While injuries have robbed the two teams of some star players, unseasonal rain lashed the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in the lead-up to the game on Friday night, throwing a spanner in the works of the hosts already depleted by the injury-enforced absence of Shikhar Dhawan and JP Duminy.
But with Dale Steyn and Ishant Sharma leading the Sunrisers attack, it is the visitors who will hope to tide over the crisis caused by the absence of Australian Michael Clarke in a battle that pits the past and current captains of Sri Lanka -- Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews.
As one of the six players retained from Hyderabad's erstwhile outfit, where it seemed the left hand did not know what the right did, Sangakkara will be aware of the issues that let them down. But the seasoned player that he is, he will also know the importance of not carrying any baggage from the past.
The Sunrisers will need them at the top of their game as the opposition is packed with big names. Ishant will see his India partner -- Bhuvneshwar Kumar -- in the rival camp. Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, Ashok Dinda, Manish Pandey, Abhishek Nayar, Marlon Samuels, Ross Taylor, Ajantha Mendis, Mitchell Marsh, Luke Wright and the exciting 22-year-old Kane Richardson have a reputation to maintain.
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