Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have the edge over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL 2026 Eliminator at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, on May 27, 2026.
SRH have won five consecutive matches against RR, including both encounters this season, and enter the knockout stage on the back of a 55-run demolition of RCB. With Pat Cummins back leading the attack and a top order firing on all cylinders, SRH are slight favourites to advance to Qualifier 2.
That said, writing off the Rajasthan Royals would be foolish. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi holds the Orange Cap with 583 runs at a strike rate of 232, and Jofra Archer has been sensational with 21 wickets in 14 matches. RR also boasts a perfect 3-0 record at this venue. This will be a cracker.
IPL 2026 Eliminator SRH vs RR Match Info
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | Eliminator, IPL 2026 (TATA IPL) |
| Teams | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals |
| Date | Wednesday, May 27, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh |
| SRH Captain | Pat Cummins |
| RR Captain | Riyan Parag |
| SRH League Finish | 3rd (18 points, NRR +0.524) |
| RR League Finish | 4th (16 points, NRR +0.190) |
| Live Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar |
| Winner Advances To | Qualifier 2 (May 29, New Chandigarh) |
SRH finished the league stage with 9 wins and 5 losses, tied on 18 points with RCB and GT, but placed third on net run rate. RR scraped through as the fourth and final qualifier, earning 16 points after a dramatic 30-run win over the Mumbai Indians on the last day of the league stage.
IPL 2026 Eliminator Odds for SRH vs RR
The market leans slightly towards SRH, which makes sense when you account for their five-match winning streak over RR and the presence of Pat Cummins as a genuine death-over enforcer.
Win probability sits at roughly 56-44 in SRH’s favour, though RR’s venue record (3-0 at Mullanpur) keeps the odds closer than the head-to-head might suggest.
The toss odds are practically a coin flip. Both captains will want to bowl first here.
| Platform | SRH Win Odds | RR Win Odds | Toss Odds (SRH) | Toss Odds (RR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 1.84 | 1.95 | 1.90 | 1.85 |
| Stake | 1.80 | 2.00 | 1.85 | 1.90 |
| 4RABET | 1.82 | 1.98 | 1.88 | 1.88 |
| BetVibe | 1.85 | 1.95 | 1.90 | 1.90 |
IPL 2026 Eliminator Toss Prediction for SRH vs RR
There is no mystery here. The toss winner will choose to bowl first.
Three of the four IPL 2026 matches at this venue were won by the team bowling first. The average first-innings score of 214 confirms this is a batting paradise. But it gets even better for chasing teams as the evening progresses.
Dew is the game-changer. From the 12th over of the second innings onward, bowlers struggle to grip the ball. Spinners lose their bite. Yorkers turn into full tosses. The quick Mullanpur outfield only amplifies the advantage.
Both Pat Cummins and Riyan Parag are aware of these dynamics. Neither will hesitate to field first.
Toss Prediction: The toss winner will opt to bowl first.
SRH Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2026 Eliminator
SRH arrive in blazing form. Their last league match produced a 255/4 batting masterclass against RCB, powered by fifties from Ishan Kishan (79), Abhishek Sharma (56), and Heinrich Klaasen (51).
The biggest boost? Pat Cummins is fit and leading the side. After missing the first half of IPL 2026 due to a lumbar bone stress injury, he returned on April 25 and has been instrumental in SRH’s late-season surge.
Predicted XI:
| Rank | Player | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abhishek Sharma | Batter (Opener) | 43 sixes this season, explosive left-hander |
| 2 | Travis Head | Batter (Opener) | Aggressive starter, can take the powerplay away |
| 3 | Ishan Kishan (wk) | WK-Batter | Led SRH in Cummins’ absence; 79 vs RCB in the last match |
| 4 | Heinrich Klaasen | WK-Batter | 555 runs in IPL 2026; devastating middle-overs hitter |
| 5 | Nitish Kumar Reddy | All-rounder | Offers seam bowling and power-hitting at No. 5 |
| 6 | Aniket Verma | Batter | Handy lower-order contributor |
| 7 | Pat Cummins (c) | Bowler | Death-over specialist; tactical captain |
| 8 | Harshal Patel | Bowler | Middle-overs control; reliable variations |
| 9 | Praful Hinge | Bowler | Breakout star; 4/34 on IPL debut vs RR |
| 10 | Sakib Hussain | Bowler | Shared 8 wickets with Hinge on debut night |
| 11 | Jaydev Unadkat | Bowler | Left-arm pace, powerplay, and death utility |
| 12 (Impact) | Eshan Malinga | Bowler | Sri Lankan quick; used as tactical reinforcement |
Key Strength: SRH’s top four is arguably the most destructive batting lineup in the tournament. When Abhishek, Head, Kishan, and Klaasen all fire, totals of 220+ become routine. They’ve done it multiple times this season.
