IPL 2019: Hyderabad to deal with middle-order woes ahead of Punjab clash

Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi played a pivotal role as Hyderabad dished out an all-round effort to record a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/live-updates-ipl-2019-delhi-capitals-vs-sunrisers-hyderabad-207947">five-wicket win over hosts Delhi</a> and register their third consecutive victory in the Indian Premier League on Thursday.

Nabi (2/21) took two wickets with the ball and also played a crucial 9-ball 17-run unbeaten knock towards the end to help Hyderabad keep their winning run intact.

By virtue of this win, Hyderabad have moved to the top of the eight-team standings with six points from four games.

Chasing a modest 130, opener Jonny Bairstow smashed a 28-ball 48 to set the foundation but Hyderabad lost five wickets for 48 runs to slip to 111 for five by the end of the 16th over.

Nabi and Yusuf Pathan (9 not out) then held their nerves to take Hyderabad home, scoring 131 for five in 18.3 overs.&nbsp;

The win took Hyderabad's overall head-to-head record against Delhi at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium to 4-1.

Earlier electing to field, Hyderabad dished out a superb bowling effort on a slow and dry wicket to restrict Delhi to a lowly 129 for eight.&nbsp;

It was skipper Shreyas Iyer, who emerged as the highest-scorer for Delhi with a steady 41-ball 43.

Chasing a lowly target, Bairstow got a reprieve early on when Axar Patel dropped a caught and bowl chance in the second over.

The Englishman made Delhi pay for the mistake, blasting a six and a four off Sandeep Lamichhane in the next over. He next took Chris Morris to the cleaners, smashing three boundaries and another hit to the fence in the next over.

Kagiso Rabada was introduced but he too was treated with equal disdain by Bairstow, sending him across the fences thrice as Hyderabad once again didn't lose any wicket in the powerplay, scoring 62 for no loss.

Bairstow was finally dismissed in the seventh over with Rahul Tewatia trapping him in front of the wicket. The opener asked for a review but the decision was not overturned.

Rabada then ended Warner's rampaging run in the tournament by having him caught at mid-off.&nbsp;

The hosts then removed Manish Pandey (10), Vijay Shankar (16) and Deepak Hooda (10) quickly to give themselves a chance of a comeback.

Earlier, Hyderabad bowlers exploited the conditions well, making life difficult for the hosts, who simply failed to get going right from the start on a slow wicket.&nbsp;

Skipper Iyer tried to anchor the innings but he didn't get support from the other end. It would have been more embarrassing for Delhi, if not for the cameos from Morris (17 off 15) and Axar Patel (23 not out off 13).

The pace-spin combination of Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/27) and Nabi gave Hyderabad a good start, restricting Delhi to 19 for one in first four overs.

After conceding a first ball boundary, Bhuvneshwar came back to clean up Prithvi Shaw in the third over. &nbsp;

Iyer then deposited one at the stands after Siddarth Kaul (2/35) was introduced into the attack, while Shikhar Dhawan hit a four with a sweep shot off Nabi.

But another sweep shot proved costly as Nabi had Dhawan caught at short fine leg by Sandeep Sharma. Delhi thus slumped to 36 for two after the end of the powerplay.

A lot was expected from Rishabh Pant but he too departed just after a time-out in the 10th over.&nbsp;

Sandeep Sharma (1/25) then bamboozled Rahul Tewatia with a knuckleball as Delhi slipped to 61 for four in 11 overs.

In the 14th over, Manish Pandey took a superb catch at point to remove Colin Ingram off Kaul's ball as Delhi lost half their side for 75.

Morris blasted two fours to give some momentum to Delhi's innings but Rashid Khan got rid off Iyer, who tried to sweep across the line and ended up being bowled as Delhi were reduced to 93 for six.

With three overs to go, Morris sent Sandeep Sharma over the mid-wicket area to take Delhi across the 100-run mark.

Once Morris was dismissed by Bhuvneshwar in the 19th over, it was upto Axar Patel to take the score to some respectability and he tried his best, smashing a four and two sixes in the last over to take Delhi close to 130-run mark.&nbsp;

Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi played a pivotal role as Hyderabad dished out an all-round effort to record a five-wicket win over hosts Delhi and register their third consecutive victory in the Indian Premier League on Thursday.

Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi played a pivotal role as Hyderabad dished out an all-round effort to record a five-wicket win over hosts Delhi and register their third consecutive victory in the Indian Premier League on Thursday. Nabi (2/21) took two wickets with the ball and also played a crucial 9-ball 17-run unbeaten knock towards the end to help Hyderabad keep their winning run intact. By virtue of this win, Hyderabad have moved to the top of the eight-team standings with six points from four games. Chasing a modest 130, opener Jonny Bairstow smashed a 28-ball 48 to set the foundation but Hyderabad lost five wickets for 48 runs to slip to 111 for five by the end of the 16th over. Nabi and Yusuf Pathan (9 not out) then held their nerves to take Hyderabad home, scoring 131 for five in 18.3 overs. The win took Hyderabad's overall head-to-head record against Delhi at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium to 4-1. Earlier electing to field, Hyderabad dished out a superb bowling effort on a slow and dry wicket to restrict Delhi to a lowly 129 for eight. It was skipper Shreyas Iyer, who emerged as the highest-scorer for Delhi with a steady 41-ball 43. Chasing a lowly target, Bairstow got a reprieve early on when Axar Patel dropped a caught and bowl chance in the second over. The Englishman made Delhi pay for the mistake, blasting a six and a four off Sandeep Lamichhane in the next over. He next took Chris Morris to the cleaners, smashing three boundaries and another hit to the fence in the next over. Kagiso Rabada was introduced but he too was treated with equal disdain by Bairstow, sending him across the fences thrice as Hyderabad once again didn't lose any wicket in the powerplay, scoring 62 for no loss. Bairstow was finally dismissed in the seventh over with Rahul Tewatia trapping him in front of the wicket. The opener asked for a review but the decision was not overturned. Rabada then ended Warner's rampaging run in the tournament by having him caught at mid-off. The hosts then removed Manish Pandey (10), Vijay Shankar (16) and Deepak Hooda (10) quickly to give themselves a chance of a comeback. Earlier, Hyderabad bowlers exploited the conditions well, making life difficult for the hosts, who simply failed to get going right from the start on a slow wicket. Skipper Iyer tried to anchor the innings but he didn't get support from the other end. It would have been more embarrassing for Delhi, if not for the cameos from Morris (17 off 15) and Axar Patel (23 not out off 13). The pace-spin combination of Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/27) and Nabi gave Hyderabad a good start, restricting Delhi to 19 for one in first four overs. After conceding a first ball boundary, Bhuvneshwar came back to clean up Prithvi Shaw in the third over. Iyer then deposited one at the stands after Siddarth Kaul (2/35) was introduced into the attack, while Shikhar Dhawan hit a four with a sweep shot off Nabi. But another sweep shot proved costly as Nabi had Dhawan caught at short fine leg by Sandeep Sharma. Delhi thus slumped to 36 for two after the end of the powerplay. A lot was expected from Rishabh Pant but he too departed just after a time-out in the 10th over. Sandeep Sharma (1/25) then bamboozled Rahul Tewatia with a knuckleball as Delhi slipped to 61 for four in 11 overs. In the 14th over, Manish Pandey took a superb catch at point to remove Colin Ingram off Kaul's ball as Delhi lost half their side for 75. Morris blasted two fours to give some momentum to Delhi's innings but Rashid Khan got rid off Iyer, who tried to sweep across the line and ended up being bowled as Delhi were reduced to 93 for six. With three overs to go, Morris sent Sandeep Sharma over the mid-wicket area to take Delhi across the 100-run mark. Once Morris was dismissed by Bhuvneshwar in the 19th over, it was upto Axar Patel to take the score to some respectability and he tried his best, smashing a four and two sixes in the last over to take Delhi close to 130-run mark.

IPL 2019: Hyderabad beat Delhi by five wickets to top points table

Going into the match 16 of the Indian Premier League 2019, Delhi will host Hyderabad at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi.&nbsp;

Delhi skipper Shreyas Iyer's task is to sort out his team’s lower-order and get some consistency in their remaining fixtures of this season.&nbsp;

On the other hand, Hyderabad are in great form as their openers -David Warner and Jonny Bairstow - scored centuries to handle a 118-run defeat to Bangalore.&nbsp;

However, it will be interesting to see whether Hyderabad's regular captain Kane Williamson is fit to make a comeback in the playing 11.&nbsp;

Delhi are currently placed at the fifth spot at 2019 IPL points table with two wins and as many losses after four games while Hyderabad are placed at the third position with two wins and one loss but they have best net run rate (2.111) among eight teams.

If we talk about the previous performances of the two sides the, Delhi began their tournament with a superb win over three-time former champions Mumbai but suffered a defeat at the hands of Chennai. they later made a strong comeback by defeating Kolkata in Super Over but again lost the winning track against Punjab.&nbsp;

Against Punjab, Delhi's frailties came into limelight as the team suffered a lower order collapse as they lost seven wickets for just eight runs.

