IPL 2026: SRH vs PBKS Match 49 – Who will be Impact Players for today’s match?

The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium will be the venue for the Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) game against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 49 of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday, May 6.

SRH come into the game after suffering their first defeat in six matches, losing to the Kolkata Knight Riders by seven wickets in their previous home game. 

PBKS, on the other hand, were unbeaten in the league not too long ago, but have since then lost two matches in a row. Their most recent defeat came against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad at the weekend. 

Both SRH and PBKS brought in bowlers as their Impact Subs in their previous game, with both Sakib Hussain and Vijaykumar Vyshak coming off the bench, with the latter taking two wickets whilst Hussain took one wicket at an economy of 5.67. 

Predicted Impact Players for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH):

Eshan Malinga: One of SRH’s best bowlers this season, Eshan Malinga is currently his side’s leading wicket-taker, with 15 scalps to his name, at an economy of 9.49.

Liam Livingstone: Liam Livingstone has played just two matches for SRH this season, but continues to remain a permanent part of the substitutes’ bench for the 2016 champions. 

Praful Hinge: Praful Hinge had a debut to remember against the Rajasthan Royals, taking four wickets, including three in his first over. Since then, he has taken four more wickets but has been expensive with the ball.

Harsh Dubey: 23-year-old Harsh Dubey has eight wickets to his name in this season’s IPL and remains a handy spinner to call off the bench.

Zeeshan Ansari: Despite playing 10 times for SRH last season, Zeeshan Ansari is yet to make his first appearance in IPL 2026. A legbreak bowler, he had a decent time with Uttar Pradesh in the domestic circuit before the IPL.

Predicted Impact Players for Punjab Kings (PBKS):

Vijaykumar Vyshak: PBK’s designated Impact Sub’s player whilst defending a total, Vijaykumar Vyshak has eight wickets to his name this season in as many matches.

Harpreet Brar: An experienced IPL campaigner with PBKS, Harpreet Brar has played 50 matches since making his debut in 2019. He has, however, played just once in 2026.

Musheer Khan: Musheer Khan played just one game for PBKS last season and is yet to make an appearance this time around. That was his only T20 game in his professional career. 

Vishnu Vinod: A wicketkeeper-batter, Vishnu Vinod has an overall T20 strike-rate of 141.92, but last played in the IPL in 2023.

Harnoor Singh: A 23-year-old batter, Harnoor Singh is still waiting to make his maiden appearance in the IPL. 

Expert Opinion and Final Prediction

• Home Advantage: SRH have so far played five matches in Hyderabad, winning three times. They lost to KKR in their most recent game. 
• Recent Form: SRH have won four out of their last five encounters against PBKS. They were also recently on a five-match winning run before losing their last game. 
• Balanced Side: Both SRH and PBKS have well-balanced squads heading into the second half of the season. 
• Prediction: With these factors in their favour, expect a tight game with the Sunrisers Hyderabad coming out on top on home soil.