The Match 36 of the Indian Premier League 2026 will see Sunrisers Hyderabad take on Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on April 25.
Sunrisers Hyderabad head into this clash on the back of a strong winning streak, having secured three consecutive victories at home. As they shift to an away fixture, the focus will be on adapting to new conditions while maintaining their winning momentum and fine-tuning their combination.
Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, bounced back impressively after two defeats with a strong bowling performance against Lucknow Super Giants. Having lost to SRH in their earlier meeting this season, the Royals will be motivated to settle scores and build on their renewed confidence with a positive approach.
Here are the potential impact players for both teams in Match 36:
Rajasthan Royals (RR):
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: The 15-year-old prodigy has been a regular Impact Sub for Rajasthan Royals with the bat. He has enjoyed a fantastic season so far, emerging as one of the team’s standout performers.
Shubham Dubey: A handy lower-order batter, Dubey featured as an Impact Sub against Lucknow Super Giants. With the Royals facing some challenges in the back end, he could prove to be a reliable option going forward.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius: The young South African made his IPL debut in 2025 and featured against Sunrisers Hyderabad, but was unable to make a significant impact.
Ravi Singh: A middle-order batter who impressed for Railways cricket team in the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Singh is yet to feature this season.
Yash Raj Punja: The young leg-spinner from Karnataka cricket team made his IPL debut against Kolkata Knight Riders and picked up the wicket of Ramandeep Singh, showing early promise.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH):
Sakib Hussain: The young pacer has impressed in recent outings with his clever variations, particularly his slower balls and inswingers. He has picked up six wickets so far and has also been economical, making him a reliable bowling option for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Liam Livingstone: Livingstone is likely to be kept as a backup option. With Pat Cummins expected to feature in the XI, it becomes less likely for Livingstone to start. However, if changes are made, he would be the first overseas option to consider due to his all-round abilities.
Shivam Mavi: Known for his raw pace, Mavi provides an additional fast-bowling option. Despite having 30 IPL wickets to his name, he is yet to make his debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Smaran Ravichandran: A promising batting talent, Smaran enters the IPL on the back of strong performances for the 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 this season but is yet to open his wicket tally, and will be eager to make an impact in the upcoming games.
Expert opinions and strategies:
Home Advantage: Rajasthan Royals will be playing their first home game of the season at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, and are expected to draw confidence from familiar conditions and home support.
Recent Form: Despite Rajasthan’s strengths, Sunrisers Hyderabad have dominated recent encounters, winning all of the last five meetings between the two sides in the IPL.
Balanced Side: Rajasthan Royals appear to be one of the more balanced sides in the tournament, ticking most boxes effectively. Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad have gained momentum through their uncapped pacers but still need greater consistency in both their batting and, at times, their bowling.
Final Prediction: With a well-rounded squad and the added boost of playing at home, Rajasthan Royals head into this contest as slight favourites, although SRH’s recent dominance makes this a potentially close battle.