Rishabh Pant, who made 78 to pile up 213 for his team against Mumbai in the first match, has been the highest run-scorer for Delhi while the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Iyer and Colin Ingram too have been among runs.&nbsp;

The bowling department led by Kagiso Rabada, while they also have New Zealand pacer Trent Boult and Ishant Sharma in their ranks.&nbsp;

Young Nepalese leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane too has performed well so far for Delhi.

Hyderabad openers Warner and Bairstow, on the other hand, have been in scintillating form in IPL 2019, establishing a partnership in all their three matches so far.&nbsp;

On road to redemption, Warner has looked ominous as he blasted 69 off 37 balls against Rajasthan, before a whirlwind 55-ball unbeaten 100 blew away Bangalore.&nbsp;

Besides, he started IPL 2019 with a 85-run knock against Kolkata. After the six-wicket defeat to Kolkata, Hyderabad roared their way back into the tournament, largely riding on Warner and Bairstow's exploits and come Thursday, they would be eyeing a hat-trick of wins.&nbsp;

Among Hyderabad bowlers, Afghanistan spin duo of Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan would look to do the maximum damage, while pacer Sandeep Sharma too has done well with four wickets.

But Bhuvneshwar Kumar's performance, especially at the death, has been a major concern for Hyderabad.

Going into the match 16 of the Indian Premier League 2019, Delhi will host Hyderabad at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi. Delhi skipper Shreyas Iyer's task is to sort out his team’s lower-order and get some consistency in their remaining fixtures of this season.

Going into the match 16 of the Indian Premier League 2019, Delhi will host Hyderabad at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi. Delhi skipper Shreyas Iyer's task is to sort out his team’s lower-order and get some consistency in their remaining fixtures of this season. On the other hand, Hyderabad are in great form as their openers -David Warner and Jonny Bairstow - scored centuries to handle a 118-run defeat to Bangalore. However, it will be interesting to see whether Hyderabad's regular captain Kane Williamson is fit to make a comeback in the playing 11. Delhi are currently placed at the fifth spot at 2019 IPL points table with two wins and as many losses after four games while Hyderabad are placed at the third position with two wins and one loss but they have best net run rate (2.111) among eight teams. If we talk about the previous performances of the two sides the, Delhi began their tournament with a superb win over three-time former champions Mumbai but suffered a defeat at the hands of Chennai. they later made a strong comeback by defeating Kolkata in Super Over but again lost the winning track against Punjab. Against Punjab, Delhi's frailties came into limelight as the team suffered a lower order collapse as they lost seven wickets for just eight runs. Rishabh Pant, who made 78 to pile up 213 for his team against Mumbai in the first match, has been the highest run-scorer for Delhi while the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Iyer and Colin Ingram too have been among runs. The bowling department led by Kagiso Rabada, while they also have New Zealand pacer Trent Boult and Ishant Sharma in their ranks. Young Nepalese leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane too has performed well so far for Delhi. Hyderabad openers Warner and Bairstow, on the other hand, have been in scintillating form in IPL 2019, establishing a partnership in all their three matches so far. On road to redemption, Warner has looked ominous as he blasted 69 off 37 balls against Rajasthan, before a whirlwind 55-ball unbeaten 100 blew away Bangalore. Besides, he started IPL 2019 with a 85-run knock against Kolkata. After the six-wicket defeat to Kolkata, Hyderabad roared their way back into the tournament, largely riding on Warner and Bairstow's exploits and come Thursday, they would be eyeing a hat-trick of wins. Among Hyderabad bowlers, Afghanistan spin duo of Mohammad Nabi and Rashid Khan would look to do the maximum damage, while pacer Sandeep Sharma too has done well with four wickets. But Bhuvneshwar Kumar's performance, especially at the death, has been a major concern for Hyderabad.

IPL 2019: Delhi look to overcome lower-order woes against Hyderabad

IPL 2019: 'Worried' Delhi hosts upbeat Hyderabad

IPL 2019: All teams and their squad list

Bhuvneshwar Kumar-led Hyderabad defeated Virat Kohli-led Bangalore in a one-sided contest at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium on Sunday.&nbsp;

Opting to bowl, Bangalore bowlers conceded too many runs as Hyderabad posted a mammoth 232-run target.&nbsp;

Chasing the same, Kohli's side was bundled out after scoring 113 runs in the 19th over as the Orange Army registered a 118-run win.&nbsp;

For Hyderabad, both the openers Jonny Bairstow and David Warner were among runs as both of them completed&nbsp;centuries.&nbsp;

Jonny Bairstow scored 114 runs off 56 balls to complete his maiden Indian Premier League century; his innings included 12 fours and seven sixes.&nbsp;

For his sensational knock, he received Man of the Match award.&nbsp;

While David Warner, who missed IPL's last edition due to his involvement in a ball-tampering scandal, made a strong come back this year.&nbsp;

He scored an unbeaten 100 runs off 55 balls.&nbsp;

In the bowling department, Mohammad Nabi proved to be economical as he took four wickets and gave 11 runs. His economy was 2.75.&nbsp;

Sandeep Sharma also helped with his pace and seam as he took three important wickets.&nbsp;

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Jonny Bairstow receives the Man of the Match award for his sensational knock of 114 off 56 💪💪 <a href="https://t.co/GdTkDjG87z">pic.twitter.com/GdTkDjG87z</a>
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1112359304378499072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2019</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Bhuvneshwar Kumar-led Hyderabad defeated Virat Kohli-led Bangalore in a one-sided contest at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium on Sunday. Opting to bowl, Bangalore bowlers conceded too many runs as Hyderabad posted a mammoth 232-run target.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar-led Hyderabad defeated Virat Kohli-led Bangalore in a one-sided contest at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium on Sunday. Opting to bowl, Bangalore bowlers conceded too many runs as Hyderabad posted a mammoth 232-run target. Chasing the same, Kohli's side was bundled out after scoring 113 runs in the 19th over as the Orange Army registered a 118-run win. For Hyderabad, both the openers Jonny Bairstow and David Warner were among runs as both of them completed centuries. Jonny Bairstow scored 114 runs off 56 balls to complete his maiden Indian Premier League century; his innings included 12 fours and seven sixes. For his sensational knock, he received Man of the Match award. While David Warner, who missed IPL's last edition due to his involvement in a ball-tampering scandal, made a strong come back this year. He scored an unbeaten 100 runs off 55 balls. In the bowling department, Mohammad Nabi proved to be economical as he took four wickets and gave 11 runs. His economy was 2.75. Sandeep Sharma also helped with his pace and seam as he took three important wickets. Jonny Bairstow receives the Man of the Match award for his sensational knock of 114 off 56 💪💪 pic.twitter.com/GdTkDjG87z — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 31, 2019 ×

IPL 2019: David Warner and Jonny Bairstow shine as Hyderabad beat Bangalore by 118 runs

Australian cricketer David Warner said that local fans have inspired him the most as after his splendid half-century, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2019-david-warners-blistering-fifty-helps-hyderabad-beat-rajasthan-by-5-wickets-206607">Hyderabad defeated Rajasthan</a>&nbsp;by five wickets in the Indian Premier League match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday.&nbsp;

During the post-match presentation, Warner said, "One thing that inspires me is the local fans, they are amazing. We try and put on a good show."

Warner set up the platform for Hyderabad with a breezy 69 off 37 balls and together with Jonny Bairstow (45 off 28) added a century stand for the opening wicket to spoil Rajasthan's day.&nbsp;

"I enjoy playing in front of this crowd. They are fantastic. It is a day game," he further added.&nbsp;

Warner played with a strike rate of 186.49 and his knock was studded with nine fours and two sixes.

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What a game of cricket this has been in Hyderabad.<a href="https://twitter.com/SunRisers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SunRisers</a> clinch a thriller with their highest successful run chase in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VIVOIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VIVOIPL</a> 😎😎 <a href="https://t.co/A13m98FXCw">pic.twitter.com/A13m98FXCw</a>
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Chasing the 198-run target, Warner looked in imperious form as he started clobbering the Rajasthan bowlers from the word go.&nbsp;

"We have to assess the wicket. I think we are playing on the other one, so we have to come and assess it. It is orange, Sunrisers, why not," Warner added.&nbsp;

Australian cricketer David Warner said that local fans have inspired him the most as after his splendid half-century, Hyderabad defeated Rajasthan by five wickets in the Indian Premier League match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday.

Australian cricketer David Warner said that local fans have inspired him the most as after his splendid half-century, Hyderabad defeated Rajasthan by five wickets in the Indian Premier League match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday. During the post-match presentation, Warner said, "One thing that inspires me is the local fans, they are amazing. We try and put on a good show." Warner set up the platform for Hyderabad with a breezy 69 off 37 balls and together with Jonny Bairstow (45 off 28) added a century stand for the opening wicket to spoil Rajasthan's day. "I enjoy playing in front of this crowd. They are fantastic. It is a day game," he further added. Warner played with a strike rate of 186.49 and his knock was studded with nine fours and two sixes. What a game of cricket this has been in Hyderabad.@SunRisers clinch a thriller with their highest successful run chase in #VIVOIPL 😎😎 pic.twitter.com/A13m98FXCw — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 29, 2019 × Chasing the 198-run target, Warner looked in imperious form as he started clobbering the Rajasthan bowlers from the word go. "We have to assess the wicket. I think we are playing on the other one, so we have to come and assess it. It is orange, Sunrisers, why not," Warner added.

