Live: SRH Vs GT Match 66 Hyderabad | IPL 2024 Live Scores & Commentary | Hyderabad vs Gujarat Live

Live: SRH Vs GT Match 66 Hyderabad | IPL Live Scores & Commentary | IPL 2024 | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans

A seven-day break in a busy schedule like the IPL is a luxury for teams and Sunrisers Hyderabad are one of only two sides to enjoy that in this edition. "Yeah it is a bonus to have a week's break in an IPL tournament; I've been involved with SRH for just over a decade now and I think there's never been a break like that before" says Sunrisers' assistant coach Simon Helmot. "It's nice to refresh...nice to have the time to catch up with friends and family."

The last time they took the field was on May 8 when openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma put on a brutal display of batting getting to 167/0 in just 9.4 overs to race to victory against Lucknow Super Giants which gave their net run rate a mighty boost. That victory eliminated Mumbai Indians from the playoffs race and during SRH's break two more teams joined MI. Meanwhile KKR and RR qualified and the former also cemented a spot in the top-two.

SRH too have a shot at featuring in Qualifier 1 for which they need to win the next two matches and hope that Rajasthan Royals drop one which will bring NRR into play. Can SRH get back to their aggressive best after the seven-day non-action? "I don't think it changes momentum" insists Helmot. We've had some five-day breaks throughout the tournament we're used to having breaks so I don't think that'll change anyway in which we prepare."

And speaking about aggression such has been SRH's blaze in this edition that Hyderabad has seen sell-out crowds which wasn't the case in the past seasons. "We remember the first years here at SRH when we were developing a fan base. There may have been some space in the crowd there may have even been times when there was some support for the opposition as well. But hasn't that changed?...I'll say this year has been the most vocal the nosiest.

And SRH will be eager to reciprocate that support with another victory which will confirm a berth for them in the playoffs. Their opponents are Gujarat Titans who just got knocked out from the playoffs race after rain played spoilsport in Ahmedabad. In what has been a lackluster season for them the Shubman Gill-led side will be hoping to sign off on a positive note and in the process disrupt the aspirations of the home side.

Before the abandoned game the Titans posted 231 against Chennai Super Kings riding on Gill and Sai Sudharsan's hundreds to register their second highest total in the IPL. They need their batters to deliver again but more than that they need the bowlers to be on the mark going up against the bulldozing SRH batters who don't show the opposition any mercy.

After being expensive in his earlier outings Mohit Sharma redeemed himself with a match-winning 3 for 31 against CSK. The Titans will be hoping for more of that from him and also count on former SRH player Rashid Khan's experience in these climes. The Titans have also struggled with their middle order using as many as 11 players from Nos. 4 to 7 this season for only two fifty-plus scores this season and the lowest average among all teams.

What to expect: It was at this venue that SRH decimated LSG by 10 wickets having set the tone for their journey here with a total of 277 against MI back in March. They have four wins out of five at home this season with their only loss coming against Royal Challengers Bengaluru when they couldn't chase down a target of 207 with the combination of change of pace and spin working well for the visiting side on a slow surface.

Head to head: SRH 1 - 3 GT. Sunrisers have lost three matches in a row against the Titans but this will be the first time the teams will face each other in Hyderabad. Although late they'll be keen to make amends and end their campaign with some consolation. the most supporting crowd I can remember Helmot who calls crowd their "13th impact player".