Predictions, Dream11 teams & pitch reports — May 26 to 31
Right then. Sunrisers Hyderabad hosting Punjab Kings at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium — this is what IPL 2026 is all about. Both squads loaded, the pitch is ready, and the fans are already buzzing.
Every time SRH meets PBKS in the IPL, there's a story to tell. Both teams have quality squads, passionate fanbases, and enough talent to win on any given day. This is what IPL cricket is all about.
Cummins at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium brings that Australian intensity to every spell. His powerplay bowling is world-class, and as captain, he sets fields and changes plans better than most. Plus he can bat — 30 off 15 is very much in his range.
Shikhar Dhawan brings leadership and Sam Curran brings firepower — PBKS's core is solid.
The balanced conditions at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium mean smart cricket wins over brute force. Teams need to assess the conditions early and adapt their game plans accordingly.
arre yaar, dono teams ekdum fire hai. Net run rate becomes a big deal around this time. Don't be surprised if the winning team goes for the kill even after the result is decided.
Net run rate becomes a big deal around this time. Don't be surprised if the winning team goes for the kill even after the result is decided. For more upcoming matches, see our full IPL 2026 schedule.
Home advantage and a better head-to-head record give SRH the edge here. The balanced conditions mean the team that executes better will win. PBKS have the quality to upset, but they need to be at their best. Our call: SRH to win this one.
Source: ESPNcricinfo IPL Records
Mixed bag — can beat anyone but also capable of random off days. Pat Cummins's captaincy will be tested as SRH look to maintain their winning momentum.
Started strong but hit a rough patch — need to bounce back tonight. Shikhar Dhawan knows that PBKS need to keep the winning run going.
This is as balanced as IPL pitches get. Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium gives something to everyone — pace bowlers early, spinners in the middle, and batters who wait for their moment. Smart cricket wins matches here.
April in Hyderabad gets properly hot — 32-38°C with humidity dropping to 35-45%. Dry heat, which actually helps bowlers maintain grip longer. Dew is moderate. The pitch plays true under these conditions.
The dew factor at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is moderate. It will affect grip slightly in the second innings but not enough to make it impossible to bowl. Both batting first and chasing are viable options.
From a Dream11 perspective, yaar, both coaches must be losing sleep over their team combination tonight. Don't overthink the Dream11 today. At Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, the in-form players usually deliver. Pick players who've scored in their last 3 matches — form matters more than venue history in T20 cricket. The key is to not overthink it — pick players who are in form and let the match do the rest. For detailed fantasy tips, check our Dream11 hub.
Our recommended Dream11 team for SRH vs PBKS Match 35:
Heinrich Klaasen (SRH) vs Jonny Bairstow (PBKS) — this is the marquee matchup of the match. When these two compete, something has to give. Watch the powerplay for this contest.
The battle between Travis Head and Kagiso Rabada could decide this game. Travis Head has been in terrific form, but Kagiso Rabada is not someone you can take lightly. This matchup is pure gold for cricket fans.
Pat Cummins vs Arshdeep Singh — both players know they need to outperform the other. The team whose player wins this head-to-head will most likely win the match. Simple as that.
For those playing fantasy cricket, the budget picks can actually make or break your Dream11 team. Nobody's picking this player in their Dream11 teams. Which means if this player scores 40+, you're jumping past thousands of teams who didn't see it coming. Look at players like Nitish Kumar Reddy from SRH and Arshdeep Singh from PBKS — they fly under the radar but deliver consistent fantasy points. Sometimes it's the 7-credit pick that gives you 50+ points while the 10-credit star fails.
The stats say Prabhsimran Singh as Captain, the eye test says Prabhsimran Singh, and the gut feeling says Prabhsimran Singh. When all three agree, you don't argue — you pick.
The stats say Jonny Bairstow as Vice-Captain, the eye test says Jonny Bairstow, and the gut feeling says Jonny Bairstow. When all three agree, you don't argue — you pick.
At this venue, the toss winner should choose to field first — dew makes second-innings bowling a nightmare. This is one of the few IPL venues where batting first works. Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium offers a good surface early, and the pitch can get tricky in the second innings. Setting a big total and putting pressure on the chasing team is the way forward. Both captains will be thinking about this carefully — get the toss decision wrong at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium and you're starting the match on the back foot. The last 10 IPL matches at this venue show a clear trend that teams should bat first and put up a total. Expect the winning captain to follow this pattern.
SRH vs PBKS is scheduled at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. Check the match card above for the exact start time in IST.
SRH vs PBKS can be watched live on JioHotstar (streaming) and Star Sports Network (TV broadcast) in India. International viewers can watch on Willow TV (USA), SuperSport (Africa), and Sky Sports (UK).
The team winning the toss at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is expected to bat first. 55% of toss winners have chosen to field first at this venue in recent IPL matches.
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad is known for balanced conditions. The average first innings score is 170. Even contest between bat and ball, good pace and bounce. Teams winning the toss prefer to bat first at this venue.
For this match at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, pick batters who can handle balanced conditions. All-rounders are valuable at this venue. Choose your captain from the team batting second if you expect the toss winner to bowl first.
At Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, chasing teams have won 53% of matches. The dew factor is moderate here, so both batting and bowling first are viable options depending on the match situation.
Check out other matches involving SRH and PBKS:
Learn more about the teams competing in this match:
Why trust this page: our analysts combine venue bias, likely batting order, recent role clarity, and Dream11 point upside before publishing the final call. This page is maintained by Arjun Mehta and updated closer to toss when needed.
