IPL 2026 Eliminator: Sunrisers Hyderabad host Rajasthan Royals in high-stakes Mullanpur clash

Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals are set to contest the IPL 2026 Eliminator at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. The match carries significant weight for both franchises, as the victor secures a place in Qualifier 2 while the defeated side is removed from the tournament. The contest is scheduled for Tuesday, with the toss set for 7:00 PM IST and play commencing at 7:30 PM IST.

Historical data presents a formidable challenge for Rajasthan Royals, who face a Sunrisers Hyderabad side that has dominated the head-to-head record. SRH hold a 14-9 advantage overall and have won six consecutive matches against Rajasthan since 2022. The stakes are further heightened by the scarcity of teams that have won the IPL title after navigating the Eliminator; only Sunrisers Hyderabad achieved this feat in 2016, a precedent that adds pressure to the current fixture.

Rajasthan Royals enter the match with momentum, having secured back-to-back victories against bottom-placed opponents to keep their playoff hopes alive after a period of instability. Conversely, Sunrisers Hyderabad narrowly missed a top-two finish, with a heavy defeat to Gujarat Titans impacting their net run rate. Despite these differing paths to the knockout stage, both teams possess potent batting lineups capable of exploiting the high-scoring nature of the Mullanpur venue.

The pitch at Mullanpur has consistently favoured stroke play, with the average first-innings score this season hovering around 214. Six of the eight completed innings at the venue have surpassed the 200-run mark, including a recent instance where Punjab Kings posted 219 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. While fast bowlers have struggled to contain runs, spinners have maintained slightly better control during the middle overs. Conditions in New Chandigarh are expected to remain extremely hot, with temperatures exceeding 40°C, though moderate humidity and no rain threat are forecast.

Key individual battles will likely define the outcome, particularly the clash between Sunrisers opener Travis Head and Rajasthan pacer Jofra Archer in the Powerplay. Head has historically scored quickly against Archer in T20 cricket, yet the Rajasthan bowler has dismissed him three times and remains a potent new-ball threat. For Rajasthan, captain Riyan Parag faces significant responsibility in the middle order amid fitness concerns, while Sunrisers rely on the explosive starts from Head and Abhishek Sharma, alongside the bowling contributions of skipper Pat Cummins and Harshal Patel.

The confirmed playing XIs highlight the offensive focus of both sides. Sunrisers Hyderabad will field Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, and Heinrich Klaasen at the top, with Kamindu Mendis named as the impact player. Rajasthan Royals counter with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi opening the batting, supported by captain Riyan Parag and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, with Ravi Bishnoi available as the impact player. The match will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network and streamed live on JioHotstar.