IPL 2026 Eliminator SRH vs RR: What to expect, pitch report and Playing XI

Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals are set for a thrilling IPL 2026 Eliminator in New Chandigarh as two explosive batting units prepare for a high-pressure battle. SRH have enjoyed a consistent campaign under Pat Cummins, with their bowling attack emerging as a major strength. Young pacers Praful Hinge and Shakib Hussain impressed instantly, while Cummins and chinaman bowler Shiwang Kumar have added balance and control to the side.

Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, have been powered by the sensational rise of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The young opener has smashed 583 runs in 14 matches at a staggering strike rate above 230 and already broken Chris Gayle’s record for most sixes in a single IPL season. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel have also delivered consistently despite middle-order concerns.

The match is expected to be a batting spectacle, with Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head facing off against Vaibhav and Jaiswal. However, bowlers could ultimately decide the contest on a high-scoring Mullanpur surface where spinners have enjoyed slightly better success than pacers this season.

What to expect?

Temperatures in the city, much like the rest of North India, have remained intense, with the mercury staying above 40 degrees Celsius even after 5 PM. Sunrisers Hyderabad assistant coach James Franklin confirmed that Pitch No. 4 will be used for the clash. The same surface was used in SRH’s previous match against Punjab Kings, where Hyderabad posted 219 before PBKS chased it down comfortably.

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The venue has consistently produced high-scoring contests, especially in the first innings, where the average total stands at 214. Punjab Kings even crossed the 250-run mark against Lucknow Super Giants during the league stage. However, scoring tends to slow down considerably after the Powerplay.

Interestingly, spinners have enjoyed slightly better returns at the venue this season, maintaining an economy rate of 9.29 compared to pacers, who have gone at 11.06 runs per over across four matches.

Pitch Report

As reported by ESPN Cricinfo, The venue will offer short square boundaries of 69m and 68m, with 74m straight down the ground. The surface will appear extremely flat and batting-friendly, making it ideal for stroke play. However, the new ball could provide some assistance to fast bowlers because of a few bare patches on the wicket. There could be slight seam movement and extra skid early on, but the assistance is unlikely to last long. Teams winning the toss will likely prefer bowling first on this surface.

Playing XI

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan(w), Heinrich Klaasen, Smaran Ravichandran, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins(c), Shivang Kumar, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge

Rajasthan Royals : Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel(w), Riyan Parag(c), Donovan Ferreira, Dasun Shanaka, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Yash Raj Punja