IPL 2019: Key takeaways as KXIP seal a close victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad saw their early season form come to a big halt as they succumbed to a second successive defeat, losing to Kings XI Punjab. KXIP were the better team overall in all the departments of the game, but unnecessarily made things hard for themselves in the final few overs of the chase. The win continues Punjab’s excellent form at their home ground in Mohali, where they have not lost a single match this season. They have dispatched off some tough opponents at their home ground with victories over Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians and now Sunrisers Hyderabad. A pattern has already started to emerge where it seems as though Punjab’s form at home will be the key if they are to qualify for the playoffs. 

Here we take a look at the key takeaways from the match between KXIP and SRH: 

KL Rahul picking up his form at the right time 

KL Rahul could not have picked up a better time to return to form. The opener after a blistering season in the IPL last year struggled for consistency and with his technique and was eventually dropped from the Test side as the first-choice opener in favour of Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal. Not long ago, it also seemed as though he was out of the reckoning for a berth in the 15-man Indian squad which will be announced soon for the 2019 World Cup. But with his performances for Punjab this season and the struggles of the other contenders, Rahul has suddenly emerged as a favourite to bat at the No.4 slot for India in the tournament. He will also provide India with the additional flexibility of being the back-up opener in the squad. With three half-centuries in his last four IPL case, he is not only making a strong case for his own selection but also massively helping KXIP in their quest to qualify for the playoffs. 

Cracks in the SRH armor 

The worst-case scenario which every SRH fans feared is now coming true. Despite having a formidable opening partnership in the form of Jonny Bairstow and David Warner, their middle order looks meek. The return of skipper Kane Williamson should rectify this issue somewhat, but there remains a lack of depth in their batting order. When opposition teams dismiss the openers, SRH have struggled to put up the runs on the board as the likes of Vijay Shankar, Manish Pandey and Yusuf Pathan haven’t been consistent enough. It was due to David Warner’s resilience to hold down one end, that Hyderabad managed to put up a score of 150 on the board. Despite their bowling line-up trying their utmost best and having some great quality, they will need their batsmen to step and put up some runs on the board if they are to qualify for the playoffs.  

Fielding blunders prove costly for Hyderabad 

In a close match where they are defending a low score, the fielders must be on guard and latch on to every opportunity which comes their way. Unfortunately for SRH, they were poor in the field against Punjab. Yusuf Pathan’s dropped catch of Mayank Agarwal was particularly criminal, as it could have changed the complexion of the game. Agarwal was in the middle of a game-changing partnership with KL Rahul. With the batsmen which followed failing to make a mark, the dismissal of Agarwal could have made all the difference in a tight encounter.