RR Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2026 Eliminator
Rajasthan Royals enter the Eliminator as the ultimate survivors. After winning their first four matches, they lost six of the next eight before rallying with consecutive wins against LSG and MI to qualify on the final day.
Jofra Archer’s performance against MI was the stuff of IPL legend: 3/17 in 4 overs plus a quickfire 32 with the bat. That alone was worth the playoff ticket.
Predicted XI:
| Rank | Player | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Batter (Opener) | Orange Cap holder; 583 runs, SR 232, 53 sixes |
| 2 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batter (Opener) | India international; capable of big hundreds |
| 3 | Dhruv Jurel (wk) | WK-Batter | 38 in the must-win MI game; gritty under pressure |
| 4 | Riyan Parag (c) | All-rounder | 272 runs, 2 wickets; captains with composure |
| 5 | Shimron Hetmyer | Batter | West Indian finisher; hits big in the death |
| 6 | Dasun Shanaka | All-rounder | Sam Curran’s injury replacement; hit 29 off 15 vs MI |
| 7 | Ravindra Jadeja | All-rounder | Spin + left-hand batting at No. 7; IPL royalty |
| 8 | Jofra Archer | Bowler | 21 wickets in 14 matches; pace and bounce merchant |
| 9 | Ravi Bishnoi | Bowler | Leg-spin with a lethal googly; 9 wickets in IPL 2026 |
| 10 | Nandre Burger | Bowler | South African quick; 9 wickets in 10 matches |
| 11 | Tushar Deshpande | Bowler | Right-arm pace; provides death-over backup |
| 12 (Impact) | Donovan Ferreira | All-rounder | Can bowl off-spin and bat; scored 50+ vs SRH |
Key Absence: Sam Curran was ruled out of the entire IPL 2026 season due to injury. Dasun Shanaka was named as his replacement and has slotted in as the overseas all-rounder.
Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report, IPL 2026
This ground is a batter’s paradise that gets progressively better as the game wears on. That is the short version.
Surface: The pitch is composed of black and red soil, offering consistent bounce and true carry. The ball comes onto the bat nicely, which is why stroke-makers love this venue.
Average Score: The average first-innings score in IPL 2026 at this venue is 214. This is not a ground where 170 will win you a playoff match. Both teams need to think 200+ minimum.
Pace vs Spin: Pacers get some assistance with the new ball in the first 2-3 overs, courtesy of the carry and bounce. After that, the surface flattens out quickly. Spinners get some grip and turn in the middle overs, but dew in the second innings neutralises that advantage almost entirely.
Boundaries: Square boundaries are approximately 67 metres, straight boundaries around 70 metres. Not the smallest, but the lightning-fast outfield compensates. Mishits find the fence here.
Key Factor: The dew factor is the single biggest variable. From overs 12-14 of the second innings onward, the ball becomes slippery. Bowlers lose control, spinners lose grip, and chasing teams gain a massive advantage. Three of four IPL 2026 matches here were won by the bowling-first side.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Stadium | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium |
| Location | Mullanpur, New Chandigarh |
| Capacity | 38,000 |
| Pitch Type | True surface, consistent bounce, batting-friendly |
| Average 1st Innings Score (IPL 2026) | 214 |
| Boundary Size | ~67m (square), ~70m (straight) |
| Best Strategy | Bat second (dew factor, chasing advantage) |
Mullanpur Weather Report, May 27, 2026
Good news for cricket. Bad news for bowlers in the second innings.
