IPL 2024 Qualifier 1, KKR vs SRH - Significance Of Overseas Stars For Hyderabad; 3 Match-Winners For SRH

Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins and Travis Head will be the most important players for SRH [AP Photos]

We are down to the last four games in the 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024). The playoff stages of the tournament will kick off with the Qualifier 1 between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Sunrisers Hyderabad. This match will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 21st at 7:30 PM IST. 

The Sunrisers Hyderabad have been the most entertaining team in the tournament. Their brand of cricket has kept the spectators on the edge of their seats and eagerly waiting for their games. However, after a brilliant start to the tournament, they had a bit of a drop in momentum. By the end of the league stages, they had to wait for a few results to go in their favour to make it to the playoffs as the second team in the points table. Pat Cummins will try to keep his squad continuing the winning habit and bring home the franchise's second IPL trophy. 

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Narendra Modi Stadium Ground Stats (IPL 2024)

The SRH team might find the conditions at the Narendra Modi Stadium similar to their home conditions. They will be looking up at their proven performers in the tournament to take through to the finale. 

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Potential Match winners for Sunrisers Hyderabad

Travis Head

The Australian opener has been in destructive form in the IPL 2024. Travis Head has played some blazing knocks at the top of the order, setting the stage for the team to reach mammoth totals. In IPL 2024, Head has scored 533 Runs in 12 innings at an average of 48.45 while maintaining a strike rate of 201.13.

Head has also enjoyed playing against KKR. In the only game against the franchise, Head has scored 75 runs off 47 deliveries. Besides, Head enjoys batting at the NMS. Though his numbers are insignificant in the only IPL match he has played here, Head has done an excellent job here in the longer formats. In Test cricket, he averages 61 in two innings at this venue, while everyone remembers his brilliant effort in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. It is a big match, so Travis Head could come up with another batting masterclass. 

Heinrich Klaasen

While Travis Head has helped SRH with some blazing starts, Henrich Klaasen has helped them maintain the momentum in the middle overs. Klaasen has scored 381 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 183.17, with an average of 42.33 in IPL 2024. 

The South African keeper-batter has some good numbers at the NMS. He has scored 88 runs in two innings at a strike of 154.40 at this venue. Against KKR, Klaasen has 133 runs at an average of 66.50 and a strike rate of 182.20. All the stats suggest that Heinrich Klaasen could play a significant role in deciding the game's fate in SRH's favour.

Pat Cummins

The Australian long-format skipper has emerged as the Captain Marvel for SRH in IPL 2024. Not only has Pat Cummins been strategically brilliant, but he has also delivered with both the bat and the ball in crunch situations. The Aussie superstar has six wickets in three IPL matches at the NMS, with an impressive economy of 7.55. He has already shown his knack for coming up with brilliant displays under pressure, and judging by the numbers; we could witness one more classic Cummins show.