IPL 2022: Resurgent SRH have tough task against high-fliers GT

Monday eveningrsquos IPL15 clash at the DY Patil Stadium here will see 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad take on highflying debutants Gujarat Titans the only team with an allwin record thus far in the competitionSunrisers led by the vastly experienced New Zealander Kane Williamson stopped their twogame losing streak with a comprehensive eightwicket victory over title holders Chennai Super Kings at the same venue on SaturdayHowever the resurgent Hyderabadis are aware of the hard task on hand as they clash with the Hardik Pandyaled Titans who go into their fourth match with a full six points from three gamesGujaratrsquos unbeaten runTitans opened their campaign with a fivewicket victory over the other new franchise Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium on March 28 They followed it up with a 14run verdict over Delhi Capitals at Pune on April 2 and then conquered Punjab Kings with a lastball six struck by Rahul Tewatia at the Brabourne Stadium on April 8They go into this fixture after a twoday break while their opposition had just oneOpener Shubman Gill is in terrific form for the Titans going into the clash with successive scores of 84 and 96 Skipper Pandyamdashknown for his finishing actsmdashhas had good startsArmed with a settled bowling combination including Mohammed Shami Lockie Ferguson and Rashid Khan the Titans will fancy their chances especially if they can put SRH in to bat at this venue that has witnessed some heavy dew fall later in the evening gamesSunrisers on the other hand saw opener Abhishek Sharma come to the fore with a superb innings of 75 that helped them overhaul the modest score of 154 put up by the Chennai Super Kings Williamson made a steady 32 and Rahul Tripathi finished the game with a 15ball 39 not out However the Hyderabad outfit still lack a finisher late in the orderAbhishekrsquos innings earned him praise from head coach Tom Moody ldquoWe recognised right at the beginning of the tournament and even at the auction that Abhishek was going to be an important player for us at the top of the orderrdquo said Moody after the lefthanderrsquos fluent 50ball knock containing five fours and three sixes against CSKMoody praise for AbhishekldquoHe has shown some great signs hersquos an exciting young talented player As we saw today he deliveredrdquo added Moody about Abhishek who played for SRH last season and was repurchased at the mega players auction for R650 crore that was much higher than his base price of R20 lakhsSRHrsquos bowling attack too looks to have improved after the opening game with leftarm pacer T Natarajan six wickets in three games and offspinner Washington Sundar four wickets doing particularly well