Watch Sunrisers Hyderabad v Royal Challengers Bangalore live on Sky Sports Mix from 3pm...
Thursday 17 May 2018 15:23, UK
Here's what's in store in the Indian Premier League today...
Table-topping Sunrisers Hyderabad return to Sky Sports screens against a somewhat resurgent Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Sunrisers may have qualified for the play-offs but they're not the form team in this fixture if you factor in each franchises' last two results. Defeat to fellow qualifiers Chennai Super Kings - who have won both times the teams have met - in their last outing off the back of Ambati Rayudu's maiden T20 century ended a run of six straight successes.
Only Delhi Daredevils sit beneath RCB in the table but successive victories, over the basement boys and Kings XI Punjab, have boosted a flagging campaign. The last match they lost before that? It was a five-run defeat to - yes, you've guessed it - Sunrisers.
Rashid Khan picked up just one wicket when these sides met ten days ago but it was the princely scalp of AB de Villiers and the leg-spinner now has 13 wickets at 26 apiece. Don't rule out a late charge for the Purple cap.
Colin de Grandhomme hasn't yet hit the heights many expected him too but his 33 off 29 balls against Sunrisers indicated a possible swing in his form - and no doubt Virat Kohli would very much welcome a swashbuckling knock from the big-hitting Kiwi.
Alex Hales' form has rather fallen away since he opened up with scores of 45 in his first two games; the dip began with a score of just five against RCB, when he was bowled by Tim Southee, and subsequent innings of 14 and two have brought his average down to 22.20. Chris Jordan remains a peripheral figure with just one appearance under his belt.
Chris Woakes, named in England's Test squad earlier this week, has not featured for nigh on a month now while Moeen Ali, overlooked for the series against Pakistan, has recently come back onto RCB's radar - all be it with modest returns of two runs and one wicket from his couple of appearances.
Presenter Nick Knight is your host for this clash, with fellow former England batsman Mark Butcher and seamer Tymal Mills alongside him.
Sky Sports will continue to show every IPL game live, so fans from all over can enjoy the best of Indian cricket.
