Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2023 IPL
Sunrisers Hyderabad are taking on Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2023 IPL.
The match is scheduled to start at 7.30pm local time (3pm BST) on Thursday, May 4.
The game will be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
It might be a stretch to call it a run of form but Sunrisers Hyderabad won their last game against the bottom side Delhi Capitals. They will be hoping they can use that as momentum to recover from a disappointing start which saw them lose five of their opening seven games.
This a bottom-of-the-table clash with both franchises sitting on three wins. KKR lost their last game to Gujarat Titans but prior to that, they prevailed in a surprising 21-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Both teams are starting to show signs of life, but this is a must-win for both if they have any hope of climbing the table and reaching the playoffs.
Aiden Markram (NOAH SEELAM/AFP via Getty Images)
There are no fresh injury concerns for Sunrisers but there are potential selection headaches with some of their batters struggling to shine as expected. Captain Aiden Makram and big-money signing Harry Brook have been unable to achieve a consistent run of high scores.
KKR on the other hand are sweating on the injury status of Jason Roy and Umesh Yadav after both missed the last game. Afghanistan international Rahmanullah Gurbaz replaced Roy and it hit an impressive 81 and it might be that if the Englishman is fit enough that both are deployed in the XI.
The Sunrisers' biggest issue has been scoring runs. They are the only team in the IPL this year that has yet to have at least one batsman hit more than 200 in the competition.
A lot was expected of Brook this year and barring one impressive century (against KKR) he has been ineffective, making a duck in their last game.
Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen stepped up against Delhi Capitals with a half-century each, but they need more from their senior players.
They will have Varun Chakaravarthy and Suyash Sharma standing in their way though, with the KKR pair having taken 13 and nine wickets respectively.
The visitors have a strong middle order with Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh and Nitish Rana doing the heavy lifting in terms of run-scoring. If Roy is fit enough to come in as an impact player and Gurbaz continues his form, the top order may be able to reduce the pressure on the middle order.
Mayank Makande is the only Sunrisers bowler to reach double figures in wickets. He has stepped up this year but will need more support from his teammates.
Matches played: 24
Sunrisers Hyderabad wins: 9
Kolkata Knight Riders wins: 15
A clear evening is forecast for the time of the match with temperatures reaching 27 degrees Celsius.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP via Getty Images)
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abdul Samad, Aiden Markram, Rahul Tripathi, Glenn Phillips, Abhishek Sharma, Marco Jansen, Washington Sundar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kartik Tyagi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan, Umran Malik, Harry Brook, Mayank Agarwal, Heinrich Klaasen, Adil Rashid, Mayank Markande, Vivrant Sharma, Samarth Vyas, Sanvir Singh, Upendra Yadav, Mayank Dagar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Anmolpreet Singh, Akeal Hosein
Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (injured), Nitish Rana (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Anukul Roy, Rinku Singh, N Jadadeesan, Vaibhav Arora, Suyash Sharma, David Wiese, Kulwant Khejroliya, Litton Das, Mandeep Singh, Shakib Al Hasan (unavailable), Jason Roy (replacement signing)
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram (c), Harry Brook, Heinrich Klaasen, Marco Jansen, Washington Sundar, Mayank Markande, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan
Kolkata Knight Riders: Jason Roy, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, N Jagadeesan, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana (c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson, Varun Chakravarthy
An even match is expected with the bookmakers listing both sides at 9/10.
Much will depend on the availability of Roy. With him in the side, the Knight Riders look like the stronger batting unit.
But a big score from Brook in front of the home crowd could swing it in the Sunrisers' favour. You wouldn’t put it past him but at the moment it doesn’t look likely.
In the UK, Sky Sports have exclusive rights to this year's tournament, with matches available on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket.
Fans in India can watch all the action on Star Sports.
Elsewhere in the world, viewers in Australia can watch the IPL on Fox Sports while in New Zealand, Sky Sport will provide coverage.
Willow TV and Flow Sports will broadcast the tournament in the United States and the Caribbean, respectively.
Fans in MENA can catch the action on beIN Sports while in South Africa, SuperSport have the rights.
If you are watching from the Middle East, you'll be able to view the game on Times Internet.
People from Bangladesh can watch the game on Gazi TV.
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