'One thing that inspires me is the local fans,' says David Warner

Hyderabad's star batsman <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/live-updates-ipl-2019-sunrisers-hyderabad-vs-rajasthan-royals-at-rajiv-gandhi-international-stadium-206539">David Warner struck a blistering fifty</a> as his side defeated Rajasthan by five wickets to register their first win in the ongoing edition Indian Premier League at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday.&nbsp;

Opting to bat, Rajasthan&nbsp;posted a mammoth total&nbsp;of 198 runs with the help of&nbsp;Sanju Samson's second IPL century but his ton&nbsp;went in vain, as chasing a mammoth 199-run target, Warner set up the platform for Hyderabad with a breezy 69 off 37 balls and together with Jonny Bairstow (45 off 28) added a century stand for the opening wicket to spoil Rajasthan's day.&nbsp;

Apart from Warner, skipper Kane Williamson (14) and Vijay Shankar (35 off 15) played aggressively to bring down the equation within reach but three quick wickets, that too in consecutive balls of Shreyas Gopal (3/27) in the 16th over, changed the complexion of the game.&nbsp;

But Yusuf Pathan (16 not out) and Rashid Khan (15 not out) played sensibly to overwhelm the target with ease.

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A brilliant shot to finish the innings from <a href="https://twitter.com/rashidkhan_19?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rashidkhan_19</a> 
 
The <a href="https://twitter.com/SunRisers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SunRisers</a> win by 5 wickets <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SRHvRR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SRHvRR</a> <a href="https://t.co/kGm5HqIWXy">pic.twitter.com/kGm5HqIWXy</a>
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In the first innings, Rahane led from the front with 49-ball 70 and together with Samson shared 119 runs for the second wicket to set the base for the total.&nbsp;

Introduced into the attack in the fourth over, Rashid (1/24) struck with only his second ball, cleaning up Jos Buttler around his legs.

After Buttler's dismissal, skipper Rahane was joined at the crease by Samson and the duo played cautiously without taking any undue risk to take Rajasthan forward.&nbsp;

Rahane registered his first fifty of the ongoing IPL in 38 balls while Samson brought up his half-century in 34 deliveries as the duo raised 100-run stand for the second wicket in 65 balls.

Hyderabad's star batsman David Warner struck a blistering fifty as his side defeated Rajasthan by five wickets to register their first win in the ongoing edition Indian Premier League at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday.

Hyderabad's star batsman David Warner struck a blistering fifty as his side defeated Rajasthan by five wickets to register their first win in the ongoing edition Indian Premier League at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday. Opting to bat, Rajasthan posted a mammoth total of 198 runs with the help of Sanju Samson's second IPL century but his ton went in vain, as chasing a mammoth 199-run target, Warner set up the platform for Hyderabad with a breezy 69 off 37 balls and together with Jonny Bairstow (45 off 28) added a century stand for the opening wicket to spoil Rajasthan's day. Apart from Warner, skipper Kane Williamson (14) and Vijay Shankar (35 off 15) played aggressively to bring down the equation within reach but three quick wickets, that too in consecutive balls of Shreyas Gopal (3/27) in the 16th over, changed the complexion of the game. But Yusuf Pathan (16 not out) and Rashid Khan (15 not out) played sensibly to overwhelm the target with ease. A brilliant shot to finish the innings from @rashidkhan_19 The @SunRisers win by 5 wickets #SRHvRR pic.twitter.com/kGm5HqIWXy — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 29, 2019 × In the first innings, Rahane led from the front with 49-ball 70 and together with Samson shared 119 runs for the second wicket to set the base for the total. Introduced into the attack in the fourth over, Rashid (1/24) struck with only his second ball, cleaning up Jos Buttler around his legs. After Buttler's dismissal, skipper Rahane was joined at the crease by Samson and the duo played cautiously without taking any undue risk to take Rajasthan forward. Rahane registered his first fifty of the ongoing IPL in 38 balls while Samson brought up his half-century in 34 deliveries as the duo raised 100-run stand for the second wicket in 65 balls.

IPL 2019: David Warner's blistering fifty helps Hyderabad beat Rajasthan by 5 wickets

Kane Williamson-led Hyderabad is set to face Ajinkya Rahane-led Rajasthan in an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/ipl-2019">Indian Premier League</a> match at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday.&nbsp;

So far the tournament is in its full swing and has seen quite enough, from some mesmerising performances to few controversies as well.&nbsp;

'Mankaded' in their opening match, Rajasthan would look to resurrect their fortunes against Hyderabad, who would also be aiming to put behind a disappointing first-day show.

Players are also focusing on giving their 100 per cent and impress their national team selectors to get a confirmed ticket to the England-bound plane for the cricket World Cup.&nbsp;

For Rajasthan, Jos Buttler looked in great touch in their opener but he would look for more support from the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson, Steve Smith and Ben Stokes in the batting department.&nbsp;

In particular, Smith, who returned to the IPL after missing the last edition following the ball-tampering scandal, would be eyeing more time at the crease ahead of the upcoming ODI World Cup.

Dhawal Kulkarni and spinner Krishnappa Gowtham were brilliant upfront with the ball against Punjab, but Stokes and Jaydev Unadkat leaked runs.&nbsp;

Pacer Jofra Archer, who gave away just 17 runs in his four overs, looked threatening but wickets eluded him.

Watch the preview:

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Just like Rajasthan, Hyderabad too didn't have a dream start to their campaign, losing by six wickets to Kolkata.&nbsp;

While David Warner-led Hyderabad's batting looked solid, the death bowling performance spoiled their chances against Kolkata.&nbsp;

Warner, who is in imperious form after returning to competitive cricket following the one-year ban for ball-tampering, played true to his reputation, smashing 85 off 53 balls against Kolkata the other day.

And Hyderabad know their chances heavily depend on Warner's success even though they also have the likes of skipper Kane Williamson, Jonny Bairstow, Vijay Shankar, Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan and Shakib Al Hasan in their ranks.&nbsp;

Williamson wasn't available in the first game due to injury but head coach Tom Moody indicated that he in all likelihood "will be fit for Friday's game and lead the side".&nbsp;

Hyderabad bowling unit, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, had a good outing for the most part of the match on Sunday before the Andre Russell storm blew them away in the last three overs.

Needing 53 off the last three overs, Russell hammered Bhuvneshwar and Siddharth Kaul before Shakib was taken to the cleaners by young Shubman Gill in the final over as Sunrisers lost the plot.

And come Friday, Bhuvneshwar and the rest of the attack, which also includes Rashid Khan, will be eyeing a much-improved death bowling show.

Kane Williamson-led Hyderabad is set to face Ajinkya Rahane-led Rajasthan in an Indian Premier League match at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday. So far the tournament is in its full swing and has seen quite enough, from some mesmerising performances to few controversies as well.

Kane Williamson-led Hyderabad is set to face Ajinkya Rahane-led Rajasthan in an Indian Premier League match at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday. So far the tournament is in its full swing and has seen quite enough, from some mesmerising performances to few controversies as well. 'Mankaded' in their opening match, Rajasthan would look to resurrect their fortunes against Hyderabad, who would also be aiming to put behind a disappointing first-day show. Players are also focusing on giving their 100 per cent and impress their national team selectors to get a confirmed ticket to the England-bound plane for the cricket World Cup. For Rajasthan, Jos Buttler looked in great touch in their opener but he would look for more support from the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson, Steve Smith and Ben Stokes in the batting department. In particular, Smith, who returned to the IPL after missing the last edition following the ball-tampering scandal, would be eyeing more time at the crease ahead of the upcoming ODI World Cup. Dhawal Kulkarni and spinner Krishnappa Gowtham were brilliant upfront with the ball against Punjab, but Stokes and Jaydev Unadkat leaked runs. Pacer Jofra Archer, who gave away just 17 runs in his four overs, looked threatening but wickets eluded him. Watch the preview: × Just like Rajasthan, Hyderabad too didn't have a dream start to their campaign, losing by six wickets to Kolkata. While David Warner-led Hyderabad's batting looked solid, the death bowling performance spoiled their chances against Kolkata. Warner, who is in imperious form after returning to competitive cricket following the one-year ban for ball-tampering, played true to his reputation, smashing 85 off 53 balls against Kolkata the other day. And Hyderabad know their chances heavily depend on Warner's success even though they also have the likes of skipper Kane Williamson, Jonny Bairstow, Vijay Shankar, Manish Pandey, Yusuf Pathan and Shakib Al Hasan in their ranks. Williamson wasn't available in the first game due to injury but head coach Tom Moody indicated that he in all likelihood "will be fit for Friday's game and lead the side". Hyderabad bowling unit, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, had a good outing for the most part of the match on Sunday before the Andre Russell storm blew them away in the last three overs. Needing 53 off the last three overs, Russell hammered Bhuvneshwar and Siddharth Kaul before Shakib was taken to the cleaners by young Shubman Gill in the final over as Sunrisers lost the plot. And come Friday, Bhuvneshwar and the rest of the attack, which also includes Rashid Khan, will be eyeing a much-improved death bowling show.

