SRH went into their first home game brimming with confidence after rediscovering their batting prowess, amassing 226/8 to beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs at the Eden Gardens. Apple’s return, where conditions are expected to favor stroke play in the afternoon game, only adds to LSG’s challenge.
With momentum and home advantage on their side, SRH will start as favourites, leaving LSG with plenty to overcome. Despite reaching the playoffs in their first two seasons, the Sanjiv Goenka-owned franchise has struggled in recent years, finishing seventh twice, and their current campaign has also started on a disappointing note.
The problem is not lack of resources. Under Justin Langer, LSG have a strong batting unit that includes Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, captain Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran. However, their collapse of 141 runs in the under-19 overs in their opener against Delhi Capitals exposed glaring weaknesses.
The tactical changes didn’t help either, as LSG moved away from the opening pair of Marsh-Markram, who moved Pant up the order. The move backfired, with Pant scoring just seven runs short of being run out, once again raising questions about his ideal position. A return to No. 3 – a spot where he had success in 2025, including a century – could be considered. Pooran has also thrived in the role but may need to handle the middle overs instead.
Marsh was the lone bright spot, scoring 35 before falling to a slow delivery, highlighting LSG’s recurring problem of not converting into big scores. To restore balance, they want to revive the Marsh-Markram opening combination and bring Pant back into the middle order.
However, his bowling was a major positive. Mohammad Shami impressed with a new-ball spell with young pacer Prince Yadav, reducing Delhi to 26/4 in the powerplay. But LSG couldn’t sustain the pressure in the middle overs, and the decision to drop last season’s leading wicket-taker, enigmatic spinner Digvesh Rathi, raised eyebrows. On a flat apple pitch, their combination without a frontline wrist-spinner could come under scrutiny again.
Meanwhile, SRH seem to have found their rhythm after losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the season opener. Their batting clicked as a unit against KKR, with Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma returning to form at the top.
Stand-in captain Ishan Kishan has shown promising signs, while Henrik Klaasen’s experience continues to anchor the middle order, as seen in his half-century in Kolkata.
SRH’s batting depth is a major concern for LSG. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy impressed with both bat and ball, while Harsh Dubey provided control with spin. The pace duo of Jaydev Annadak and Ehsan Malinga took five wickets between them as KKR were bowled out for 161 in 16 overs, showing that SRH’s bowling unit is too weak.
Teams (from)
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Ishan Kishan (capt), Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aniket Verma, R Simran, Henrik Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kamandu Mendes, Harshal Patel, Brayden Carsey, Jaydev Anadkat, Ishan Malinga, Zeeshan Ansari, Shewmar, Shewmar, Shiveng, O Limitwick, O’Neal Kumar. Trimle, Cranes Foletra, Perful Henge, Amit Kumar, Saqib Hussain, Jack Edwards and Pat Cummins.
Lucknow Supergiants: Rishabh Pant (c), Ayush Baduni, Matthew Bretzke, Aidan Markram, Nicholas Puran, Arshin Kulkarni, Mitchell Marsh, Shehbaz Ahmed, Akash Maharaj Singh, Aveesh Khan, Mohammad Shami, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Arjun Sachin Tendulkar, Mathew Bretzke, Spain, Spain, Spain, Spain Noortje, Josh Inglis, Abdul Samad, Himmat Singh, Naman Tiwari, Akshit Raghunshi, Mohsin Khan, Manimaran Siddharth, Mukal Chaudhary.
