SRH vs RR: 'You can't have good IPL season with...' - Gautam Gambhir's no-nonsense verdict on Sunrisers Hyderabad

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Gautam Gambhir opened up about the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) ahead of Qualifier 2 against the Rajasthan Royals (RR). Gautam Gambhir stated that a balanced performance in both batting and bowling is crucial for a successful Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

The Hyderabad-based team achieved success with their batting performance in the IPL 2024 season. Led by Pat Cummins, they surpassed the 250-run mark three times, notably posting a remarkable 287 runs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the highest team total in the tournament's history.

The 2016 IPL champions ended the league stage in second place on the 10-team points table. They suffered an eight-wicket loss against the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Qualifier 1 match. They will face the Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday, May 24.

SRH Do Have Quality Bowlers - Gautam Gambhir

Speaking on Sportskeeda, Gautam Gambhir emphasized that SRH's bowling attack, comprising Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan, and Pat Cummins, should be acknowledged. Gambhir stated that their bowling is equally destructive, adding that balance across both departments is crucial for IPL's success.

"They do have quality bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pat Cummins, and Natarajan. There has been a lot of talk about their batting because they have made such huge scores. But their bowling is equally destructive. You cannot have a good IPL season with only one department firing," Gambhir told Sportskeeda.

RR Were At The Top Of The Table For A Long Time - Gautam Gambhir

The Rajasthan Royals won eight of their first nine matches in the ongoing tournament. However, they suffered four consecutive losses, and their final league match was abandoned due to rain. The Sanju Samson-led team defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Eliminator to advance to Qualifier 2.

Gautam Gambhir believes that the Royals remain a threat despite recent performance dip. The former Indian opener noted that RR's consistent form had them leading the table for a significant period. Gambhir added that RR's balanced batting and bowling line-up make them formidable opponents.

"RR were at the top of the table for a long time. In an IPL season, these times come where you win a few games you should have lost and lose a few games you should have won. The kind of batting and bowling that they have, they have most of their bases covered," Gambhir added.

The 42-year-old highlighted SRH openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head as the main threat to the Rajasthan Royals in the knockout match. Gambhir mentioned that he anticipates a fresh pitch for Qualifier 2 with an even pace and bounce, despite Chepauk historically favoring spinners.

Rajasthan Royals Predicted Playing XII: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sandeep Sharma

SunRisers Hyderabad Predicted Playing XII: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (WK), Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Aiden Markram, Pat Cummins (c), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Mayank Markande, T Natarajan