IPL 2019: Kane Williamson-led Hyderabad to host Ajinkya Rahane-led Rajasthan

IPL 2019:  SRH player Goswami posts Picture of Muralitharan eating a dosa

IPL 2019: Rajasthan look to return to winning ways against Hyderabad

Australian cricketer David Warner made a stupendous Indian Premier League comeback with a scintillating 85, helping Hyderabad reach a challenging 181/3 in their campaign opener.&nbsp;

But unfortunately, the Orage Army failed to defend and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2019-andre-russell-steals-thrilling-win-for-kolkata-against-hyderabad-205352">lost the match to Dinesh Karthik-led Kolkata</a>.&nbsp;

Putting behind the embarrassing ball-tampering scandal, that kept him out last year, the Aussie smashed three sixes and nine boundaries in his 53-ball knock.&nbsp;

His produced an entertaining performance at the Eden Gardens and earned praises for his stunning comeback. But it was one of his big sixes that really caught spectators' eye.&nbsp;

While playing the 32-year-old launched one over the ropes only for it to crash into a cameraman&nbsp;but luckily he was unhurt.&nbsp;

"This has been absolutely bludgeoned. And hit our cameraman as well – what’s he doing?" one of the commentators said.

Another said, "He’s got to duck. He wasn’t even looking. Get a helmet on son."

Watch the video:

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🧐<a href="https://t.co/eX25CKDPvF">https://t.co/eX25CKDPvF</a>
— CricBoll (@mycricboll) <a href="https://twitter.com/mycricboll/status/1109787424815833089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Watch out! Warner’s SIX lands onto cameraman <a href="https://t.co/nu2PBUq3tQ">https://t.co/nu2PBUq3tQ</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ipl</a>
— Shekhar Singh (@Shekhar_jour) <a href="https://twitter.com/Shekhar_jour/status/1109830916572999680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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David Warner was just unstoppable : <a href="https://t.co/6eUpctkyqu">https://t.co/6eUpctkyqu</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2019</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DavidWarner?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DavidWarner</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrangeArmy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OrangeArmy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/T20?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#T20</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKRvSRH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKRvSRH</a> <a href="https://t.co/IFzBEsImNQ">https://t.co/IFzBEsImNQ</a>
— The Cricket Times (@CricketTimesHQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/CricketTimesHQ/status/1109796634802700289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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This was third-highest total against Hyderabad which was successfully chased down in IPL history.&nbsp;

The first was done by Punjab in 2014 when they chased 2016 and the second was Delhi's 186-run chase in 2017.&nbsp;

Hyderabad is a team known for its depth and variation in bowling.&nbsp;

Australian cricketer David Warner made a stupendous Indian Premier League comeback with a scintillating 85, helping Hyderabad reach a challenging 181/3 in their campaign opener.

Australian cricketer David Warner made a stupendous Indian Premier League comeback with a scintillating 85, helping Hyderabad reach a challenging 181/3 in their campaign opener. But unfortunately, the Orage Army failed to defend and lost the match to Dinesh Karthik-led Kolkata. Putting behind the embarrassing ball-tampering scandal, that kept him out last year, the Aussie smashed three sixes and nine boundaries in his 53-ball knock. His produced an entertaining performance at the Eden Gardens and earned praises for his stunning comeback. But it was one of his big sixes that really caught spectators' eye. While playing the 32-year-old launched one over the ropes only for it to crash into a cameraman but luckily he was unhurt. "This has been absolutely bludgeoned. And hit our cameraman as well – what’s he doing?" one of the commentators said. Another said, "He’s got to duck. He wasn’t even looking. Get a helmet on son." Watch the video: 🧐https://t.co/eX25CKDPvF — CricBoll (@mycricboll) March 24, 2019 × Watch out! Warner’s SIX lands onto cameraman https://t.co/nu2PBUq3tQ via @ipl — Shekhar Singh (@Shekhar_jour) March 24, 2019 × David Warner was just unstoppable : https://t.co/6eUpctkyqu#IPL2019 #DavidWarner #OrangeArmy #T20 #KKRvSRH https://t.co/IFzBEsImNQ — The Cricket Times (@CricketTimesHQ) March 24, 2019 × This was third-highest total against Hyderabad which was successfully chased down in IPL history. The first was done by Punjab in 2014 when they chased 2016 and the second was Delhi's 186-run chase in 2017. Hyderabad is a team known for its depth and variation in bowling.

Watch: David Warner hits cameraman during IPL match against Kolkata

IPL 2019: From Warner's comeback to Russell's explosive performance, key points of Kolkata vs Hyderabad match

Dinesh Karthik-led Kolkata <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/live-updates-ipl-2019-kolkata-knight-riders-vs-sunrisers-hyderabad-at-eden-gardens-205270">defeated Bhuvneshwar Kumar-led Hyderabad</a> to start their Indian Premier League 2019 campaign on a winning note.&nbsp;

After winning the toss, Karthik put Hyderabad to bat first at the high scoring pitch of Eden Gardens.&nbsp;

Batting first, the comeback-man David Warner struck 85 off 53 balls and shared a 118-run stand for the first wicket with wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow (39).&nbsp;

Vijay Shankar contributed unbeaten 40 in Hyderabad's total to give Kolkata a 182-run target.&nbsp;

While chasing, Kolkata suffered a bumpy start but the middle order batsmen held inspired the team towards victory.&nbsp;

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And, that's a FIFTY from <a href="https://twitter.com/NitishRana_27?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NitishRana_27</a> 😎😎 
 
His 6th in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VIVOIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VIVOIPL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKR</a> 97/3 after 13 overs. <a href="https://t.co/dXbWnTViND">pic.twitter.com/dXbWnTViND</a>
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1109810640779042818?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Andre Russell played a whirlwind unbeaten knock of 49-runs to script his side's dramatic win after Nitish Rana scored 68 at top of the batting order.&nbsp;

Dinesh Karthik-led Kolkata defeated Bhuvneshwar Kumar-led Hyderabad to start their Indian Premier League 2019 campaign on a winning note. After winning the toss, Karthik put Hyderabad to bat first at the high scoring pitch of Eden Gardens.

Dinesh Karthik-led Kolkata defeated Bhuvneshwar Kumar-led Hyderabad to start their Indian Premier League 2019 campaign on a winning note. After winning the toss, Karthik put Hyderabad to bat first at the high scoring pitch of Eden Gardens. Batting first, the comeback-man David Warner struck 85 off 53 balls and shared a 118-run stand for the first wicket with wicket-keeper batsman Jonny Bairstow (39). Vijay Shankar contributed unbeaten 40 in Hyderabad's total to give Kolkata a 182-run target. While chasing, Kolkata suffered a bumpy start but the middle order batsmen held inspired the team towards victory. And, that's a FIFTY from @NitishRana_27 😎😎 His 6th in #VIVOIPL #KKR 97/3 after 13 overs. pic.twitter.com/dXbWnTViND — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 24, 2019 × Andre Russell played a whirlwind unbeaten knock of 49-runs to script his side's dramatic win after Nitish Rana scored 68 at top of the batting order.

IPL 2019: Andre Russell steals thrilling win for Kolkata against Hyderabad

David Warner scored his 37th IPL half-century to propel his team <a href="Live updates | IPL 2019: Kolkata need 182 runs to win against Hyderabad">Hyderabad to an exceptional start against Kolkata</a> and help them set a &nbsp;target of 182 runs.

Warner scored the half century during the second game of the ongoing 12th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Australian batsman reached the fifty digit mark in the ninth over as he hit 12 runs in Kolkata all-rounder Andre Russell’s first over.

In the absence of regular captain Kane Williamson, Warner opened the batting alongside England opening batsman Jonny Bairstow. The duo ended up sharing a 118-run partnership for the first wicket.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Twitterati absolutely enjoyed, watching Warner bat such a way on his IPL comeback. There were praises from all corners for his marvellous knock.

Here are some of the Twitter reactions:

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warner is so much better off smashing the ball than finding ways to tamper with it <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKRvSRH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKRvSRH</a>
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) <a href="https://twitter.com/gauravkalra75/status/1109775800474099712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Warner is BACK ... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL2019?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL2019</a>
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelVaughan/status/1109783838769713154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Warner didn’t go anywhere...right?? Warner has issued a strong warning... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KKRvSRH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KKRvSRH</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL</a>
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketaakash/status/1109780289604091904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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David Warner becomes the first overseas cricketer to score over 700 runs against KKR in IPL...
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrokenCricket/status/1109772552321138693?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Most 50+ scores in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPL</a>: 
40 D Warner 
38 V Kohli 
36 G Gambhir/ S Raina 
35 Rohit Sharma 
 
What A Player 🔥❤️ 
 
Mr. IPL <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Warner?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Warner</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SRHvKKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SRHvKKR</a>
— Cricket Freak🤷‍♂️ (@naveensurana06) <a href="https://twitter.com/naveensurana06/status/1109782720895438848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Warner scored 85 runs from 53 balls. The innings included nine boundaries and three sixes. While he came close to a century, he was dismissed off Russell when Robin Uthappa took a brilliant catch at cover. &nbsp;

The 32-year-old returned to the Indian Premier League (IPL) after missing the entire 2018 season due to a one-year-ban given by Cricket Australia for his involvement in the infamous ball-tampering scandal.&nbsp;

David Warner scored his 37th IPL half-century to propel his team Hyderabad to an exceptional start against Kolkata and help them set a target of 182 runs. Warner scored the half century during the second game of the ongoing 12th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

