IPL 2024 Qualifier 2: SRH Skipper Cummins Reveals Mastermind Behind Introduction of Shahbaz as Impact Player

Impact substiture Shahbaz Ahmed bagged the player of the match award as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Rajasthan Royals by 35 runs in the IPL 2024 Qualifier 2 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday (May 24).

Shahbaz, who was introduced in the 15th over as an Impact Player, had a telling effect with an all-round display of a run-a-ball 18 followed by magnificent returns with the ball, finishing with figures of 3 for 25 in his four overs.

For his performance, the all-rounder, who lost his spot in the playing 11, was righly adjudged the man of the match. And following the match, Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins revealed it was head coach Daniel Vettori who decided to use Shahbaz as the impact player.

"That was Vettori's choice, left-arm orthodox and wanted as many left-arm orthodox as possible," Cummins said at the post-match presentation ceremony on the idea of bringing in Shahbaz as an impact sub.

SRH has often failed with their Impact choices with Sanvir Singh and Anmolpreet Singh registering ducks earlier this season when brought on create an impact in the game. This time, however, SRH got their call right as his introduction turned the game around.

In a spot of bother at 120/6 in 14 overs after being put into bat in a crucial knockout match, Shahbaz played a key role in SRH posting a challenging score. Although it was an 18-ball 18 knock, the left-handed batter played supporting role with Heinrich Klaasen.

Shahbaz and Klaasen (50 off 34 balls) shared a 43-run stand off 25 balls to take SRH past 160, and then southpaw later ensured the Sunrisers had enough on the board to defend on a Chepauk wicket, which is often known to assist slower bowlers.

Sunrisers have heavily relied on their pace bowling set-up to get them across the finishing line. But on Chepauk, Cummins took everyone by surprise after introducing the spin duo of Ahmed and Abhishek Sharma.

Shahbaz and Abhishek Sharma, the two left-arm orthodox spinners ensured that the IPL final would be a rematch between the Qualifier 1 teams - SRH and Kolkata Knight Riders.

While Abhishek removed in-form duo of Shimron Hetmyer and skipper Sanju Samson, Ahmed got rid of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag and Ravichandran Ashwin to create big damage to the Royals run chase.

The left-arm spin duo combined to pick five wickets in their eight-over spell while giving away 47 runs at an economy of 5.87. And Cummins said it was the duo's bowling in the middle overs that won them the match.

"That was a surprise, tried to stick one out of him (Abhishek) with a couple of right-handers and he bowled beautifully and those two won it with their bowling in the middle overs," Cummins added.

Cummins and SRH will look to make more use of the left-arm spin duo when they face Kolkata Knight Riders in the title clash at the same venue in Chennai on Sunday (May 26).