The 70th match of the Indian T20 League 2022 is slated to be played between Hyderabad and Punjab at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Both are knocked out of the race for the playoffs and are playing their last game of the ongoing season.

Advertisment

Both would look to try out some young faces and try to win the game as well. Hyderabad are languishing at number 8 on the table with 6 wins in 13 matches, while Punjab are just above them with an equal number of wins with a better net run rate.

Team News:

Hyderabad:

Advertisment

For the second consecutive season, Hyderabad haven’t reached the playoffs. Kane Williamson’s poor form has been a massive reason behind their downfall. They had a pretty good batting lineup but couldn’t get those solid starts that they were looking for. T Natarajan’s injury didn’t help their cause either. Perhaps, they also missed one wrist-spinner, who could get them wickets in every game.

Players to watch out for:

Rahul Tripathi

Advertisment

Yet again, the Indian cricketer, Rahul Tripathi has impressed one and all with his immaculate ball-striking. Tripathi played an outstanding knock in the last game, scoring 76 runs in just 44 balls. Expect him to replicate a similar knock on Sunday.

Aiden Markram:

South African cricketer, Aiden Markram has been in equally fine form. He has played some valuable knocks for the team while batting in the middle-order. He too will be key to the team’s fortunes.

Nicholas Pooran:

Nicholas Pooran had a forgettable season last year. However, he made amends this year. He showed what he is capable of this season. Turning up for a new franchise in Hyderabad, Pooran played some unbelievable knocks this season. He scored a quick-fire 38 off 22 in the last game and it will be interesting to see how he ends his campaign on Sunday.

Probable Playing XI:

Abhishek Sharma, Priyam Garg, Kane Williamson (c), Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Umran Malik, T Natarajan

Punjab:

Once again, Punjab failed to live up to all the expectations. They managed to compile an outstanding squad for this season. However, the franchise couldn’t deliver wins consistently in the competition. Punjab would be disappointed to not have performed collectively but would look to end the campaign on a winning note.

Players to watch out for:

1. Liam Livingstone:

There is no denying the fact that Liam Livingstone has been the standout player for Punjab this season. He has contributed massively both with the bat and ball. The English cricketer played some unbelievable knocks this season and showed his class on the biggest stage. It will be interesting to see how he fares with the bat in his last game in the competition.

2. Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow’s recent form inspires a lot of confidence. He has played outstanding knocks in his last few games. In the last game as well, he provided a brilliant start, but, unfortunately, couldn’t convert that into a big score. Bairstow scored 28 runs in 15 balls, including 4 fours and 1 six.

3. Kagiso Rabada

With the ball, Kagiso Rabada has been the biggest bet for Punjab. He has taken the most wickets for Punjab this season and is the third highest wicket-taker, overall. In 12 matches, he has picked 22 wickets at an average of 16.73.

Probable Playing XI:

Jonny Bairstow, Shikhar Dhawan, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Liam Livingstone, Mayank Agarwal (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Harpreet Brar, Rishi Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh

Match Details:

Date- 22nd May 2022

Time- 7:30 p.m (IST)

Venue- Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Broadcast- Star Sports Network, Disney+ Hotstar

Pitch Report:

The pitch is a happy hunting ground for the batsmen. Adequate bounce on the surface makes it easy for the batters to hit sixes and fours. A high-scoring contest is up on the cards as the fans can expect a cracker of a game. With dew coming in later, both teams should look to bowl first upon winning the toss.