Rajasthan Royals versus Sunrisers Hyderabad is a game I am really looking forward to  because I think there are a number of fascinating elements surrounding both sides heading  into this contest. One thing I quite like from RR point of view is the fact that they have  already played what was effectively a knockout game. Their previous match against  Mumbai Indians was a must-win encounter, and when you come through a game like that,  it can give you a certain mental edge going into another high-pressure contest. 

In that last game, there was no margin for error, and managing to come through that  situation can sometimes settle a side down before another huge game. Those kinds of  matches test temperament as much as skill, and Rajasthan would have had to handle  

nerves, pressure and expectations all at once. That experience could become very  important here. 

Obviously, Jofra Archer has been exceptional. He has looked like a genuine match-winning  presence and someone capable of changing the direction of a game with just a spell or two.  Nandre Burger coming back into the side also adds something important for Rajasthan,  while Brijesh Sharma has been doing well too. There are enough pieces there for Rajasthan  to feel confident about the balance of their side and the form of key players. 

At the same time, I still feel there is a bigger role to play with both bat and ball for Ravindra  Jadeja. Yes, he finished the innings well in the previous game and contributed in a bit-part  role with the ball, but for me, he is someone who can have an even greater impact on a  contest of this magnitude. I look at him as a genuine match winner in a big game situation,  and because of that, I would want to see him involved a little quicker and a little more  prominently. 

I also think Donovan Ferreira is a massive match winner. I have mentioned this on a  number of occasions because I genuinely believe he is the type of player who can alter the  course of a game within a short space of time. Because of that, I personally would not hold  him back for too long in the innings. If there is an opportunity after around 12 overs, I  would want him in there rather than waiting any longer. 

However, Rajasthan do seem to prefer holding him back for a prolonged period. That  appears to be their strategy, but I just feel that someone with Ferreira’s power and impact  can completely transform the momentum of an innings if introduced at the right time. He  can change the direction of a game very quickly, and in knockout cricket that kind of ability  becomes priceless.

Riyan Parag has found some runs again in recent times, which is another positive for  Rajasthan Royals. He is back leading the side, and that should also give them a sense of  familiarity and stability. Dasun Shanaka, meanwhile, gives them a little more balance than  perhaps they had previously. Balance is such a crucial thing at this stage of a tournament  because every side is searching for the correct combination that can cover multiple  situations during a game. 

There is also a certain emotional factor surrounding Rajasthan Royals at the moment. They  would have been extremely nervous going into that final group-stage match because they  knew exactly what was at stake. Coming through a situation like that can sometimes unite a  team even more strongly and give them a sense of belief. I think that emotional momentum  and that feeling within the group could become a really important aspect of this contest. 

Having said all of that, they are still coming up against a Sunrisers Hyderabad side that  played brilliantly against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. SRH look like a team overflowing  with confidence right now, particularly because their top order continues to function at  such a high level. It is genuinely difficult to argue that there is a better top four in the  competition at the moment. 

That batting unit has been incredibly consistent, and when a top order is operating with  that level of confidence, it naturally puts enormous pressure on the opposition. Nitish  Kumar Reddy has also been contributing a little with the bat, and he will need to continue  contributing with the ball as well because those secondary contributions can become  hugely significant in games like this. 

For me, though, the area where this game could ultimately be decided is with SRH’s  bowling attack. Eshan Malinga has been exceptional throughout the competition, while Pat  Cummins remains a high-class operator. I have particularly liked the way Cummins has led  his bowling attack as captain. 

I think Cummins has done a very smart job in the way he has managed his bowlers. He has  avoided exposing them too much, which is important because bowling is obviously the  weaker link in this SRH side. Rather than allowing opponents to line bowlers up  predictably, he has rotated them cleverly, using overs here and there, bringing bowlers in  and out of the attack, and generally trying not to become too predictable. 

I also think he has done well not to overload any one bowler in difficult situations. He has  tried not to set them up too much for failure, and that is a sign of intelligent captaincy. He  clearly understands the strengths and limitations within his bowling group and has tried to  maximise what they can offer collectively.

But despite all of that good captaincy, the reality remains that he is still leading a bowling  attack that represents the weaker part of this Sunrisers side. That is why I believe the  contest could be determined by how effectively SRH’s bowlers handle Rajasthan Royals’  top order. 

If Rajasthan can get a strong start through Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal, then  life immediately becomes much tougher for Sunrisers. A fast and confident beginning from  those batters could put SRH’s bowling unit under serious pressure very early in the  innings. 

So while my gut feeling slightly leans towards Sunrisers because that top order has been  functioning so brilliantly, I still have concerns about their bowling attack. That remains the  area where I think Rajasthan Royals can genuinely hurt them. 

Overall, though, this should be a cracking game because both teams are entering the  contest full of confidence. Rajasthan have momentum and belief after surviving a knockout  situation already, while Sunrisers Hyderabad have the confidence that comes from a batting unit operating at an incredibly high level. When two confident sides meet in a high pressure game like this, it usually creates a fantastic contest