David Warner scored his 37th IPL half-century to propel his team Hyderabad to an exceptional start against Kolkata and help them set a target of 182 runs. Warner scored the half century during the second game of the ongoing 12th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Australian batsman reached the fifty digit mark in the ninth over as he hit 12 runs in Kolkata all-rounder Andre Russell’s first over. In the absence of regular captain Kane Williamson, Warner opened the batting alongside England opening batsman Jonny Bairstow. The duo ended up sharing a 118-run partnership for the first wicket. Meanwhile, Twitterati absolutely enjoyed, watching Warner bat such a way on his IPL comeback. There were praises from all corners for his marvellous knock. Here are some of the Twitter reactions: warner is so much better off smashing the ball than finding ways to tamper with it #KKRvSRH — Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) March 24, 2019 × Warner is BACK ... #IPL2019 — Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 24, 2019 × Warner didn’t go anywhere...right?? Warner has issued a strong warning... #KKRvSRH #IPL — Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 24, 2019 × David Warner becomes the first overseas cricketer to score over 700 runs against KKR in IPL... — Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) March 24, 2019 × Most 50+ scores in #IPL: 40 D Warner 38 V Kohli 36 G Gambhir/ S Raina 35 Rohit Sharma What A Player 🔥❤️ Mr. IPL #Warner #SRHvKKR — Cricket Freak🤷‍♂️ (@naveensurana06) March 24, 2019 × Warner scored 85 runs from 53 balls. The innings included nine boundaries and three sixes. While he came close to a century, he was dismissed off Russell when Robin Uthappa took a brilliant catch at cover. The 32-year-old returned to the Indian Premier League (IPL) after missing the entire 2018 season due to a one-year-ban given by Cricket Australia for his involvement in the infamous ball-tampering scandal.

IPL 2019: David Warner smashes 37th IPL fifty; Twitterati say 'welcome back'

IPL 2019, Hyderabad vs Kolkata: Players to watch out for

2018 IPL runner-up Hyderabad will be back with some new talents and experienced hitters in their squad.&nbsp;

Retaining their core team has reaped rich dividends for Hyderabad over the past few seasons and it has helped them be one of the most consistent franchises.

Over the past three seasons, they have lifted the trophy once (2016) finished runners-up (last season).

Hyderabad have been different compared to the rest of the pack only because of one reason, i.e. how they have gone about bolstering their bowling unit. Their strength in depth and the variations that are on offer in the bowling department helped Hyderabad bounce back from tricky situations last year.&nbsp;

With the 12th&nbsp;edition set to take place on Saturday, let's do a quick analysis of the squad.&nbsp;

Strengths 
&nbsp; 
The biggest strength this season for Hyderabad is David Warner's return. The Australian player, who was banned following his involvement in the ball-tampering incident in South Africa last year, will surely return with a bang.&nbsp;

He is easily one of the finest to play in IPL but with lack of competitive cricket in recent times, it will be interesting to see if he can hit the ground running.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2019-all-teams-and-their-squad-list-185821#chennai-super-kings-185803">Also -&nbsp;IPL 2019: All teams and their squad list</a>

Meanwhile, regular India opener Shikhar Dhawan’s tenure with the franchise ended after he was traded with Delhi all-rounder Vijay Shankar, among a couple of other players. Hyderabad should be thrilled that the 27-year-old from Tamil Nadu has been fine form with the bat for India recently and stands a fighting chance of making it to the World Cup squad.

England’s Test wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow and Martin Guptill also provide cover at the top of the order, with Kane Williamson the fulcrum.

The bowling unit has always been at its best and therefore, spinner Shahbaz Nadeem and India U-19 World Cup winner Abhishek Sharma, meanwhile, are notable additions to the spin department, drafted in as part of the Dhawan trade.

Weaknesses

This is the only area of concern for the Sunrisers Hyderabad as Shakib Al-Hasan, Mohammad Nabi and Vijay Shankar are the available options in the all-rounder category.

While, Shakib Al Hasan is a good all-rounder, his counterparts, Nabi and Vijay Shankar might not live up to the expectations considering the pressure on them.&nbsp;

SRH also lack a strong pace bowling all-rounder like Shane Watson, Andre Russel, Ben Stokes or Dwayne Bravo.

Opportunities

All eyes are on keeper Wriddhiman Saha and how good a comeback he can make following a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury. Saha being tossed around in the batting order was one of the few sore points last season in what was an otherwise efficient outfit.

Vijay Shankar and Manish Pandey’s form will also be closely monitored as India continue to seek answers to their No 4 conundrum. While the Indian team management lost patience with Pandey, Vijay Shankar has impressed with his stroke-making ability.&nbsp;

Bhuvneshwar Kumar may not have set the stage on fire in the recently concluded Australia series, but he has been one of the best exponents in the death overs in the IPL. Without a doubt, the medium-pacer is one of the vital cogs of this side.&nbsp;

Threats

Hyderabad have a gun bowling lineup, a lot of their bowlers are also part of the World Cup squads of respective international teams.&nbsp;

It is a different ball-game for batters but bowlers - due to the stress on their body - are more prone to injuries and hence all teams including India would like to protect their international bowlers.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has already hinted at taking a rest in the latter half of the tournament. SRH would have to find an alternative of a bowler like Bhuvi who can bowl well both at the top and at the death which would be a tough task.

Teams

Retained: Basil Thampi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Hooda, Manish Pandey, T Natarajan, Ricky Bhui, Sandeep Sharma, Siddarth Kaul, Shreevats Goswami (wk), Khaleel Ahmed, Yusuf Pathan, Billy Stanlake, David Warner, Kane Williamson, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Shakib Al Hasan

Purchased: Jonny Bairstow (Rs 2.20 crore), Wriddhiman Saha (Rs 1.2 crore), Martin Guptill (Rs 1 crore).

2018 IPL runner-up Hyderabad will be back with some new talents and experienced hitters in their squad. Retaining their core team has reaped rich dividends for Hyderabad over the past few seasons and it has helped them be one of the most consistent franchises.

2018 IPL runner-up Hyderabad will be back with some new talents and experienced hitters in their squad. Retaining their core team has reaped rich dividends for Hyderabad over the past few seasons and it has helped them be one of the most consistent franchises. Over the past three seasons, they have lifted the trophy once (2016) finished runners-up (last season). Hyderabad have been different compared to the rest of the pack only because of one reason, i.e. how they have gone about bolstering their bowling unit. Their strength in depth and the variations that are on offer in the bowling department helped Hyderabad bounce back from tricky situations last year. With the 12th edition set to take place on Saturday, let's do a quick analysis of the squad. Strengths The biggest strength this season for Hyderabad is David Warner's return. The Australian player, who was banned following his involvement in the ball-tampering incident in South Africa last year, will surely return with a bang. He is easily one of the finest to play in IPL but with lack of competitive cricket in recent times, it will be interesting to see if he can hit the ground running. Also - IPL 2019: All teams and their squad list Meanwhile, regular India opener Shikhar Dhawan’s tenure with the franchise ended after he was traded with Delhi all-rounder Vijay Shankar, among a couple of other players. Hyderabad should be thrilled that the 27-year-old from Tamil Nadu has been fine form with the bat for India recently and stands a fighting chance of making it to the World Cup squad. England’s Test wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow and Martin Guptill also provide cover at the top of the order, with Kane Williamson the fulcrum. The bowling unit has always been at its best and therefore, spinner Shahbaz Nadeem and India U-19 World Cup winner Abhishek Sharma, meanwhile, are notable additions to the spin department, drafted in as part of the Dhawan trade. Weaknesses This is the only area of concern for the Sunrisers Hyderabad as Shakib Al-Hasan, Mohammad Nabi and Vijay Shankar are the available options in the all-rounder category. While, Shakib Al Hasan is a good all-rounder, his counterparts, Nabi and Vijay Shankar might not live up to the expectations considering the pressure on them. SRH also lack a strong pace bowling all-rounder like Shane Watson, Andre Russel, Ben Stokes or Dwayne Bravo. Opportunities All eyes are on keeper Wriddhiman Saha and how good a comeback he can make following a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury. Saha being tossed around in the batting order was one of the few sore points last season in what was an otherwise efficient outfit. Vijay Shankar and Manish Pandey’s form will also be closely monitored as India continue to seek answers to their No 4 conundrum. While the Indian team management lost patience with Pandey, Vijay Shankar has impressed with his stroke-making ability. Bhuvneshwar Kumar may not have set the stage on fire in the recently concluded Australia series, but he has been one of the best exponents in the death overs in the IPL. Without a doubt, the medium-pacer is one of the vital cogs of this side. Threats Hyderabad have a gun bowling lineup, a lot of their bowlers are also part of the World Cup squads of respective international teams. It is a different ball-game for batters but bowlers - due to the stress on their body - are more prone to injuries and hence all teams including India would like to protect their international bowlers. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has already hinted at taking a rest in the latter half of the tournament. SRH would have to find an alternative of a bowler like Bhuvi who can bowl well both at the top and at the death which would be a tough task. Teams Retained: Basil Thampi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Hooda, Manish Pandey, T Natarajan, Ricky Bhui, Sandeep Sharma, Siddarth Kaul, Shreevats Goswami (wk), Khaleel Ahmed, Yusuf Pathan, Billy Stanlake, David Warner, Kane Williamson, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Shakib Al Hasan Purchased: Jonny Bairstow (Rs 2.20 crore), Wriddhiman Saha (Rs 1.2 crore), Martin Guptill (Rs 1 crore).

