SRH vs RR Highlights, IPL 2023: Chahal's four-wicket haul helps Rajasthan to easy 72-run win vs Sunrisers

We've been expecting you. Slapped with the 'inconsistency' tag for god knows how many years, last season, Sanju Samson put on a show for all to remember. Captain Samson led from the front scoring 458 runs in IPL 2022 - this was the only time since 2013 that he piled over 400 runs in a single season of the IPL - as RR made it to their second IPL final. And although they fell, RR became a force to reckon with and Samson a more regular feature in the Indian team. Ever since, clamours of Samson's inclusion in India's Playing XI have been growing. A fan favourite in India, Samson would look to have another breakthrough season to silence his critics once and for all.

How can you mention the IPL and not include Rahul Tripathi in there? The middle-order batter has been making waves since the last three season of the tournament. In IPL 2021, Tripathi scored 397 runs to go with another 413 last year. Tripathi is a might busy player and never allows the bowlers to settle. Every now and then he would walk outside his crease or do something to derail the bowler's concentration. It is this fidget nature of his batting - which is goldmine in T20Is - that earned him his maiden India call-up and he went on to play 5 T20Is for the country and this season provides him another opportunity to cement his chances going forward.

Contrary to RR's fragile middle order, SRH boast a rather emphatic top 4 in Buttler, Samson Yashasvi Jaiswal and Devdutt Padikkal. Besides, Abhishek Sharma burned up the charts last year with 426 runs, while Mayank Agarwal has already racked up 1026 runs since IPL 2019, which is the fourth-highest among opening batters after Buttler, Prithvi Shaw and Jonny Bairstow. Will this year be another riveting year for RR batters? Well, the answer to that question will start unraveling from today.

Rajasthan Royals already boast a star-studded line-up. Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal… you name it and they've got it. But the one weakness of their team that goes unnoticed in the dicey middle order. Last year, between overs 7 and 15, RR has scored 460 runs in their last 15 matches at a strike-rate of 117. This is the worst followed by Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. If any SRH fan is reading this, this could be your day.  

There are 2 likely contenders for SRH to bring as their Impact Players. If they bad first, SRH can bring in Anmolpreet Singh. Anmol's ability to hit big sixes can come in handy for a team that doesn't exactly comprise big, clean hitters. In case they bowl, leg-spinner Mayank Markande provided the surface is dry and assists turn. We have mentioned these named because both Markande and Anmol are unlikely to star in SRH's Playing XI.

Imagine the sight of Umran Malik, last IPL's breakout star, steaming in towards the explosive Sanju Samson, or Bhuvneshwar Kumar darting those viscious inswings to Jos Buttler. While Umran's rockets against Samson's bat speed promises to set the ground on fire, the Bhuvi vs Buttler battle will be interesting to see in particular as the last time this happened, Jos the Boss aced England's chase in the semifinal of last year's T20 World Cup. 

Hosein will be key for SRH, with his skilful left-arm spin handy. He has a T20 economy rate of 6.22, against right-handed batters and 7.53 vs left-handed batters.

Sandeep Sharma has replaced Prasidh Krishna for the entire season. Meanwhile, Obed McCoy is doubtful to start due to an injury.

With the World Cup in sight, Umran will be aiming to dish out a good performance and add to the selectors' dilemma. Last IPL, he was SRH's highest wicket-taker with 22 scalps in 14 games.

SRH will be without regular skipper Markram, who is unavailable for selection as he will be representing South AFrica in their ODI series. He is expected to be available from the next match. Bhuvneshwar is taking over the role for the opener.

England's Jos Buttler will be the one to watch out for today! Last season, the England star won the Orange Cap for RR, slamming 863 runs in 17 matches, packed with four tons and four fifties.

SRH will only have five overseas players to pick from , with their three South Africans (Markram, Klaasen and Jansen) joining the side on April 3. Bhuvneshwar will lead the team in Markram's absence.

It is expected to be warm during the match, wiht temperature to be between 32-35 degrees Celsius. There is no chance of rain and weather won't be playing spoilsport today!

During the IPL 2023 Auction, RR broke the bank for Holder, acquiring the West Indies star for ₹5.75 crores. They also splurged big on Adam Zampa ( ₹1.5 crore) and Joe Root ( ₹1 crore). Meanwhile, Donovan Ferreira ( ₹50 lakh), KM Asif ( ₹30 lakh), Abdul PA ( ₹20 lakh), Akash Vashish ( ₹20 lakh), Murugan Ashwin ( ₹20 lakh), Kunal Rathore ( ₹20 lakh) were also roped in.

1. RR (210/6) beat SRH (149/7) by 61 runs - Mar 29, 2022

2. SRH (167/3) beat RR (164/5) by 7 wickets - Sep 27, 2021

3. RR (220/3) beat SRH (165/8) by 55 runs - May 2, 2021

4. SRH (156/2) beat RR (154/6) by 8 wickets - Oct 22, 2020

5. RR (163/5) beat SRH (158/4) by 5 wickets - Oct 11, 2020

SRH made some good additions during the IPL 2023 Auction, purchasing England batter Harry Brook for ₹13.25 crore and India's Mayank Agarwal for ₹8.25 crore. Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen was also roped in for ₹5.25 crores. They also spent big on Vivrant Sharma ( ₹2.6 crores), Adil Rashid ( ₹2 crores) and Mayank Dagar ( ₹1.8 crores). Meanwhile, they also added Akeal Hosein ( ₹1 crore), Mayank Markande ( ₹50 lakhs), Upendra Singh Yadav ( ₹25 lakhs), Sanvir Singh ( ₹20 lakhs), Anmolpreet Singh ( ₹20 lakhs), Samarth Vyas ( ₹20 lakhs) and Nitish Kumar Reddy ( ₹20 lakhs).

Both sides have faced each other 16 times in the IPL, with SRH winning on eight occasions, and RR coming out on top eight times too. In Hyderabad, they have faced each other three times, with SRH winning thrice.

SRH: Harry Brook, Mayank Agarwal, Rahul Tripathi, Abdul Samad, Abhishek Sharma, Glenn Phillips(w), Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar(c), Adil Rashid, Akeal Hosein, Umran Malik, T Natarajan, Samarth Vyas, Anmolpreet Singh, Mayank Dagar, Upendra Yadav, Mayank Markande, Kartik Tyagi, Sanvir Singh, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Nitish Reddy, Vivrant Sharma

RR: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson(w/c), Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmyer, Riyan Parag, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Obed McCoy, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sandeep Sharma, Kunal Singh Rathore, Abdul Basith, Donavon Ferreira, Dhruv Jurel, Kuldeep Sen, Kuldip Yadav, KM Asif, KC Cariappa, Akash Vasisht, Navdeep Saini, Murugan Ashwin, Adam Zampa, Jason Holder, Joe Root

Hello and good morning everyone! Welcome to our live coverage of today's IPL 2023 match between SRH and RR, straight from Hyderabad. Stay tuned for some exciting cricket!