IPL 2020: Returns of Stokes will give RR strength, Royals seek victory in match against SRH

 

Troubled by four consecutive defeats, Rajasthan Royals are missing their all-rounder Ben Stokes. His return in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday is expected to give the team a win. The Royals have faced defeat in four consecutive matches after two wins. At the same time, SunRisers have won three out of six matches and are in fifth place.

Stokes can join the team

Stokes' compulsory confinement was completed on Saturday. The team's balance has deteriorated in their absence and so far the right combination has not been found. Stokes moved to New Zealand midway during the home Test series against Pakistan in August, where his father is undergoing treatment for cancer. In the match against Delhi on Friday, no batsman could play for Royals except Yashasvi Jaiswal (34) and Rahul Tewatia (38). Jose Butler, Steve Smith and Sanju Samson failed to meet expectations. Samson and Smith could not do with the bat after the first two games. In bowling, Jofra Archer, Teotia and Shreyas Gopal have performed well.

Sunrisers are in rhythm

Sunrisers, on the other hand, beat Kings XI Punjab by three wickets after successive defeats by opener Johnny Bairstow and spinner Rashid Khan. Bairstow scored 97 off 55 balls against Punjab for the Sunrisers. He also batted well against Delhi and Bangalore. Captain David Warner, who has scored 227 runs so far, would like to maintain his good form, who scored 52 runs in 40 balls in the last match. Manish Pandey and Kane Williamson can play the innings. Priyam Garg, Abdul Samad and Abhishek Sharma have also influenced. Among the bowlers, Rashid and Yorker specialist T Natarajan have performed well.

Potential matches

Rajasthan Royals:

Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Steven Smith (captain), Ben Stokes, Mahipal Lomror, Rahul Tewatia, Shreyas Gopal, Joffra Archer, Varun Aaron, Karthik Tyagi

Sunrisers Hyderabad:

David Warner (captain), Johnny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Manish Pandey, Kane Williamson, Priyam Garg, Abdul Samad, Abhishek Sharma, Rashid Khan, T Natarajan, Khalil Ahmed, Sandeep Sharma