Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL 2026 Eliminator at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur (New Chandigarh) on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. Match starts at 7:30 PM IST (toss at 7:00 PM IST.
Watch the live telecast on Star Sports Network and live stream on JioHotstar (app and website).
This is knockout cricket. Loser goes home. The winner advances to Qualifier 2 on May 29 (same venue) against the loser of RCB vs GT Qualifier 1). The IPL 2026 Final is on May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad). Two matches stand between the winner tonight and the trophy.
The head-to-head this season is emphatically in SRH’s favour: they beat RR in both league meetings). But the venue gives RR hope: they have won all 3 matches at Mullanpur this season, including a 6-wicket win over PBKS. Playoff cricket at a neutral venue is a completely different challenge. Form, experience, and nerve decide knockouts.
SRH vs RR IPL 2026 Eliminator: Quick Details
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | IPL 2026 Eliminator (3rd vs 4th) |
| Teams | Sunrisers Hyderabad (3rd) vs Rajasthan Royals (4th) |
| Date | Wednesday, May 27, 2026 |
| Time | 7:30 PM IST (Toss at 7:00 PM IST) |
| Venue | Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur (New Chandigarh) |
| TV Telecast (India) | Star Sports Network (English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada + HD) |
| Live Streaming (India) | JioHotstar (App and Website) |
| Live Streaming (UK) | Sky Sports Cricket |
| Live Streaming (USA) | Willow TV |
| Live Streaming (Australia) | Kayo Sports / Fox Cricket |
| Winner Advances To | Qualifier 2 (May 29, Mullanpur) |
| IPL 2026 Final | May 31, Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
How to Watch the IPL 2026 Eliminator Live in India
On TV: Star Sports Network broadcasts all IPL 2026 playoff matches in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. Available on Tata Play, Airtel Digital TV, Dish TV, and D2H.
Online Streaming: JioHotstar is the exclusive platform. Plans start at ₹79/month (Mobile), ₹149/month (Super), and ₹299/month (Premium with 4K). Bundled access through Jio, Airtel, and Vi recharge plans.
SRH vs RR Head-to-Head Record in IPL
SRH dominate this rivalry historically and have been emphatic in IPL 2026.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total Matches (IPL History) | 23 |
| SRH Wins | 14 |
| RR Wins | 9 |
| SRH Win Rate | 60.9% |
| IPL 2026 Season | SRH won both league meetings |
| RR at Mullanpur | Won all 3 matches this season |
SRH lead 14-9 across 23 IPL meetings. They also beat RR in both league encounters this season. The first was a 57-run demolition at Hyderabad). SRH know how to beat this RR team. That is a massive psychological advantage heading into a knockout.
However, RR have won all 3 matches at Mullanpur this season. The venue is effectively PBKS’s home ground), not a true neutral. RR know the conditions here. That venue advantage could neutralise SRH’s head-to-head dominance.
SRH vs RR Eliminator: Probable Playing XIs
Here are Probable Playing XI of both teams:
Sunrisers Hyderabad Probable XI
Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Liam Livingstone, Pat Cummins (C), Eshan Malinga, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Praful Hinge.
Rajasthan Royals Probable XI
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Donovan Ferreira, Ravi Singh / Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Jofra Archer, Brijesh Sharma / Adam Milne, Yash Punja, Ravi Bishnoi.
Key Player Battles to Watch
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi vs Eshan Malinga: The teenager with 400+ runs against the breakout pace bowler with 16+ wickets. The powerplay battle that could decide the Eliminator in its opening act.
Abhishek Sharma vs Jofra Archer: Orange Cap contender vs Archer’s express pace. Abhishek was destructive against RR in both league meetings. Archer needs to find a way to contain him. Knockout pressure adds a new dimension.
Heinrich Klaasen vs Ravi Bishnoi: Klaasen destroys spinners. Bishnoi’s leg-spin is RR’s middle-overs weapon. On a Mullanpur surface, this battle could swing the match either way in the crucial 10th-16th over phase.
Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur
The Mullanpur Stadium in New Chandigarh hosts both the Eliminator and Qualifier 2. The pitch has been balanced to batting-friendly this season with average scores around 200-212. Fast bowlers get swing early, and the outfield is quick.
Crucially, RR have won all 3 matches at this venue in IPL 2026. SRH have not played here this season. That venue familiarity gives RR a genuine edge that the H2H does not reflect.
Weather: Around 25-30°C), pleasant May evening in Punjab. No rain expected). Dew could play a role later in the innings, giving the chasing team a slight advantage.
SRH vs RR Eliminator Prediction
SRH are slight favourites) based on 14-9 H2H dominance, winning both league meetings, and their explosive batting. The 55-run win over RCB in their last match shows SRH are peaking at the right time.
RR’s counter: 3-0 at Mullanpur, Sooryavanshi’s 400+ runs, and the underdog mentality. Teams that scrape into the playoffs often play their best knockout cricket because all the pressure is behind them. Archer in playoff mode is a different beast.
This is win-or-go-home. No second chances for the loser. Playoff experience matters. Cummins has captained Australia to World Cup glory. Archer has won IPL 2022 with GT. Parag has never captained in a playoff. That experience gap could be decisive under pressure.
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Final Thoughts
SRH vs RR in the IPL 2026 Eliminator at Mullanpur is the start of the business end. Tune in at 7:30 PM IST on Wednesday, May 27 on Star Sports (TV) or JioHotstar (streaming).
Knockout cricket. Loser goes home. SRH’s 14-9 all-time dominance and 2-0 this season vs RR’s perfect 3-0 record at this venue).
Cummins’ World Cup-winning experience vs Parag’s first playoff as captain). Sooryavanshi’s 400+ runs vs Malinga’s 16+ wickets). Two matches from the final. One match from elimination. This is what every IPL season builds towards.
