Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) secured their place in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 final after a decisive 36-run victory against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Qualifier 2 held in Chennai. This win not only propelled them to the climactic match of the prestigious tournament but also underscored the formidable balance between their batting and bowling units.
Invited to bat first by Rajasthan Royals, SRH’s aggressive approach in the initial overs set the stage, reflecting the aggressive gameplay they have exhibited throughout this season. Despite losing wickets early on, the team maintained their attacking stance. Trent Boult emerged as the key bowler for Rajasthan early in the innings. Boult, known for his prowess with the new ball, had an immediate impact. Abhishek Sharma started promisingly with a six over mid-wicket followed by a boundary, but his innings was cut short as Boult induced a miscued shot, leading to a straightforward catch on the off-side.
Travis Head then took to stabilizing the innings, showing patience as he found his rhythm, while at the other end, Rahul Tripathi was relentless. Tripathi’s aggressive strokes kept the scoreboard moving. He showed no hesitation in taking on any bowler, including veterans like R Ashwin. Tripathi’s innings was a mix of skill and bravery, highlighted by consecutive boundaries and a towering six off Ashwin, followed by similar treatment to Boult. His escalation of the score was vital, although his attempt at another boundary saw him fall to Boult, managing to contribute a critical 37 off just 15 deliveries, thus cementing a strong foundation for SRH.
After the fall of Aiden Markram, who was caught by Yuzvendra Chahal at short third-man, SRH found themselves at 57 for three at the end of five overs. The rebuilding task then fell to Head and Heinrich Klaasen. Head, who had been subdued till this point, began to open up, registering his first boundary off Sandeep Sharma. Klaasen too joined the charge, smashing Chahal for a six over mid-wicket as he sought to recover from early pressure.
The two batsmen guided the innings through a cautious but productive middle phase until Head fell to a delivery from Sandeep Sharma, resulting in a catch to third-man.
. Klaasen, taking over the mantle, anchored the latter half of the innings. Even as RR bowlers like Avesh Khan and Trent Boult continued to strike timely blows, Klaasen’s calculated aggression ensured the team continued scoring. Shabaz Ahmed, brought in as an Impact Player, made a significant contribution with 18 runs, pushing the final score to a respectable 175 for nine. Among RR’s bowlers, Sandeep Sharma and Avesh Khan were particularly effective, picking up two and three wickets respectively, with Boult also claiming three crucial wickets.
When Rajasthan Royals commenced their chase of 176, Yashaswi Jaiswal seemed to be in sublime form, evidenced by a six off Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the opening over. His start provided hope for RR, but his dismissal by Shahbaz Ahmed, who had him caught in the deep for a well-made 42 off 21 balls, marked a crucial turning point. At the powerplay, RR stood at 51 for one, displaying promise.
However, the middle overs witnessed SRH’s spinners exerting their dominance, turning the game decidedly in their favor. Abhishek Sharma soon sent RR captain Sanju Samson back to the pavilion, with Aiden Markram taking the catch at deep mid-wicket. RR’s innings further crumbled when Shahbaz Ahmed struck twice in the 12th over; Riyan Parag was caught at mid-wicket, while R Ashwin edged one to the wicketkeeper. From commanding 80 for five in 12 overs, SRH controlled the match unyieldingly.
Despite the introduction of Shimron Hetmyer as an Impact Player, and Rovman Powell’s attempts to stabilize the innings, SRH’s bowlers kept a tight rein. The only RR batsman to mount a notable resistance was Dhruv Jurel, who showcased excellent temperament under pressure, achieving his fifty off 26 balls in the penultimate over. Nonetheless, the consistent fall of wickets on the other end meant RR couldn’t sustain a robust chase.
SRH’s spinners, Shahbaz Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma, played pivotal roles, sharing five wickets between them and conceding just 47 runs in their combined eight overs. Their outstanding performance ensured that SRH set up a rematch with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final clash, scheduled for Sunday in Chennai. This crucial victory underscored SRH’s strength and marked their resolve to clinch this year’s TATA IPL title.