Rajasthan Royals will square-off against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Match 36 of the 2026 Indian Premier League at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Saturday.
RR are placed third on the points table. The first-ever champions of the IPL have registered commanding wins over Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants. Their only defeats have come against SRH and Kolkata Knight Riders.
RR's biggest strength this season has been their opening pair of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal. The pair was instrumental is giving the team fast start in the initial matches of the season which led RR to commanding wins. The two left-handed batters are the team's leading run scorers, with Sooryavanshi getting 254 runs and Jaiswal accumulating 245 runs.
However, concerns loom over the form of skipper Riyan Parag. While the team is blossoming under his leadership, his batting is yet to deliver. In seven matches, Parag has only got 81 runs, which is abysmally low. Pacer Jofra Archer and leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi are spearheading the bowling unit. The two bowlers have claimed 11 wickets each.
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Hot at heels of RR are SRH, placed fourth on the points tally. Their season began slowly as they recorded only one win from their first four matches which came against a struggling KKR while getting beaten by RCB, LSG and PBKS. But the team dusted off its poor form to win against RR, CSK and Delhi Capitals.
The side is beginning to take shape as a well-rounded unit. Opener Abhishek Sharma was in sublime touch in the previous outing against Delhi Capitals, smashing an unbeaten century. The youngster has now registered a hundred and two fifties this season, and with 323 runs, sits second on the list of leading run-scorers just behind Virat Kohli. Travis Head, while yet to notch up a half-century this season, has consistently provided brisk starts at the top. Ishan Kishan has also contributed with two fifties, adding solidity to the batting lineup.
The last time these two sides met, pacers Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain made an instant impact, claiming four wickets each on debut to dismantle Rajasthan Royals' batting unit. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's Eshan Malinga has been a key addition, picking up 12 wickets so far. The biggest boost, however, comes with the return of regular captain Pat Cummins. The Australian had been sidelined with a back issue but has now recovered and is set to feature in the upcoming match. His presence not only strengthens the bowling attack but also adds leadership, which could prove crucial in navigating high-pressure situations.
Weather And Pitch
The India Meteorological Department has predicted a hot Jaipur today. The maximum temperature is going to be 42°C with minimum temperature around 29°C.
This is going to be the first match of this season that will be played at this venue. So little is known how the pitch will behave.
Head-To-Head Record
- Matches Played: 22
- Rajasthan Royals wins: 9
- Sunrisers Hyderabad wins: 13
Players To watch
Vaibhav Sooryvanshi (Rajasthan Royals): The last time when Vaibhav Sooryavshi took field against SRH, he was dismissed on a first ball-duck. The teenager would like to make amends for that poor display. If Sooryavsnhi gets going then he will infuse the team with lot of confidence.
Pat Cummins (Sunrisers Hyderabad): Pat Cummins is returning to professional cricket after a lengthy absence due to injury. It will be interesting to see how he performs on his return and how much is he able to bowl.
Likely Playing XI
RR: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (capt), Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Donovan Ferreira, Shubham Dubey, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma
SRH: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Salil Arora (wk), Pat Cummins (capt), Eshan Malinga, Shivang Kumar, Pravin Hinge
Broadcast and LIVE streaming details
The match will be broadcast on the Star Sports channel and it will be streamed LIVE on the JioHotstar app.
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