IPL 2017 Player battles: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Top 4 player encounters to look for

#2 Umesh Yadav vs David Warner

Gambhir has scored two half-centuries in KKR’s three games

Umesh’s bowling has been a revelation for Indian cricket this season. He played in all the 13 home Tests and claimed vital breakthroughs on a number of occasions. His moment of glory came in the series decider against Australia in Dharamshala when he hassled the Aussie top order with a display of high-quality fast bowling in the second innings and script a memorable win for his country.

He was kept out of KKR’s first two matches in this year’s IPL, but once he got an opportunity against Kings XI in the last game, he made an impact straight away, picking up four wickets.

Extra Cover: IPL 2017 KKR vs SRH: Sunrisers Hyderabad's probable playing XI against Kolkata Knight Riders, Match 14

Warner is the pivot around which SRH’s batting revolves. He was exemplary both as a batsman and a leader in last year’s IPL that his side won. In fact, his tally of 848 runs at 60.57 was next only to Virat Kohil’s aggregate of 973 runs in 2016. This year too, Warner has already shown glimpses of his firepower with a stroke-filled 76 not out to take his side home against Kings XI.

Warner up against Yadav is going to be a treat to the fans on Saturday. The pocket dynamite from Australia is one of those batsmen who can take the game beyond the reach of rival teams in a very short duration of time.

Umesh was able to dispatch Warner with a lifting delivery when these two played against each other last time in Dharamshala and KKR would, therefore, hope for a repeat of the same feat by their lanky pacer. Warner, though, must be keen to avenge his dismissal and stamp his authority.