Rajasthan Royals (RR) will field Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jofra Archer, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, while Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) rely on Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, and Heinrich Klaasen in Match 36 of IPL 2026 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 7:30 PM IST.
Currently, RR sit 2nd with five wins from seven matches, whereas SRH hold 4th with four wins from seven games and a three-match winning streak. Although SRH already beat RR by 57 runs earlier this season, this is RR’s first home game in Jaipur, and the Royals will want revenge in front of their Pink City crowd.
RR Playing 11 Today
Because RR bounced back with a convincing 40-run win over LSG, they are unlikely to make major changes. Accordingly, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continue as the explosive opening pair, since Sooryavanshi has become the fastest batter in IPL history to reach 500 runs (227 balls).
Furthermore, Dhruv Jurel keeps wickets and bats at No. 3 with 181 runs at a strike rate near 170 this season. Additionally, captain Riyan Parag anchors at No. 4, although his average of 13.50 in seven outings remains a concern. Besides that, Shimron Hetmyer and Donovan Ferreira add middle-order firepower.
On the bowling front, Jofra Archer and Ravi Bishnoi lead with 11 wickets each. Moreover, Nandre Burger contributes 8 wickets, while Ravindra Jadeja provides all-round balance. However, RR’s death-overs run rate of 8.8 remains the lowest this season, which highlights a finishing weakness that SRH could exploit.
RR Predicted XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma.
SRH Playing 11 Today
Since Pat Cummins has confirmed his return after recovering from a lumbar bone stress injury, he will captain the side in place of Ishan Kishan. Consequently, Cummins replaces a pace bowler in the XI, adding world-class death-overs experience.
Besides that, Abhishek Sharma is in devastating form, having scored the highest individual innings of IPL 2026 (135* off 56 balls vs DC) at a season strike rate of 229.26. Additionally, Heinrich Klaasen holds 320 runs from 7 innings, the second-highest tally this season and the best ever by a batter outside the top three at this stage.
In terms of bowling, Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain have transformed SRH’s pace attack during Cummins’ absence. Moreover, Eshan Malinga and Shivang Kumar add variety, while Harsh Dubey handles the off-spin duties. However, SRH have batted first in all seven games this season, and therefore their chasing ability remains untested.
SRH Predicted XI: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Salil Arora (WK), Pat Cummins (C), Eshan Malinga, Shivang Kumar, Praful Hinge.
Impact Player Picks for Both Sides
RR Impact Sub: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Since Sooryavanshi often comes in as an impact player, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is the obvious choice to add explosive batting at the top. Specifically, his SR of 220.86 and his record-breaking 500 IPL runs off just 227 balls make him the most dangerous impact sub in the entire tournament.
SRH Impact Sub: Sakib Hussain
Similarly, Sakib Hussain could walk in as SRH’s bowling impact sub, adding another seam option. Because Cummins’ match fitness after a long injury layoff remains uncertain, Hussain’s 6 wickets at an economical rate also give Cummins a backup option if he needs to limit his own bowling workload.
Key Players to Watch in Match 36
Firstly, the battle between Abhishek Sharma and Jofra Archer will be the headline duel, since Abhishek has scored 62 runs off 35 balls against Archer in T20s at a strike rate of 177. Similarly, Ravi Bishnoi versus Heinrich Klaasen in the middle overs promises a spin-versus-power contest that could decide the game.
| Player | Team | Role | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | RR | Opener | 500+ IPL runs in 227 balls (fastest ever); SR 220.86; 15-year-old sensation |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | RR | Opener | 184 runs this season; fastest IPL fifty (13 balls); explosive left-hander |
| Jofra Archer | RR | Pace Spearhead | 11 wickets this season; powerplay wicket in 5 of 7 innings; 145 kmph |
| Ravi Bishnoi | RR | Leg-spinner | 11 wickets; 4/41 vs GT; leading wicket-taker for RR this season |
| Abhishek Sharma | SRH | Opener | 135* vs DC (highest innings IPL 2026); SR 229.26; 188 runs in season |
| Heinrich Klaasen | SRH | Middle-order | 320 runs in 7 innings; 2nd Orange Cap; best-ever by non-top-3 batter |
| Pat Cummins | SRH | Captain / Pacer | Returns from back injury; world-class death bowler; maverick leader |
In addition, data from ESPNcricinfo confirms that SRH have won all 5 of the last completed meetings against RR, making this the most one-sided recent run in this rivalry.
Head-to-Head Record: RR vs SRH
Across 22 IPL meetings, SRH hold a commanding 13-9 lead over RR. Notably, SRH have won all 5 of the last completed matches against RR, including the IPL 2024 Qualifier 2 and the 57-run demolition earlier this season.
| Category | RR | SRH |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 22 | 22 |
| Wins | 9 | 13 |
| Highest Score | 242/6 | 286/6 (2nd highest in IPL history) |
| Record at Jaipur | 2 wins | 1 win |
| Most Runs | Sanju Samson (764) | David Warner (354) |
| Most Wickets | Yuzvendra Chahal (19) | Bhuvneshwar Kumar (15) |
Additionally, RR hold a 2-1 edge at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, which is one of SRH’s weakest away grounds. However, SRH’s last visit to Jaipur resulted in a competitive game, and Cummins’ return changes the dynamic entirely.
Pitch Report & Weather Forecast
Firstly, the Sawai Mansingh Stadium pitch offers a balanced surface with fair competition between bat and ball. Furthermore, spinners tend to find grip in the middle overs, which makes Bishnoi and Shivang Kumar important players tonight.
Secondly, the Jaipur weather forecast shows extreme heat with a high of 41°C during the day, cooling to around 30°C by match time. Consequently, there is no chance of rain, but dew will arrive during the second innings. Besides that, chasing teams have won over 60% of matches at this venue historically.
As a result, both captains will likely prefer bowling first to exploit the dew advantage. Therefore, the toss becomes a decisive factor tonight, especially with SRH having batted first in all seven games this season.
Match Prediction: Who Wins Today?
Rajasthan Royals enter as slight favourites due to home advantage and their balanced squad across all phases. Specifically, their opening pair of Sooryavanshi and Jaiswal generates the highest powerplay run rate in the tournament, and Archer’s pace bowling is a genuine threat on any surface.
On the other hand, SRH‘s three-match winning streak and Cummins’ return make them dangerous opponents. However, Cummins has not played competitive cricket since December due to his back injury, and match fitness could be a concern in his first outing.
As for the toss, the captain winning the flip will almost certainly bowl first to use the dew later. Ultimately, RR are predicted to win this contest at home, although SRH’s 5-0 recent record against the Royals makes this a genuine coin-flip clash.
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Final Word
To sum up, the RR vs SRH Match 36 brings a revenge narrative to the Pink City as RR look to snap SRH’s five-match winning streak against them. If Sooryavanshi fires in the powerplay, then SRH’s bowlers face a nightmare Jaipur evening. Otherwise, Cummins’ return and Abhishek’s blazing form could extend SRH’s dominance over the Royals. Either way, this Saturday night promises one of the biggest clashes of the season at cricket’s most passionate venue.
Disclaimer: Playing XIs, impact substitutes, and predictions draw on pre-match reports and may change based on the toss, fitness updates, and final team announcements. Pat Cummins has confirmed his return but match fitness remains to be assessed.
