A resurgent Sunrisers Hyderabad have been on a slow but sure climb but it is defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders who hold a psychological edge when the teams face-off in their Indian Premier League match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday.
Posting three wins in four games, including one against KKR in a rain-marred encounter in the first leg, Hyderabad have jumped to fifth place behind Kolkata with one match in hand.
It's been a mixed bag for KKR, as they are still striving to be consistent in the backdrop of a controversy surrounding Sunil Narine's bowling action.
Both the teams land in Kolkata following their respective matches on Saturday. While KKR lost in Bangalore defending 112 from 10 overs in a last over finish, SRH handed Chennai Super Kings a second successive thrashing in their first match at home this season.
When they take the field, KKR will be aware they have a psychological edge over SRH, having defeated them thrice in five meetings but on form the Hyderabad outfit will be ahead.
On the field, it will boil down to a battle between their Hyderabad’s batting firepower led by David Warner against the KKR bowlers, especially the slower ones who would look to revel in home conditions.
Warner has led from the front after being named skipper ahead of the season.
The explosive opener has been in sublime form with five half-centuries in eight matches, and four of them in winning causes -- boasting of the maximum 50s (21) in IPL.
Warner's 91 from 64 balls in their first leg fixture had given Hyderabad a 16-run victory in the first leg and KKR can consider half the battle won if they get the left-hander cheaply.
To address the threat, KKR may bring in ace South African speedster Morne Morkel who has had some success against the Aussie.
Morkel has played the last three matches for Kolkata but the South African has dismissed the Aussie opener six times in International cricket and twice in the IPL, including in the first leg.
Having returned to winning ways after securing a handsome win over CSK here, KKR have hit the slump once again going down to RCB for their fourth loss.
KKR are slated to play three matches at home beginning with Hyderabad on Monday before they conclude with two away games and it's imperative for Gambhir's men to make the three count in order to make the playoffs.
In their last outing at the Eden Gardens, Hyderabad were thrashed by KKR and the visitors will also be keen to settle scores.
On current form, Sunrisers Hyderabad look fresh after notching the highest total of this IPL -- 192/7 against CSK on Saturday.
The inclusion of Moises Henriques and Eoin Morgan has been good for the team and their formidable batting will be their main strength.
Hyderabad have also found the right mix of Indian players with the likes of Ashish Reddy and Naman Ojha doing their jobs impressively.
However, it's their spin bowling resources which may be a cause for concern as their main tweaker Karn Sharma will have to bring out his best, while it remains to be seen whether they will bring in Pervez Rasool who has just played one match this season.
