SRH Opt To Bowl Against Rajasthan Royals In IPL 2026 Eliminator

Sunrisers Hyderabad are facing Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2026 Eliminator at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.

SRH captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bowl first in the crucial knockout fixture.

The winner of the contest will secure a place in Qualifier 2 and remain in contention for the IPL 2026 title.

After winning the toss, Pat Cummins said the team preferred to chase because the side had played consistent cricket in recent matches. He added that SRH would focus on keeping their bowling plans simple while allowing Rajasthan Royals’ batters to play according to their strengths.

Cummins also stated that the team was not feeling pressure ahead of the knockout encounter and confirmed the return of Praful Hinge to the side.

RR captain Riyan Parag said his side would also have chosen to bowl first because the Mullanpur surface generally favours chasing teams. He admitted that he was not fully fit but stressed that the Rajasthan Royals had no option other than victory.

Parag also expressed confidence in the team’s ability and confirmed Ravindra Jadeja’s return to the playing XI, while Dubey would feature as the impact player.

SRH Hold Advantage Over RR

Sunrisers Hyderabad finished third in the league stage with 18 points after registering nine victories in 14 matches.

Rajasthan Royals claimed the fourth playoff spot after securing eight wins during the league phase.

SRH dominated RR in both league-stage meetings this season. Hyderabad defeated Rajasthan by 57 runs in the first encounter before winning the second match by five wickets.

Rajasthan Royals will aim to avenge their earlier defeats and keep their title hopes alive with a victory in the Eliminator. SRH will look to continue their winning momentum and move one step closer to the IPL 2026 final.

Also Read: RCB Storm Into IPL 2026 Final With 92-Run Win Over Gujarat Titans