IPL 2017 Player Battles: Top 4 player encounters to look for in Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match

#3 Shane Watson vs Ashish Nehra

Watson will lead the RCB side in the absence of Kohli

In the absence of Virat Kohli, Shane Watson will be leading RCB in their opener. Both these players have played in the IPL since the first edition but have had contrasting experiences. Watson has been an IPL sensation right from the days of the heroic triumph of Rajasthan Royals in the maiden season while Ashish Nehra has been quite ordinary for a major chunk of the IPL.

A couple of years ago, if someone asked me who would win this contest, the answer would have been a resounding “Watson” but things have changed in the recent past. Nehra reinvented himself and made a comeback to the national team in the shortest format while Watson’s injuries continued to weigh him down.

Nehra performed quite well for SRH in the previous edition while Watson had an absolutely dismal season with a batting average of 13.76.

The two haven’t faced each other much in the recent past but today’s will be an interesting contest between Nehra’s wicket taking deliveries and Watson’s clean hitting.