IPL 2019: Squad analysis of Hyderabad

Young Kerala pacer Basil Thampi feels the IPL has given him the confidence to bowl at just about any batsman in the world as the tournament is more challenging for the bowlers.

The 25-year-old uncapped pacer will be turning up for the Sunrisers Hyderabad this year after two seasons with the now dissolved Gujarat Lions.&nbsp;

"It is very challenging to bowl in the IPL because it is a batsmen's game and we all know that. We should have confidence to bowl, that is the key. So, in the last three years I got the confidence to bowl at everyone. Whenever I get the ball, I want to deliver my best," Thampi told PTI in an interaction.

The IPL season 12 commences on March 23.

Thampi is part of an impressive bowling line-up that also includes experienced swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, Siddharth Kaul and left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed.

"This coming season I want to do well. The most important thing is if I get a chance, I want to do well for the team. From the last experience, I learnt a lot for this team," Thampi said.

The youngster said he will mostly stick to his stock delivery, which is the yorker.

"Because I have good yorkers, I guess, and I want to stick to it and, with that, some variations," the right-arm medium pacer said.

According to Thampi, the most important thing which he learnt from the senior pacers was how to prepare his body.

Thampi said he shares a good rapport with his co-pacers.

"We know each other. Khaleel, Sandeep and Siddharth Kaul, we have played together in India A matches. We are (always) sharing our thoughts on and off the field," he said.&nbsp;

Sunrisers will begin their IPL campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 24 at the Eden Gardens.

Young Kerala pacer Basil Thampi feels the IPL has given him the confidence to bowl at just about any batsman in the world as the tournament is more challenging for the bowlers.

Young Kerala pacer Basil Thampi feels the IPL has given him the confidence to bowl at just about any batsman in the world as the tournament is more challenging for the bowlers. The 25-year-old uncapped pacer will be turning up for the Sunrisers Hyderabad this year after two seasons with the now dissolved Gujarat Lions. "It is very challenging to bowl in the IPL because it is a batsmen's game and we all know that. We should have confidence to bowl, that is the key. So, in the last three years I got the confidence to bowl at everyone. Whenever I get the ball, I want to deliver my best," Thampi told PTI in an interaction. The IPL season 12 commences on March 23. Thampi is part of an impressive bowling line-up that also includes experienced swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Sandeep Sharma, Siddharth Kaul and left-arm seamer Khaleel Ahmed. "This coming season I want to do well. The most important thing is if I get a chance, I want to do well for the team. From the last experience, I learnt a lot for this team," Thampi said. The youngster said he will mostly stick to his stock delivery, which is the yorker. "Because I have good yorkers, I guess, and I want to stick to it and, with that, some variations," the right-arm medium pacer said. According to Thampi, the most important thing which he learnt from the senior pacers was how to prepare his body. Thampi said he shares a good rapport with his co-pacers. "We know each other. Khaleel, Sandeep and Siddharth Kaul, we have played together in India A matches. We are (always) sharing our thoughts on and off the field," he said. Sunrisers will begin their IPL campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 24 at the Eden Gardens.

Very challenging to bowl in Indian Premier League: Sunrisers Hyderabad's Basil Thampi

After weeks of speculation over Shikhar Dhawan being unhappy at Hyderabad due to the amount he is being paid, the IPL franchise on Monday swapped the southpaw in favour of three players from Delhi - Vijay Shankar, Shahbaz Nadeem and Abhishek Sharma.&nbsp;

Dhawan's induction is a homecoming for the left-hander who is not only a Delhiite, but also began his IPL career with Delhi in the inaugural IPL season in 2008.&nbsp;

Dhawan's association with Hyderabad began in 2013, who went on to become the team’s top-scorer with a tally of 2768 runs from a total of 91 innings.

Going into the IPL 2018 auction, Hyderabad had chosen to retain David Warner and Bhuvneshwar Kumar but paid Rs 5.2 crore to eventually buy Dhawan back using the Right to Match (RTM) card.&nbsp;

In the press release too, the franchise confirmed that the left-handed batsman was unhappy with the price tag.&nbsp;

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We have traded Shikhar Dhawan to Delhi Daredevils for Vijay Shankar, Shahbaz Nadeem and Abhishek Sharma. We thank Shikhar for his contribution to the team over the years and wish him the very best. <a href="https://t.co/oEqwJ61yw1">pic.twitter.com/oEqwJ61yw1</a>
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Subsequently, Dhawan was rumoured to be joining Mumbai to partner Rohit Sharma as the two openers share a great chemistry on the cricket pitch.&nbsp;

The deal with Delhi has still not been disclosed but his association with the franchise for the 2019 edition is confirmed.&nbsp;

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Brace yourselves, for he has returned, where it all began! 
 
Welcome Home, Shikhar Dhawan. 🙌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DilDilli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DilDilli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dhadkega?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dhadkega</a> <a href="https://t.co/LFGMxs1bEk">pic.twitter.com/LFGMxs1bEk</a>
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&nbsp;

After weeks of speculation over Shikhar Dhawan being unhappy at Hyderabad due to the amount he is being paid, the IPL franchise on Monday swapped the southpaw in favour of three players from Delhi - Vijay Shankar, Shahbaz Nadeem and Abhishek Sharma.

After weeks of speculation over Shikhar Dhawan being unhappy at Hyderabad due to the amount he is being paid, the IPL franchise on Monday swapped the southpaw in favour of three players from Delhi - Vijay Shankar, Shahbaz Nadeem and Abhishek Sharma. Dhawan's induction is a homecoming for the left-hander who is not only a Delhiite, but also began his IPL career with Delhi in the inaugural IPL season in 2008. Dhawan's association with Hyderabad began in 2013, who went on to become the team’s top-scorer with a tally of 2768 runs from a total of 91 innings. Going into the IPL 2018 auction, Hyderabad had chosen to retain David Warner and Bhuvneshwar Kumar but paid Rs 5.2 crore to eventually buy Dhawan back using the Right to Match (RTM) card. In the press release too, the franchise confirmed that the left-handed batsman was unhappy with the price tag. We have traded Shikhar Dhawan to Delhi Daredevils for Vijay Shankar, Shahbaz Nadeem and Abhishek Sharma. We thank Shikhar for his contribution to the team over the years and wish him the very best. pic.twitter.com/oEqwJ61yw1 — SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) November 5, 2018 × Subsequently, Dhawan was rumoured to be joining Mumbai to partner Rohit Sharma as the two openers share a great chemistry on the cricket pitch. The deal with Delhi has still not been disclosed but his association with the franchise for the 2019 edition is confirmed. Brace yourselves, for he has returned, where it all began! Welcome Home, Shikhar Dhawan. 🙌#DilDilli #Dhadkega pic.twitter.com/LFGMxs1bEk — Delhi Daredevils (@DelhiDaredevils) November 5, 2018 ×

