Sunrisers Hyderabad will take on Delhi Capitals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Match 31 of the Indian Premier League 2026 on Tuesday, April 21.
SRH are currently fourth on the table with six points and head into this clash on the back of a win over Chennai Super Kings. They posted 194 runs in that match, powered by half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen, before restricting CSK to 184. Eshan Malinga starred with the ball, picking up three wickets. SRH will aim to carry forward this momentum and secure their fourth win of the season.
Meanwhile, DC registered a thrilling victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their last outing. RCB posted 175, with Phil Salt scoring a fifty. In response, KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs also notched up half-centuries, while David Miller finished the game in style. Led by Axar Patel, DC will look to continue their winning run and clinch their fourth victory of the tournament.
Predicted Impact Players for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Sakib Hussain: The young pacer has impressed in both outings with his clever variations, especially slower balls and inswingers. He picked up four wickets on debut against RR, including the prized scalp of Yashasvi Jaiswal in his very first over. He followed it up with another impactful performance against CSK, where he dismissed Shivam Dube.
Liam Livingstone: With SRH opting for three overseas players in the XI, Livingstone remains a strong Impact Sub option. His explosive batting in the lower order, along with handy part-time spin, adds balance. He was used in this role in the match against CSK.
Shivam Mavi: Known for his raw pace, Mavi provides an additional fast-bowling option. Although he has already claimed 30 wickets in the IPL, he is yet to make his debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Smaran Ravichandran: A promising batting option, Smaran enters the IPL on the back of strong performances for Karnataka cricket team. He boasts an impressive T20 strike rate of 162.45.
Harshal Patel: A seasoned IPL performer, Harshal has featured in three matches for SRH this season but is yet to open his wicket tally.
Predicted Impact Players for Delhi Capitals (DC)
Sameer Rizvi: Rizvi has been a revelation for DC, delivering two match-winning knocks as an Impact Sub. While he is expected to continue in the same role against SRH, he has gone quiet with the bat in the last three games and will be eager to bounce back.
Ashutosh Sharma: A powerful finisher, Ashutosh made a strong impression with his aggressive batting in IPL 2025. However, he is yet to get a consistent opportunity in the playing XI this season and remains a promising option for DC.
Auqib Nabi: The Jammu & Kashmir pacer came into the tournament on the back of an excellent domestic season and was picked up by DC for INR 8.40 crore. He featured in the last two matches and delivered decent performances.
Dushmantha Chameera: The experienced Sri Lankan pacer enters this phase after a solid ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign. Known for his ability to bowl across phases, he could be a valuable asset if given an opportunity.
Karun Nair: A seasoned domestic performer, Nair showed glimpses of form in 2025. He was used as an Impact Sub against RCB but couldn’t make an impact.
Expert Opinion and Final Prediction
Home advantage: The match will be played at Sunrisers Hyderabad’s home ground, the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. Playing in familiar conditions gives SRH a slight edge.
Recent form: The form of both teams is evenly poised. SRH have won two of their last five matches, while Delhi Capitals have also secured two wins, with one game ending in no result.
Balanced side: DC appears slightly more balanced on paper, whereas SRH are still working on finding their ideal playing combination.
Prediction: Considering these factors, DC might have a slight edge and are likely to carry their momentum forward with another win this season.
