Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will field Ishan Kishan, Travis Head, and Heinrich Klaasen, while Delhi Capitals (DC) rely on KL Rahul, Tristan Stubbs, and Kuldeep Yadav in Match 31 of IPL 2026 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 7:30 PM IST.
Currently, both teams sit on 6 points each, with SRH in 4th and DC in 5th place. Although SRH arrive on back-to-back home wins against RR and CSK, DC also carry momentum after a thrilling 6-wicket victory over RCB in their last outing.
SRH vs DC Match Details
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | SRH vs DC, Match 31, IPL 2026 |
| Date | Tuesday, April 21, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad |
| Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar |
| Toss | 7:00 PM IST |
| SRH Captain | Ishan Kishan |
| DC Captain | Axar Patel |
SRH Playing 11 Today
Because SRH have won their last two home games convincingly, they are unlikely to change a winning formula. Accordingly, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head continue opening, since Abhishek smashed the fastest fifty in SRH history (15 balls) against CSK in the last home game.
Furthermore, captain Ishan Kishan anchors at No. 3, while Heinrich Klaasen at No. 4 currently holds the Orange Cap with 283 runs from 6 innings in IPL 2026. Additionally, Nitish Kumar Reddy provides all-round balance, bowling crucial powerplay overs and contributing lower-order cameos.
On the bowling front, debutants Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain have transformed SRH’s attack since their debut. Moreover, Eshan Malinga took 3 wickets against CSK, while Shivang Kumar adds spin variety. However, Pat Cummins remains unavailable until April 25.
SRH Predicted XI: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (C), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora (WK), Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivang Kumar, Praful Hinge, Sakib Hussain, Eshan Malinga.
DC Playing 11 Today
Since Delhi Capitals pulled off a thrilling 6-wicket win over RCB, confidence is rising under Axar Patel‘s captaincy. Consequently, Pathum Nissanka and KL Rahul open, with Rahul scoring a classy 57 against RCB in the last game.
Besides that, Tristan Stubbs delivered an unbeaten 60 against RCB, while David Miller‘s last-over assault sealed the chase. Additionally, Sameer Rizvi at No. 3 provides a left-handed option, although Axar Patel’s fitness remains a mild concern after he retired hurt with cramps against RCB.
In terms of bowling, DC’s attack is arguably the most balanced in the tournament. Lungi Ngidi leads with consistent wicket-taking spells, while T Natarajan brings deadly left-arm yorkers at the death. Moreover, Kuldeep Yadav threatens in the middle overs, and Mukesh Kumar adds a workhorse option with the new ball.
DC Predicted XI: Pathum Nissanka, KL Rahul (WK), Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (C), David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Auqib Nabi Dar, Lungi Ngidi, Kuldeep Yadav, T Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar.
Impact Player Picks for Both Sides
SRH Impact Sub: Harsh Dubey
Since SRH’s pace trio already features three fast bowlers in the starting XI, Harsh Dubey becomes the ideal impact player to add spin depth. Specifically, his off-spin on a Hyderabad surface that grips slightly in the middle overs also gives Ishan Kishan another option against left-handers.
DC Impact Sub: Ashutosh Sharma
Similarly, Ashutosh Sharma offers DC a dynamic batting option in the lower order. Because SRH’s venue tends to produce high-scoring games with 30+ sixes in recent matches, Ashutosh’s power-hitting ability also becomes a genuine asset during run chases.
Key Players to Watch in Match 31
Firstly, the battle between Abhishek Sharma and Lungi Ngidi in the powerplay could decide the game’s momentum. Similarly, Heinrich Klaasen versus Kuldeep Yadav in the middle overs promises a repeat of their thrilling international duels.
| Player | Team | Role | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heinrich Klaasen | SRH | Middle-order Batter | Orange Cap holder; 283 runs in 6 innings; devastating vs spin |
| Abhishek Sharma | SRH | Opener | 188 runs at SR 229+; fastest SRH fifty (15 balls) vs CSK |
| Praful Hinge | SRH | Pacer | 4 wickets on debut vs RR; transformed SRH’s bowling attack |
| Ishan Kishan | SRH | Captain / WK-Batter | 91 vs RR; leading from the front in Cummins’ absence |
| KL Rahul | DC | WK-Opener | 57 vs RCB; composed top-order anchor; suits flat Hyderabad pitches |
| Tristan Stubbs | DC | Middle-order Batter | Unbeaten 60 vs RCB; clutch performer under pressure |
| Lungi Ngidi | DC | Pace Spearhead | 7 wickets in 5 matches; consistent with variations; leads DC’s pace |
Head-to-Head Record: SRH vs DC
Across 26 IPL meetings, SRH hold a razor-thin 13-12 lead over DC, with one match ending without a result. Notably, this is one of the closest rivalries in IPL history, separated by just a single win.
| Category | SRH | DC |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 26 | 26 |
| Wins | 13 | 12 |
| No Result | 1 | 1 |
| Highest Score | 266/7 (2024) | 207/3 (2022) |
| Lowest Score | 116 (2019) | 80 (2013) |
| Most Runs | David Warner (570)* | Rishabh Pant (536) |
| Most Wickets | Bhuvneshwar Kumar (18) | Kagiso Rabada (14) |
| Best Bowling | T Natarajan (4/19) | Mitchell Starc (5/35) |
Additionally, SRH’s record-breaking 266/7 at Delhi in IPL 2024 remains the highest total in this rivalry. However, DC won a Super Over against SRH in 2021, proving they can match Hyderabad in pressure moments.
Pitch Report & Weather Forecast
Firstly, the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium has produced an average first-innings score of 189 across three IPL 2026 games. Furthermore, over 30 sixes were hit across the last two matches at this venue, which confirms its batting-friendly nature.
Secondly, the Hyderabad weather forecast shows partly cloudy conditions with a high of 37°C and around 34% humidity. Consequently, there is a slight chance of passing showers, but a full 40-over contest remains likely. Besides that, heavy dew will arrive in the second innings, making gripping the ball difficult for bowlers.
As a result, chasing teams have won roughly 57% of T20 matches at this venue. Therefore, both captains are expected to bowl first if they win the toss tonight.
Match Prediction: Who Wins Today?
Sunrisers Hyderabad enter as slight favourites, especially since they have won both home games this season and hold the home advantage. Specifically, SRH’s top-order firepower with Abhishek, Head, Kishan, and Klaasen gives them a clear edge in a six-hitting venue.
On the other hand, DC‘s bowling attack, led by Ngidi, Natarajan, and Kuldeep, is arguably more balanced than SRH’s. However, Axar Patel’s fitness after retiring hurt with cramps adds an element of uncertainty to DC’s all-round combination.
As for the toss, the captain winning the flip will likely bowl first to exploit the dew advantage. Ultimately, SRH are predicted to win this contest by a narrow margin, although DC’s finishing strength with Stubbs and Miller makes this a genuine coin-flip game.
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Final Word
To sum up, the SRH vs DC Match 31 brings two evenly matched sides together at Hyderabad with massive playoff implications. If Abhishek Sharma fires in the powerplay, then DC’s bowlers face a long evening under the lights.
Otherwise, KL Rahul’s calm composure and Miller’s death-over magic could steal the game for Delhi. Either way, this Tuesday night promises a blockbuster between two teams desperate to break into the top four.
