisers top order could muster. The young left-hander had a very strong 2022 campaign where he was given the backing to open the batting throughout. As the table above shows, the lack of consistency in selection has certainly impacted his ability to contribute in a similar way in 2023.
Abhishek Sharma T20 head to head vs current KKR squad
As noted, KKR are conceeding runs with ease in the powerplay this season, going at an economy rate of 9.8, the 2nd worst in IPL 2023. That is partly due to the fact that they play their home matches at Eden Gardens where sides are scoring big runs and partly due to a lack of quality in their seam attack.
Tim Southee IPL bowling stats at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium
Harshit Rana was brought in for his first match of the season in KKR's last game and paired with Andre Russell to open the bowling. KKR have opted to play David Wiese in recent matches, no doubt to lengthen their shaking batting line-up but that does rob them of an overseas spot that could go to either Tim Southee or Lockie Ferguson while also placing a burden on Andre Russell that his body has consistently shown it cannot bare.
SRH bowling vs KKR batting
Speaking of KKR's overseas spots, the other option they have is to pair Gurbaz and Jason Roy at the top of the order. Of all the opening batsmen used by the Knight Riders not just this season but last too, that pair look by far the most competent and exciting. Roy missed the last match with a back spasm while Gurbaz capitalised on that absence by striking a magnificent 81 from 39 balls against arguably the best bowling attack in the tournament.
Roy of course spent a bit of time playing for the Sunrisers so should have some idea of the conditions at the Rajiv Gandhi. By contrast, a few of his teammates with greater IPL experience, have struggled on trips to Hyderabad in the past.
Rana and Russell combined IPL batting stats at the Raji Gandhi Stadium
Part of the reason that a few of these KKR batsmen have struggled here in the past and a big consideration for them coming into this game, is the relative length of the boundaries at the Rajiv Gandhi. Square of the wicket is a very big hit, even for the likes of Andre Russell, and on a pitch that doesn't have a huge amount of pace in it then taking on those strikes is fraught with danger.
Sixes hit by team in IPL 2023
KKR have scored more 6s than any other side in IPL 2023 but they will need to recalibrate for the game here where sides have struck a maximum only once every 4 overs. By contrast, Eden Gardens has seen a 6 hit every 3 overs while grounds like the M Chinnaswamy and Narendra Modi where KKR played their last 2 away games have seen 6s hit every 11 balls bowled in IPL 2023!
The big outfield does mean that their are plenty of 2s on offer, do KKR's batsmen have the self-control to build a big total in a slightly different manner than they've been doing of late?
All stats used in this blog are from my own databases which are freely accessible below
IPL head to head player stats
IPL player stats by venue
IPL stadium statistics.
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.