Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Jofra Archer, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, and Ravi Bishnoi are the standout players to watch in RR vs SRH Match 36 of IPL 2026 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, on Saturday, April 25.
Rajasthan Royals sit 2nd on the points table with five wins from seven matches (10 points), returning to Jaipur for their first home game at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium this season after playing three home matches in Guwahati.
Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad are 4th with four wins from seven matches (8 points), riding a three-match winning streak that includes Abhishek Sharma’s record-breaking 135* against DC).
This is a rematch of Match 21, where SRH demolished RR by 57 runs in Hyderabad, with debutants Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain taking four wickets each.
Key Players To Watch Out For From Both Teams
| Category | Player Name | Team | Key Role / Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batsman | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | RR | Tournament’s top run-scorer; SR above 220; explosive left-hander. |
| Batsman | Yashasvi Jaiswal | RR | 245 runs in 7 games at avg 49, SR 155.06. |
| Batsman | Shimron Hetmyer | RR | Left-handed middle-order finisher; scored 22 vs LSG. |
| Batsman | Abhishek Sharma | SRH | 135* vs DC (highest score in IPL 2026); SR 229.26 this season. |
| Batsman | Heinrich Klaasen | SRH | Orange Cap contender; 283+ runs this season; destructive finisher. |
| Batsman | Travis Head | SRH | Explosive Australian opener; sets powerplay tempo. |
| Bowler | Jofra Archer | RR | 11 wickets in 7 matches; 3 wickets vs LSG; bowling at 145 kph. |
| Bowler | Ravi Bishnoi | RR | 11 wickets this season; leg-spin threat in middle overs. |
| Bowler | Nandre Burger | RR | South African pacer; effective new-ball partner for Archer. |
| Bowler | Sakib Hussain | SRH | 4 wickets on debut vs RR; dismissed Jaiswal in first over. |
| Bowler | Eshan Malinga | SRH | 4 wickets vs DC; reliable death-overs pacer. |
| Bowler | Praful Hinge | SRH | 4 wickets on debut vs RR; reduced RR to 9/5 in 3 overs. |
| All-Rounder | Ravindra Jadeja | RR | 40 vs LSG; tight left-arm spin and handy lower-order batting. |
| All-Rounder | Nitish Kumar Reddy | SRH | Batting and seam bowling all-rounder; rising India star. |
Key Player Battles To Watch: RR vs SRH
This rematch features some of the most exciting individual contests of the season.
| Battle | RR Player | SRH Player | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerplay Pace | Jofra Archer | Abhishek Sharma | Archer at 145 kph vs Abhishek’s SR of 229.26. The winner of this contest sets the game’s tempo. |
| Revenge Battle | Yashasvi Jaiswal | Sakib Hussain | Sakib dismissed Jaiswal in his debut over in the reverse fixture. Jaiswal will be desperate for redemption. |
| Spin vs Power | Ravi Bishnoi | Heinrich Klaasen | Bishnoi’s 11 wickets vs Klaasen’s 283+ runs. Leg-spin googlies vs aggressive sweeping in the middle overs. |
RR vs SRH: Head-to-Head Record in IPL
The RR vs SRH rivalry heavily favours the Sunrisers.
In 21 IPL meetings, SRH lead 12-9.
SRH also won the reverse fixture this season by 57 runs, making this a revenge match for RR.
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 21 |
| SRH Wins | 12 |
| RR Wins | 9 |
| Reverse Fixture (Match 21) | SRH won by 57 runs (RR bowled out for 100) |
| Last RR Win vs SRH at Jaipur | Close 4-wicket victory |
| Bowling First at Jaipur | Won 41 out of 65 matches at this venue |
Sawai Mansingh Stadium Pitch And Conditions: What To Expect
This is the first IPL 2026 match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, as RR’s earlier home games were played in Guwahati.
The Jaipur pitch is generally balanced, offering assistance to pacers early on and becoming better for batting as the match progresses.
The average first-innings score here is around 165-175 runs, significantly lower than venues like Chinnaswamy and Wankhede.
However, during IPL 2025, matches at Jaipur were fairly high-scoring, indicating the surface may play better than expected.
Additionally, teams bowling first have won 41 out of 65 matches at this venue, so the toss will be crucial.
Jaipur is experiencing very hot and humid weather, with no rain expected.
Probable Playing XIs for RR vs SRH Match 36
RR Probable XI
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma, Nandre Burger/Sandeep Sharma
Note: RR successfully defended 159 against LSG, the lowest defended total this season, proving their bowling is in top form.
SRH Probable XI
Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (c/wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivang Kumar, Pat Cummins, Harsh Dubey, Sakib Hussain, Eshan Malinga
Note: Pat Cummins is expected to return and lead the side after being unavailable for the first part of the tournament due to workload management. If Cummins plays, he could replace Praful Hinge.
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Final Verdict: Both Teams Ready With Balanced Squad For Clash
This is a genuine blockbuster between two of IPL 2026’s strongest teams.
RR‘s home advantage at Jaipur, the Sooryavanshi-Jaiswal opening combo, and Archer’s pace give them the edge.
However, SRH’s three-match winning streak, Abhishek’s record-breaking form, and the potential return of Pat Cummins make them genuine threats.
Regardless of the result, this Saturday evening rematch between two title contenders promises to be one of the matches of the season at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