IPL 2019: Hyderabad trades 'financially unhappy' Shikhar Dhawan to Delhi

<h2>List of matches in April:</h2>

7 April (Saturday)&nbsp; 
Mumbai &nbsp;vs Chennai: 8 pm

8 April (Sunday) 
Delhi vs Punjab: 4 pm 
Kolkata vs Bangalore: 8 pm

9 April (Monday) 
Hyderabad vs Rajasthan: 8 pm

10 April (Tuesday) 
Chennai vs Kolkata: 8 pm

11 April (Wednesday) 
Rajasthan vs Delhi: 8 pm

12 April (Thursday) 
Hyderabad vs Mumbai: 8 pm

13 April (Friday) 
Bangalore vs Punjab: 8 pm

14 April (Saturday) 
Mumbai vs Delhi: 4 pm 
Kolkata vs Hyderabad: 8 pm

15 April (Sunday) 
Bangalore v Rajasthan: 4 pm 
Punjab v Chennai: 8 pm

16 April (Monday) 
Kolkata vs Delhi: 8 pm

17 April (Tuesday) 
Mumbai vs Bangalore: 8 pm

18 April (Wednesday) 
Rajasthan vs Kolkata: 8 pm

19 April (Thursday) 
Punjab vs Hyderabad: 8 pm

20 April (Friday) 
Chennai vs Rajasthan: 8 pm

21 April (Saturday) 
Kolkata vs Punjab: 4 pm 
Delhi vs Bangalore: 8 pm

22 April (Sunday) 
Hyderabad vs Chennai: 4 pm 
Rajasthan vs Mumbai: 8 pm

23 April (Monday) 
Kings vs Delhi: 8 pm

24 April (Tuesday) 
Mumbai vs Hyderabad: 8 pm

25 April (Wednesday) 
Bangalore vs Chennai: 8 pm

26 April (Thursday) 
Hyderabad vs Punjab: 8 pm

27 April (Friday) 
Delhi vs Kolkata: 8 pm

28 April (Saturday) 
Chennai vs Mumbai: 8 pm

29 April (Sunday) 
Rajasthan vs Hyderabad: 4 pm 
Bangalore vs Kolkata: 8 pm

30 April (Monday) 
Chennai vs Delhi: 8 pm

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

POINTS TABLE, SQUAD LIST, ANALYSIS, VENUE

List of matches in April: 7 April (Saturday) Mumbai vs Chennai: 8 pm 8 April (Sunday) Delhi vs Punjab: 4 pm Kolkata vs Bangalore: 8 pm 9 April (Monday) Hyderabad vs Rajasthan: 8 pm 10 April (Tuesday) Chennai vs Kolkata: 8 pm 11 April (Wednesday) Rajasthan vs Delhi: 8 pm 12 April (Thursday) Hyderabad vs Mumbai: 8 pm 13 April (Friday) Bangalore vs Punjab: 8 pm 14 April (Saturday) Mumbai vs Delhi: 4 pm Kolkata vs Hyderabad: 8 pm 15 April (Sunday) Bangalore v Rajasthan: 4 pm Punjab v Chennai: 8 pm 16 April (Monday) Kolkata vs Delhi: 8 pm 17 April (Tuesday) Mumbai vs Bangalore: 8 pm 18 April (Wednesday) Rajasthan vs Kolkata: 8 pm 19 April (Thursday) Punjab vs Hyderabad: 8 pm 20 April (Friday) Chennai vs Rajasthan: 8 pm 21 April (Saturday) Kolkata vs Punjab: 4 pm Delhi vs Bangalore: 8 pm 22 April (Sunday) Hyderabad vs Chennai: 4 pm Rajasthan vs Mumbai: 8 pm 23 April (Monday) Kings vs Delhi: 8 pm 24 April (Tuesday) Mumbai vs Hyderabad: 8 pm 25 April (Wednesday) Bangalore vs Chennai: 8 pm 26 April (Thursday) Hyderabad vs Punjab: 8 pm 27 April (Friday) Delhi vs Kolkata: 8 pm 28 April (Saturday) Chennai vs Mumbai: 8 pm 29 April (Sunday) Rajasthan vs Hyderabad: 4 pm Bangalore vs Kolkata: 8 pm 30 April (Monday) Chennai vs Delhi: 8 pm

Indian Premier League 2018

R Ashwin's Punjab face a big challenge in the form of Hyderabad, who are yet to face a defeat in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018.

Punjab defeated determined Chennai by mere four runs to give MS Dhoni his first loss in the tournament.&nbsp

Batsman Chris Gayle was mighty effective against Chennai at Mohali on Sunday, where he scored a blistering 63 runs from just 33 balls.

His innings included four sixes and seven fours. Considering that it was his first match in this year's IPL, he showed the world why he is still the most destructive in the world.&nbsp

His form was not less than a warning to other franchises to be aware of the Jamaican cricketer.

Gayle would be looking to continue his sublime form but his past record against Hyderabad in the previous editions, he hasn’t fared very well.&nbsp

He boasts of a strike-rate of 151.72 in nine innings, but has only managed to score 220 runs at an average of 24.44.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad is having a ball in the IPL. Their batsman are in terrific form. In the played three matches, either Shikhar Dhawan or skipper Kane Williamson have managed to stood up for the team in order to set a mammoth target.

The bowling attack of Hyderabad has been outstanding and is capable to deplete any batting attack.&nbsp

The visiting side is unlikely to tinker with the combination that has given them three wins.&nbsp

Sandeep Sharma only got a game against Mumbai Indians due to an injury to Bhuvneshar Kumar.

&nbspHowever, once the lead pacer was fit, Sandeep had to make way despite a good showing. SRH are likely to remain unchanged for the game.

Punjab, on the other hand, may bring Manoj Tiwary to replace Yuvraj Singh, who has looked off colour.&nbsp

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Aaron Finch's golden ducks in the last two matches notwithstanding, he's likely to get another run.

Hyderabad has won all their four games against Punjab in Mohali. The last six head-to-head encounters all went to Hyderabad.

The clash promises to be a high voltage encounter with both the team having 50 per cent chances to clinch the game.&nbsp

Punjab defeated determined Chennai by mere four runs

R Ashwin's Punjab face a big challenge in the form of Hyderabad, who are yet to face a defeat in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018. Punjab defeated determined Chennai by mere four runs to give MS Dhoni his first loss in the tournament. Batsman Chris Gayle was mighty effective against Chennai at Mohali on Sunday, where he scored a blistering 63 runs from just 33 balls. His innings included four sixes and seven fours. Considering that it was his first match in this year's IPL, he showed the world why he is still the most destructive in the world. His form was not less than a warning to other franchises to be aware of the Jamaican cricketer. Gayle would be looking to continue his sublime form but his past record against Hyderabad in the previous editions, he hasn’t fared very well. He boasts of a strike-rate of 151.72 in nine innings, but has only managed to score 220 runs at an average of 24.44. Meanwhile, Hyderabad is having a ball in the IPL. Their batsman are in terrific form. In the played three matches, either Shikhar Dhawan or skipper Kane Williamson have managed to stood up for the team in order to set a mammoth target. The bowling attack of Hyderabad has been outstanding and is capable to deplete any batting attack. The visiting side is unlikely to tinker with the combination that has given them three wins. Sandeep Sharma only got a game against Mumbai Indians due to an injury to Bhuvneshar Kumar. &nbspHowever, once the lead pacer was fit, Sandeep had to make way despite a good showing. SRH are likely to remain unchanged for the game. Punjab, on the other hand, may bring Manoj Tiwary to replace Yuvraj Singh, who has looked off colour. × Aaron Finch's golden ducks in the last two matches notwithstanding, he's likely to get another run. Hyderabad has won all their four games against Punjab in Mohali. The last six head-to-head encounters all went to Hyderabad. The clash promises to be a high voltage encounter with both the team having 50 per cent chances to clinch the game.

IPL 2018: Match preview of Hyderabad vs Punjab

Delhi Daredevils is high on hopes of winning the Indian Premier Leagues' trophy with the arrival of Gautam Gambhir in 'Dilli' after six years.

Gautam Gambhir&nbsp;was available during the auction with a base price of INR 2 Cr as&nbsp;he was not retained by Kolkata Knight Riders. DD made the smartest buy and pooled in Gautam Gambir with an intent of solidifying the position of a captain. As he had displayed his captaincy skills when he led KKR's side to win two IPL titles.

Though DD has never won the IPL title but&nbsp;with the current squad list, the team has the best possible chances of winning.

When we talk about the team, Delhi has invested to build a well-balanced team. The batting order is very settled as they have Gautam Gambhir, Glenn Maxwell, Jason Roy, Colin Munro, Under-19 stars Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra.

The batting department lacks middle order depth but the presence of&nbsp;Jason Roy, Colin Munro can fix it to some extent. Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra can give required support to the middle order when given a chance to play.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2018-squad-analysis-of-mumbai-indians---paltan-dependent-on-all-rounders-amid-weak-spin--127511">IPL 2018: Squad analysis of Mumbai Indians - 'Paltan' dependent on all-rounders amid weak spin</a>

The choice of retaining Rishabh Pant was good but the amount spent on him seems useless, instead of that, DD could have opted for another middle order batsman to solidify number 5 and 6 positions.

The strength of the squad is definitely the bowlers, from spinners to pacers, Delhi has every weapon to tear down any opponent.

They retained experienced South African seamer Chris Morris who is one of the best options for death overs and will provide judicious advice to other bowlers.

Trent Boult too will add the required pace strength.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/photos/ipl-2018:-all-teams-and-their-squad-list-113383#photo-110281">IPL 2018: All teams and their squad list</a>

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami recently been through a lot of controversies as his wife had leveled serious allegations including adultery, match-fixing and even attempt to murder on him.

Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administration (CoA) has given clean chit to Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami over match-fixing allegations.

Now, Shami will add more power to Delhi Daredevils' bowling department.

Apart from that, Jayant Yadav, Shabaz Nadeem and experienced Amit Mishra will provide a skilled set of spin-bowling options who can trouble a strong batting.

Also, Sandeep Lamichhane, the first cricketer from Nepal had grabbed an IPL contract when he was picked by Delhi Daredevils.

DD will play their first match on April 8, 2018, against the Kings XI Punjab. Rabada had the potential to add fire to the bowling squad but he has been ruled out fue to injury.

With their home ground in Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Gautam-led devils are one of the best contenders for IPL 2018 title. Better watch out!

