Last Updated on 28 seconds ago by Charbel Coorey

After a poor start to the season, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are now one of the teams to watch in IPL 2026. The introduction of new bowling talent, plus strong contributions from their top order, has them on a two-match winning streak.

SRH defeated the Chennai Super Kings by 10 runs in their last game thanks to an excellent effort from the bowlers to pull things back after an expensive powerplay. Abhishek Sharma scored a blistering 59 runs, completing his fifty in just 15 deliveries. Heinrich Klaasen (59 runs) also did well when the team needed him the most.

Eshan Malinga (3 wickets) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (2 wickets) bowled well and never allowed the batters to get going in the middle overs. Sakib Hussain also bowled nicely. However, Travis Head’s form is a concern as the Australian opener has been off-colour in IPL 2026. Apart from that, things are looking pretty good for the Sunrisers. 

Delhi Capitals (DC) also won their last game; a thriller of an encounter against RCB by 6 wickets. Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Lungi Ngidi picked up two wickets each and restricted RCB to a manageable total. 

KL Rahul (57 runs) played well at the start, but it was Tristan Stubbs (60* runs) alongside David Miller (22 runs) and Axar Patel (26 runs) who saw his side over the line. Miller hit two sixes and a four in the last over when the Capitals required 15 runs in the last over.

Delhi needs consistency from their middle order, as only Rahul, Stubbs, and Miller have been consistent with the bat. Their bowling is looking good, but there’s still some room for improvement.

Match Details

IPL 2026 31st Match: SRH vs DC Probable Playing XIIs

Sunrisers got Liam Livingstone as their impact sub in the last game which came as a very late move. They may look to have him in the XI in this game.

Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1. Travis Head, 2. Abhishek Sharma, 3. Ishan Kishan (c & wk), 4. Heinrich Klaasen, 5. Nitish Kumar Reddy, 6. Salil Arora, 7. Aniket Varma, 8. Shivang Kumar, 9. Harsh Dubey, 10. Eshan Malinga, 11. Praful Hinge, 12. Sakib Hussain 

Delhi Capitals may open with Karun Nair with Dushmantha Chameera in the XI for Pathum Nissanka and Auqib Nabi making way for one of Ashutosh or Vipraj. 

Delhi Capitals: 1. KL Rahul (wk), 2. Pathum Nissanka/Karun Nair, 3. Sameer Rizvi, 4. Axar Patel, 5. David Miller, 6. Tristan Stubbs, 7. Ashutosh Sharma, 8. Vipraj Nigam/Dushmantha Chameera, 9. Kuldeep Yadav, 10. Mukesh Kumar, 11. Lungi Ngidi  12. T Natarajan

Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium Hyderabad Pitch Report and Weather

The pitch in the last game played here was good for batting in the first innings, but the spinners came into play in the second, and the cutters from the pacers were also gripping on the wicket. There was some reverse swing as well for Eshan Malinga.

Overall, it’ll be a good wicket to bat on, but there will be something for the bowlers as well. Expect scores in the range of 180-200. Teams may prefer chasing.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for SRH vs DC: Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top wicketkeeper picks:  

• Ishan Kishan has 213 runs in six games at an average of 35.50, and he has struck at a rate of 188.49 with two fifties. Kishan will bat aggressively and look to take on the bowlers. He can score big on his day and will be a good C/VC choice as well.
• KL Rahul has played very positively at the start of the innings, exploiting the field restrictions. He scored 57 runs in the last game. Rahul is amongst the best in the league, and he’ll be a top C/VC option as well.
• Heinrich Klaasen is the current orange cap holder with 283 runs in six games at an average of 47.16 with three fifties to his name. He’s batting well and is one of the best players against spin, which will be a key against the Delhi spinners in the middle overs. 

Key batter picks: 

• Tristan Stubbs is batting well this season, and while his strike rate isn’t the best, he’s been consistent. Stubbs has 183 runs in five innings at an average of 84.50 with two fifties to his name.
• Abhishek Sharma was at his destructive best in the last game against CSK. Expect him to get off to another flying start in the powerplay in this match. Abhisehk is another top C/VC pick. 
• Travis Head has 143 runs in six innings with a highest score of 46. He’s struggling to bat freely but he’s a quality player capable of winning games on his own. You should back Head for this game.

Top all-rounder picks: 

• Axar Patel will fancy his chances against SRH’s middle order, which is full of right-hand batters. He is expected to bat at 4 or 5 in this match and will be a top pick as he’ll fetch points from both bat and ball. Try him as C/VC in some of your teams.
• Nitish Kumar Reddy is bowling consistently and his pace is up, especially in the powerplay. He’s looked in great touch with the bat and will bowl at least two overs in this game as well. Reddy will be another must pick.

Key bowler picks: 

• Lungi Ngidi will enjoy bowling in this game due to the big square boundaries and the grip that the pacers get on their cutters. Ngidi is bowling well, and he will bowl the key overs for the Capitals.
• Sakib Hussain has bowled well in both his games. He gets good pace and bounce with the new ball and has a good variation up his sleeve as well. Hussain is another player you can’t miss out on.
• Kuldeep Yadav has 19 wickets in 15 games against SRH. He picked up two wickets in the last game and will be a key bowler for his team. 

Other Players to Consider for Your Fantasy Cricket Teams

• David Miller (chasing)
• Eshan Malinga
• Pathum Nissanka
• Sameer Rizvi
• Shivang Kumar

More insight for your Dream11 teams: Which bowlers and batters are considered most likely to perform?

Before you finalise your Dream11 team, check out these SPODA AI insights that could influence the contest.

• KL Rahul has big upside in this match. The SPODA AI model gives him a 49.29% chance of making a 30+ score – the highest probability of any player.
• Heinrich Klaasen (41.74% probability) and Abhishek Sharma (40.23% probability) also have a >40% chance of scoring 30+ in this match.
• The SPODA AI model gives Eshan Malinga a 56.25% chance of taking 2+ wickets. Praful Hinge is next with a 50% probability.

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Other Matchups and Facts

• Head-to-Head: 26 matches, SRH 13, DC 12, and 1 no result. 
• Abhishek Sharma vs. Eshan Malinga (T20s): 4 runs and 1 dismissal in 5 balls.
• Travis Head vs. Kuldeep Yadav (T20s): 3 runs and 1 dismissal in 5 balls.
• Ishan Kishan vs. Kuldeep Yadav (T20s): 46 runs and 2 dismissals in 25 balls
• Abhishek Sharma vs. Axar Patel (T20s): 6 runs and 2 dismissals in 8 balls.

IPL 2026 31st Match: SRH vs DC Dream11 Prediction Today

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Before you lock in your Dream11 team, check SPODA AI — it highlights form trends, risky picks, and high‑value differentials you might miss.

New users get 3 FREE match passes, so you can try it on today’s match. You can sign up using the form below.

IPL 2026 31st Match: SRH vs DC Match Prediction: Who will win?

Both teams are looking very balanced compared to each other, and it’s going to be a tight game between them. Delhi Capitals’ middle order has been out of touch, while SRH is heavily dependent on their top 4, and they haven’t been very consistent except for Klaasen. But SRH have more explosiveness in their batting and good depth as well.

Sunrisers Hyderabad to win.

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