The forecast is clear skies with zero chance of rain. Temperatures will be scorching during the day but ease into the low-to-mid 30s by match time.
| Weather Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Condition | Clear skies, no rain forecast |
| Daytime High | 42°C |
| Evening Temperature | 34°C to 37°C during match hours |
| Humidity | Moderate to high (~50-60%) |
| Wind Speed | Light, 8-12 km/h |
| Cloud Cover | Minimal |
| Dew Factor | Heavy dew expected from ~12th over of the 2nd innings onward |
| Rain Probability | 0% during match hours |
| Match Interruption Risk | None. A full contest is guaranteed. |
The heat and humidity will test the fielding side’s stamina. Both teams have deep squads, so rotating fast bowlers should not be a problem.
Dream11 Team for SRH vs RR
SRH vs RR Head-to-Head: Last 5 Matches
Overall Head-to-Head (IPL History):
| Matches Played | SRH Wins | RR Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 14 | 9 | 0 |
SRH dominates this rivalry by a wide margin. More importantly, they have won the last five consecutive matches against RR, including both IPL 2026 league encounters and the 2024 Qualifier 2.
Last 5 Matches:
| Match | Date | Winner | Margin | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL 2026 | April 25, 2026 | SRH | 5 wickets | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
| IPL 2026 | April 13, 2026 | SRH | 57 runs | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Hyderabad |
| IPL 2025 | Mar 23, 2025 | SRH | 44 runs | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| IPL 2024 | May 24, 2024 | SRH | 36 run | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Hyderabad |
| IPL 2024 | May 02, 2024 | SRH | 1 run | Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur |
Rivalry Highlights Worth Knowing:
- Ishan Kishan scored 91 off 46 balls in Match 21 (IPL 2026) and was named Cricinfo’s MVP. In Match 36, he smashed 74 off 31 as SRH chased down 229 in just 18.3 overs.
- Praful Hinge announced himself on debut with 4/34 in Match 21, dismantling RR’s top order and ending their unbeaten start to the season.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored a 37-ball 103 (the second-fastest IPL hundred by an Indian) in Match 36, but it still wasn’t enough. SRH chased 229 in a high-octane run-fest.
- The IPL 2024 Qualifier 2 saw SRH restrict RR to 139/7 while defending 175, eliminating Rajasthan from the tournament. History tends to repeat in playoffs.
Our Prediction: SRH Has Better Chances to Win Against RR in IPL 2026 Eliminator
Bottom line up front: SRH win, chasing a target in the 200-215 range.
Why SRH Can Win
The head-to-head record is overwhelming. Five straight wins over RR is not a coincidence. It is a pattern. SRH’s top order of Abhishek, Head, Kishan, and Klaasen has repeatedly dismantled RR’s bowling, regardless of venue or conditions.
Pat Cummins changes the complexion of the bowling attack. Without him in the first half, SRH struggled to close out matches. With him leading at the death, they have won seven of their last nine games since his return on April 25.
SRH’s batting depth is absurd. They posted 255 in their last match. They chased 229 in 18.3 overs against this same RR side. Klaasen’s 555 runs at the kind of strike rate he maintains make him the most dangerous middle-order batter in the tournament right now.
Why RR Can Win
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a generational talent. At 15 years old, he leads the Orange Cap race with 583 runs and 53 sixes. If he gets going in the powerplay, no bowling attack in the world can contain him.
Jofra Archer is a match-winner. His 3/17 against MI in the must-win qualification game proved he can deliver when it matters most. His 21 wickets this season have come at an economy of 8.76, impressive for a lead pacer in T20 cricket.
RR has a perfect 3-0 record at Mullanpur this season. Familiarity with the conditions, the outfield pace, and the dew patterns could give them a tactical edge.
Final Verdict
This is a 55-45 contest in SRH’s favour. The head-to-head record, the form of SRH’s top four, and the return of Pat Cummins are the three pillars of this prediction. RR have match-winners in Sooryavanshi and Archer, but their inconsistency through the middle phase of the tournament raises questions about composure in a knockout setting.
Predicted Winner: SRH by 15-20 runs (if batting first) or 5 wickets (if chasing).