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Here is the squad list: 
Retained: 
Rishabh Pant (15 cr) 
Chris Morris (11 cr) 
Shreyas Iyer (7 cr)

Purchased: 
Glenn Maxwell (9 cr), Gautam Gambhir (2.8 cr), Jason Roy (1.5 cr), Colin Munro (1.9 cr), Mohammed Shami (3 cr),&nbsp;Amit Mishra (4 cr), Prithvi Shaw (1.2 cr), Rahul Tewatia (3 cr), Vijay Shankar (3.2 cr), Harshal Patel (20 L), Avesh Khan (70 L), Shabaz Nadeem (3.2 cr), Dan Christian (1.5 cr), Jayant Yadav (50L), Gurkeerat Singh (75 L), Trent Boult (2.2 cr), Manjot Kalra (20L), Abhishek Sharma (55L), Sandeep Lamichanne (20L), Naman Ojha (1.4 cr), Sayan Ghosh (20L)

Delhi Daredevils has never won the IPL title but with the current squad list, the team has the best possible chances of winning

Delhi Daredevils is high on hopes of winning the Indian Premier Leagues' trophy with the arrival of Gautam Gambhir in 'Dilli' after six years. Gautam Gambhir was available during the auction with a base price of INR 2 Cr as he was not retained by Kolkata Knight Riders. DD made the smartest buy and pooled in Gautam Gambir with an intent of solidifying the position of a captain. As he had displayed his captaincy skills when he led KKR's side to win two IPL titles. Though DD has never won the IPL title but with the current squad list, the team has the best possible chances of winning. When we talk about the team, Delhi has invested to build a well-balanced team. The batting order is very settled as they have Gautam Gambhir, Glenn Maxwell, Jason Roy, Colin Munro, Under-19 stars Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra. The batting department lacks middle order depth but the presence of Jason Roy, Colin Munro can fix it to some extent. Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra can give required support to the middle order when given a chance to play. IPL 2018: Squad analysis of Mumbai Indians - 'Paltan' dependent on all-rounders amid weak spin The choice of retaining Rishabh Pant was good but the amount spent on him seems useless, instead of that, DD could have opted for another middle order batsman to solidify number 5 and 6 positions. The strength of the squad is definitely the bowlers, from spinners to pacers, Delhi has every weapon to tear down any opponent. They retained experienced South African seamer Chris Morris who is one of the best options for death overs and will provide judicious advice to other bowlers. Trent Boult too will add the required pace strength. IPL 2018: All teams and their squad list Indian pacer Mohammed Shami recently been through a lot of controversies as his wife had leveled serious allegations including adultery, match-fixing and even attempt to murder on him. Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administration (CoA) has given clean chit to Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami over match-fixing allegations. Now, Shami will add more power to Delhi Daredevils' bowling department. Apart from that, Jayant Yadav, Shabaz Nadeem and experienced Amit Mishra will provide a skilled set of spin-bowling options who can trouble a strong batting. Also, Sandeep Lamichhane, the first cricketer from Nepal had grabbed an IPL contract when he was picked by Delhi Daredevils. DD will play their first match on April 8, 2018, against the Kings XI Punjab. Rabada had the potential to add fire to the bowling squad but he has been ruled out fue to injury. With their home ground in Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Gautam-led devils are one of the best contenders for IPL 2018 title. Better watch out! × Here is the squad list: Retained: Rishabh Pant (15 cr) Chris Morris (11 cr) Shreyas Iyer (7 cr) Purchased: Glenn Maxwell (9 cr), Gautam Gambhir (2.8 cr), Jason Roy (1.5 cr), Colin Munro (1.9 cr), Mohammed Shami (3 cr), Amit Mishra (4 cr), Prithvi Shaw (1.2 cr), Rahul Tewatia (3 cr), Vijay Shankar (3.2 cr), Harshal Patel (20 L), Avesh Khan (70 L), Shabaz Nadeem (3.2 cr), Dan Christian (1.5 cr), Jayant Yadav (50L), Gurkeerat Singh (75 L), Trent Boult (2.2 cr), Manjot Kalra (20L), Abhishek Sharma (55L), Sandeep Lamichanne (20L), Naman Ojha (1.4 cr), Sayan Ghosh (20L)

IPL 2018 squad analysis: Dark Knight 'Gautam' returns winning hope to Delhi Daredevils

The cricket fete of India, Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin on April 7 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai with a tantalizing opening ceremony which includes&nbsp;dance performances of some Bollywood&nbsp;stars.

The first match will take place at the same venue as the defending champions Mumbai Indians are ready to lock horns with the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings, which is marking an exciting return after facing a two-year ban.

The "Yellow Brigade" had retained skipper MS Dhoni and their two other star players, Suresh Raina and Jadeja.

Chennai squad is currently preparing for the first clash but the captain cool&nbsp;has some massive plans for the eleventh edition of IPL as recently he was found practicing his signature "helicopter shot."

Watch the video here:

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The squad list includes key players like Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, Shane Watson, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir and Kedar Jadhav, and most of them are expected to start every IPL game.&nbsp;

Here's the complete squad of the Chennai Super Kings:&nbsp;

MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina, Kedar Jadhav, Dwayne Bravo, Karn Sharma, Shane Watson, Shardul Thakur, Ambati Rayudu, Murali Vijay, Harbhajan Singh, Faf Du Plessis, Mark Wood, Sam Billings, Imran Tahir, Deepak Chahar, Mitchell Santner, Lungisani Ngidi, Asif K M, N Jagadeesan, Kanishk Seth, Monu Singh, Dhruv Shorey, Kshitiz Sharma, Chaitanya Bishnoi

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The Marina Pride setting out to conquer the Marine Drive! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yellove?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Yellove</a> <a href="https://t.co/RRvu09yA1z">pic.twitter.com/RRvu09yA1z</a>
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL/status/981411680105181184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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On board on our way to mumbai <a href="https://twitter.com/ImRaina?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImRaina</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/harbhajan_singh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@harbhajan_singh</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/imjadeja?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imjadeja</a> , a big thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/jetairways?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jetairways</a> for your excellent service <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChennaiIPL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/whistlepodu?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#whistlepodu</a> <a href="https://t.co/iLkoCmIng9">pic.twitter.com/iLkoCmIng9</a>
— Russell (@russcsk) <a href="https://twitter.com/russcsk/status/981126283730993152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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MS Dhoni Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin on April 7 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai with a tantalizing opening ceremony

The cricket fete of India, Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin on April 7 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai with a tantalizing opening ceremony which includes dance performances of some Bollywood stars. The first match will take place at the same venue as the defending champions Mumbai Indians are ready to lock horns with the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings, which is marking an exciting return after facing a two-year ban. The "Yellow Brigade" had retained skipper MS Dhoni and their two other star players, Suresh Raina and Jadeja. Chennai squad is currently preparing for the first clash but the captain cool has some massive plans for the eleventh edition of IPL as recently he was found practicing his signature "helicopter shot." Watch the video here: × The squad list includes key players like Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, Shane Watson, Dwayne Bravo, Harbhajan Singh, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir and Kedar Jadhav, and most of them are expected to start every IPL game. Here's the complete squad of the Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina, Kedar Jadhav, Dwayne Bravo, Karn Sharma, Shane Watson, Shardul Thakur, Ambati Rayudu, Murali Vijay, Harbhajan Singh, Faf Du Plessis, Mark Wood, Sam Billings, Imran Tahir, Deepak Chahar, Mitchell Santner, Lungisani Ngidi, Asif K M, N Jagadeesan, Kanishk Seth, Monu Singh, Dhruv Shorey, Kshitiz Sharma, Chaitanya Bishnoi The Marina Pride setting out to conquer the Marine Drive! #WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/RRvu09yA1z — Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) April 4, 2018 × On board on our way to mumbai @ImRaina @harbhajan_singh @imjadeja , a big thanks to @jetairways for your excellent service @ChennaiIPL #whistlepodu pic.twitter.com/iLkoCmIng9 — Russell (@russcsk) April 3, 2018 ×

Watch: MS Dhoni practises 'helicopter shot' ahead of first IPL clash

The cricket carnival of India is set to start from April 7 with a glitzy and glamorous opening ceremony at Wankhede, Mumbai and the first match is scheduled to take place at same venue between defending champions Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. CSK&nbspis marking an exciting return after a two-year ban for its involvement in an illegal betting scandal.

As the mega tournament is closing in, here are ten lesser-known facts about the Indian Premier League.

386 - The number of overs Piyush Chawla took to bowl his first no-ball 
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88 - The most number of catches in IPL held by Dinesh Karthik 
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153km/h - The fastest delivery in IPL bowled by Pat Cummins 
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1075 - The highest number of dot balls bowled by Praveen Kumar 
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13 - The highest number of ducks scored in IPL history by Harbhajan Singh 
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263/5 - The highest score put up by royal challengers against Pune Warriors 
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49 - The record of the lowest score by any team in IPL history held by RCB against KKR 
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Zaheer Khan is the only player to feature in the 1st and 500th IPL game 
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Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, only Indians to win the most valuable player award

The cricket carnival of India is set to start from April 7 with a glitzy and glamorous opening ceremony at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

The cricket carnival of India is set to start from April 7 with a glitzy and glamorous opening ceremony at Wankhede, Mumbai and the first match is scheduled to take place at same venue between defending champions Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. CSK&nbspis marking an exciting return after a two-year ban for its involvement in an illegal betting scandal. As the mega tournament is closing in, here are ten lesser-known facts about the Indian Premier League. 386 - The number of overs Piyush Chawla took to bowl his first no-ball 88 - The most number of catches in IPL held by Dinesh Karthik 153km/h - The fastest delivery in IPL bowled by Pat Cummins 1075 - The highest number of dot balls bowled by Praveen Kumar 13 - The highest number of ducks scored in IPL history by Harbhajan Singh 263/5 - The highest score put up by royal challengers against Pune Warriors 49 - The record of the lowest score by any team in IPL history held by RCB against KKR Zaheer Khan is the only player to feature in the 1st and 500th IPL game Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, only Indians to win the most valuable player award

IPL 2018: Top 10 lesser-known facts in last 10 years