LSG vs SRH to Be Called Off Due to Thunderstorm? Hyderabad Weather Threatens Playoff Qualification

The Sunrisers Hyderabad will look to inch closer to the knockouts as they host Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Wednesday evening at Uppal. Both teams have 12 points in their kitty but are placed differently on the table. SRH are positioned third at the moment with a Net Run Rate of -0.065 whereas Lucknow are sixth with -0.371 NRR. Whichever team wins will jump up to take the third spot, displacing defending champions Chennai Super Kings but the question looms over the conduct of the game as the weather is likely to play spoilsport.

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The capital city of Telangana has been facing a sudden thunderstorm lately. The showers have brought much-needed relief from the heat wave but it’s likely to affect the Wednesday match results. Meanwhile, a video is going viral on social media in which Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi Stadium could be seen drenched in rain with covers all over the field.

The weather forecast raises concern as it predicts rain on match day as well. If the game gets washed out, both teams will share a point each and notch the third and fourth position based on their NRR. However, CSK will have a clear advantage. If the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side wins their next game against GT on Friday, they will head back to third place with 14 points.

Both LSG and SRH will be then left with 2 more games and will have to exhibit their best in those matches to compete for the last two spots. On the other hand, RR and KKR are comfortably placed on the top half of the table, almost confirming their selection for the knockouts.

The Pat Cummins-led side has ample talent but has been unable to hold on to a winning run recently. Sunrisers have lost three of their last four matches, mainly because their destructive batting line-up hasn’t delivered.

LSG, on the other hand, have to get over their overall lacklustre display against Kolkata Knight Riders, when they not only conceded the first-ever 200-plus score at the Ekana Stadium but also folded their innings at 137.

With tearaway pacer Mayank Yadav ruled out of the IPL and left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan also picking up an injury, the onus will be on Afghan quick Naveen-ul-Haq, young Yash Thakur, Stoinis and spinners Krunal Pandya and Ravi Bishnoi to deliver.