🏏IPL 2026: RR vs SRH, 36th Match, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur🏏

🏏IPL 2026: RR vs SRH, 36th Match, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur on 25/04/2026 at 7:30PM IST🏏

For a league built on a team's success correlating with the art of maximising home advantage, Rajasthan Royals present a curious case. Notwithstanding all the success they enjoyed at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in the initial years of the IPL - as a spotless record in 2008 and 2013 would suggest - they have moved towards the idea of two home grounds since the IPL returned to its home-and-away format in the post-COVID era.

None too different this year either, having played three of their seven home fixtures in Guwahati. They did complete a clean sweep of CSK, MI and RCB to cast themselves as a team to watch out for. But trends in recent years suggest that RR have made it to the playoffs whenever they've had a positive win-loss record in Jaipur.

That may not have a huge bearing this time, considering their solid positioning on the points table as they commence the second half of their campaign with 10 points under their belt. But having returned to winning ways with a successful defense of 159 in Lucknow, a fond homecoming will only solidify RR's foothold in the top half of the table. It is something they would dearly want, considering how they have botched up a great first half and fizzled out in seasons gone by.

It will be far from easy against a Sunrisers Hyderabad side that is on the upswing. Not only do they arrive on the back of a three-match winning streak - which incidentally began against RR - but they are also set to welcome captain Pat Cummins for this contest. Having stumbled upon a bowling formula, Cummins' entry only bolsters those stocks besides elongating SRH's batting lineup.

There are concerns over the form of some key batters across the two sides. Neither Travis Head nor Riyan Parag has lit up the tournament yet and it doesn't often take them long to get going. SRH and RR will hope that they respectively turn up at the right time and deliver, particularly given that this potential four-pointer could have ramifications later in the competition. Notwithstanding that, this isn't a stage where teams can afford to lose momentum as the tournament reaches a tipping point.

More information will be added a bit later as there is plenty of time before the match starts.

Tagging Hinna too

In the spotlight: Riyan Parag and Pat Cummins

RR captain Riyan Parag is averaging 13.50 in seven outings this season and his inability to stamp his authority on the batting line-up has stopped RR from asserting themselves after the top three are gone. Parag has recently admitted that "he's going through a tough phase", and RR being comfortably placed in the top four has papered over some of the worries, but a a lean patch from an underperforming captain makes for some difficult conversations in the dressing room. It's the kind of situation that can derail a campaign and that's the last thing Parag or RR would want.

SRH captain Pat Cummins has not played cricket owing to a back injury since an Ashes fixture in December last year. He even missed the T20 World Cup in 2026. But for SRH, he has been a maverick leader who has given the team the freedom to express themselves with the bat, a template that has transformed not only SRH but T20 cricket in general. His performances in big moments, his split-second decision-making as captain, his ability to bowl across phases and his love for monster hits with the bat makes makes him a perfect addition in the SRH team. The only question: can he hit top form right away?

Team News:

Rajasthan Royals

Injuries/Availability: There are no injuries to report from the RR camp

Tactics & Matchups: Ever since RR were reduced to 2/4 by Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain, their openers have been happy to bide their time (by their standards at least) and pick their moments in subsequent games. After two middling totals of 155 and 159 in trying conditions, expect the Royals to go harder in the Powerplay on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Ravi Bishnoi has dismissed Ishan Kishan four times in the IPL while conceding just 48 runs off 46 deliveries. Expect him to be introduced into the attack when the first wicket falls.

Probable XII: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Sandeep Sharma

Sunrisers Hyderabad:

Injuries/Availability: "Been a long time coming, stinging to get back into it tomorrow", read a caption from Pat Cummins' social media post a day out of the game. As clear a sign as any that the Sunrisers skipper is finally set for his long-awaited comeback, with Dilshan Madushanka likely to make way.

Tactics & Matchups: Praful Hinge was the toast of town after his three-wicket opening over burst in the Hyderabad leg of this fixture. Although he sat out of the previous game, SRH may find it hard to resist the temptation of unleashing him again to reopen those scars and expose RR's middle-order early. From a batting standpoint, the onus would be on Abhishek Sharma (SR 462.5) and Heinrich Klaasen (SR 210) to put Bishnoi under the pump and shield Kishan from that matchup.

Probable XII: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Aniket Verma, Salil Arora, Pat Cummins (c), Harsh Dubey/Praful Hinge, Shivang Kumar, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain

Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur: Pitch Report

As the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur readies itself to host the maiden IPL game of the 2026 season, the wicket here is expected to be a batting-friendly one. The ground is famous for its blazing-fast outfield, shorter boundary dimensions and a flat wicket, meaning that batters get full value for their strokes at the famous venue. Chasing is expected to be the easier task at the venue, and the team winning the toss would boast an added advantage by opting to bowl first.

RR vs SRH: Head-to-Head record

Matches Played 22

Won by RR 09

Won by SRH 13

Tie/NR 00

First-ever fixture April 27, 2013 (RR Won)

Most recent fixture April 13, 2026 (SRH Won)

RR vs SRH: Probable Best Performers of the Match

Probable Best Batter: Abhishek Sharma

Star opening batter Abhishek Sharma is expected to enjoy his time in the middle at the Jaipur deck on Saturday. He is coming on the back of a sensational century against Delhi Capitals in the side's previous match and also won the Player of the Match accolade for his enthralling display with the bat. He is expected to carry his form and momentum forward and put up a show against Parag & Co. as well.

Probable Best Bowler: Jofra Archer

The form and rhythm of Jofra Archer are well and truly back, and that was on display as he bowled a brilliant spell in his previous outing. Archer has been at the helm of containing the flow of runs from his end, which has been creating a lot of pressure on the batters. Against a formidable batting attack that SRH boasts, Archer can prove to be the lethal weapon to meet the challenge.

Today's Match Prediction: Chasing team to win the match

Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, Jaipur

RR

Second To Bat

Powerplay: 70-80

225-235

SRH

Second To Bat

Powerplay: 65-75

220-230

Win Probability

RR 50%

SRH 50%

Disclaimer

The prediction is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While making your prediction, consider the points mentioned, and make your own decision.