Key Details of the Upcoming IPL 2026 Match
In the 45th match of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) is set to face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a high-stakes encounter at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday, May 3rd. SRH aims for their sixth consecutive win in the tournament, while KKR will look to keep their playoff aspirations alive.
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Strong Performance
Sunrisers Hyderabad have been dominating the tournament with an impressive run of five consecutive victories, solidifying their position as a strong contender for the title this season. Their latest win came against the Mumbai Indians at their home ground, where they secured a 6-wicket victory by chasing a target of 244 runs. The batting performance was exceptional, with Abhishek Sharma scoring 45 runs and Travis Head contributing 76 runs. Heinrich Klaasen and Salil Arora played crucial roles, scoring unbeaten 65 and 30 respectively to seal the win. With 12 points from 9 matches, SRH currently sit in third place.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ Recent Form
Meanwhile, the Kolkata Knight Riders are on a winning streak, having secured two consecutive victories. They are currently placed in eighth position with just five points from eight matches. KKR’s recent win over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) was a thrilling super-over contest. Batting first, KKR struggled but Rinku Singh rescued the innings with an unbeaten 83 off 51 deliveries. This knock helped them reach 155 for 7 in their 20 overs. LSG managed to tie the score, leading to a super-over. KKR won comfortably thanks to Sunil Narine’s outstanding bowling, which restricted LSG to just one run in the super-over.
Match Details
The SRH vs KKR match will take place on Sunday, May 3rd, at 3:30 p.m. IST at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The game will be broadcast on Star Sports Network and available for live streaming on JioHotstar.
Pitch and Weather Conditions
The pitch in Hyderabad is expected to offer balanced conditions for both batters and bowlers, with assistance for pacers and spinners. Due to the hot and sunny weather, the surface is likely to be dry. The ball could swing in the initial overs of the power-play. A total of around 185 is expected in the first innings.
The weather in Hyderabad is expected to remain hot and humid, with no rain forecast. Temperatures are likely to range between 28-34°C, with maximum humidity. There are no predictions of thunderstorms for this match.
Head-to-Head Records
In their T20 history, SRH and KKR have faced each other 31 times. KKR has won 20 matches, while SRH has claimed 11 victories. There have been no tied or no-result matches in their head-to-head encounters.
Probable Lineups
Sunrisers Hyderabad:
Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Praful Hinge, Nitish Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Eshan Malinga, Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head, Sakib Hussain.
Impact Players: Krains Fuletra, Aniket Verma, Gerald Coetzee, Zeeshan Ansari
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Tim Seifert (wk), Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Sunil Narine, Rovman Powell, Varun Chakravarthy, Kartik Tyagi, Anukul Roy.
Impact Players: Navdeep Saini, Finn Allen, Rahul Tripathi, Manish Pandey
Players to Watch Out For
Abhishek Sharma (SRH): This left-handed batter is in excellent form, currently sitting second on the Orange Cap list with 425 runs in 9 matches. He has scored three half-centuries and one century this season and will be a key player to watch.
Heinrich Klaasen (SRH): Known for his power-hitting, Klaasen has scored 414 runs in 9 matches, including three half-centuries. His unbeaten 65 off 30 deliveries in the last game was instrumental in SRH’s chase of 243 runs.
Rinku Singh (KKR): This left-hand batter has been in good touch, scoring 83 not out in the last game. He has an average of 53.75 in 7 matches and is a potential match-winner if he settles down at the crease.
Toss Prediction
Historically, teams that have won the toss at this venue have opted to bowl. In the last 57 T20 matches at this venue, teams batting first have won 28 matches, while those batting second have also won 28 games. This suggests that teams should consider batting first after winning the toss.
Match Scenario
Scenario 1: If SRH wins the toss and bats first, they could score 210-230 runs, with a power-play score of 50-55. SRH is expected to win.
Scenario 2: If KKR wins the toss and bats first, they could score 170-180 runs, with a power-play score of 45-50. Despite this, SRH is still expected to come out victorious.
Final Thoughts
SRH has been in excellent form, winning their last five matches and showing confidence in their home games. Their strong bowling attack, featuring Eshan Malinga and Pat Cummins, has been a key factor in their success. On the other hand, KKR has bounced back with two wins, but their performance against SRH may be challenging given the latter’s dominance.
