SRH vs GT: SunRisers join KKR and RR in playoffs after rain washes out Hyderabad game
SunRisers became the third team after Kolkata and Rajasthan to qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs.
The 2016 champions confirmed their berth in the top four after their penultimate league game of the season against Gujarat at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad was washed out due to rain on Thursday, May 16.
This is the first time since the 2020 season that SunRisers reached the playoffs. The former champions had a lean run in the recent past, finishing 8th, 8th and 10th in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively. Pat Cummins, who has been on a title-winning spree after the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup triumph, has been credited for their turnaround and the fearless brand of cricket that they have played in IPL 2024.
While the toss was delayed due to a steady downpour in the lead-up to the game, a steady drizzle made sure the covers stayed on the pitch. Captains Pat Cummins and Shubman Gill inspected the pitch multiple times, but they never got out of their training kits. Despite the rain, there was a healthy crowd at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium to cheer for the home side. The fans were entertained by a light show and music as they celebrated SRH’s progress to the playoffs.
SunRisers took their tally to 15 points from 13 games after the washout in Hyderabad. Pat Cummins’s men, who face Punjab on May 19 at home, have an opportunity to finish in the top two and play Qualifier 1 against table-toppers KKR. SunRisers’ qualification also ended the playoffs hopes of Delhi and Lucknow and added spice to the much-anticipated clash between RCB and CSK in Bengaluru on Saturday — which is now a virtual knockout.
DISAPPOINTING CAMPAIGN FOR GUJARAT
On the other hand, Gujarat ended their season in the bottom four after their last two games were abandoned due to rain. GT’s last home game against KKR in Ahmedabad was also washed out due to bad weather. It was a disappointing campaign for Gujarat, who won the title in 2022 and finished runners-up in 2022, as the team, under new captain Shubman Gill, struggled for consistency despite showing sparks of brilliance.
On the other hand, SunRisers have been a force to reckon with this season, smashing mammoth scores of 287 — an IPL record — and 277. Travis Head (533 in 11 matches) and Abhishek Sharma (401 in 11 matches) have been the pillars of their success, having sent shivers down the spines of opposition bowlers with their aggressive approach.
SunRisers’ bowling unit has also started to peak at the right time with the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pat Cummins and T Natarajan impressing, especially in the death overs.
SunRisers will be hoping to win their last league game and qualify for the second spot. They will also be praying Rajasthan, who are on a four-match losing streak, lose their last game against KKR in Guwahati on Sunday. If Rajasthan win their last league game, they will finish second.