In the highly anticipated 41st match of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), record-breaking Sunrisers Hyderabad will face a struggling Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday. Sunrisers Hyderabad have dominated the tournament with an impressive run, boasting three 250+ totals, including the record-setting 287 they amassed against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their first encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Occupying the third position in the points table with five wins, Hyderabad is a strong contender for the championship title.
RCB, on the other hand, suffered a heartbreaking one-run defeat while chasing a 223-run target against Kolkata Knight Riders in their last outing, dashing their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs. Despite enduring seven losses in eight games, RCB, led by Faf du Plessis, remains in contention for a playoff berth.
The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad offers a balanced pitch, favoring both batters and bowlers. In the current IPL season, batters have flourished at this venue, producing high scores. The match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru is expected to witness a highly competitive batting contest. Notably, Sunrisers Hyderabad amassed 277 runs against Mumbai Indians in their season opener at this venue. In contrast, while Mumbai Indians responded with 246 runs, the hosts were restricted to just 162 in their most recent match at the stadium.
