Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru face off in a crucial IPL 2026 clash in Hyderabad with both teams aiming to secure a top-two finish before the playoffs.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli plays a shot during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, March 28, 2026. (Photo: IANS)
The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will take on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Match 67 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, with both sides battling for a crucial top-two finish ahead of the playoffs.
Sunrisers Hyderabad have scripted an impressive comeback after a poor start to the campaign, recovering from losing three of their first four matches to seal a playoff berth. Pat Cummins’ side currently sit third on the points table with 16 points from 13 matches and will look to strengthen their chances of finishing in the top two with a win at home.
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Their batting unit has been one of the most destructive this season, led by the explosive trio of Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen. SRH have also enjoyed strong form in home night matches, where their aggressive approach has troubled opposition bowling attacks.
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Royal Challengers Bengaluru, meanwhile, became the first team to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs and currently lead the standings with 18 points from 13 matches. The defending champions are coming into the clash on the back of a crucial win over Punjab Kings and will be aiming to secure a top-two finish with another victory.
Led by Rajat Patidar, RCB have enjoyed a balanced campaign, with Virat Kohli once again leading the batting charts while their bowling attack, spearheaded by Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, has delivered consistently throughout the season.
Conditions are expected to remain warm and humid during the evening clash in Hyderabad.
There is only a slight possibility of rain, and a full game is expected. Dew could become a significant factor in the second innings, making chasing a preferred option for captains winning the toss.
What time will the SRH vs RCB IPL 2026 match start?
The match will begin at 7:30 PM IST.
What time will the toss take place?
The toss is scheduled for 7:00 PM IST.
Where is the SRH vs RCB match being played?
The match will be held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.
Where can you watch the SRH vs RCB IPL 2026 match live on TV?
The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network in India.
Where can you livestream the SRH vs RCB match?
Fans can stream the match live on the JioHotstar app and website.
Matches: 27
SRH wins: 14
RCB wins: 12
No Result: 1
Sunrisers Hyderabad hold a narrow edge in the rivalry and have historically performed strongly against RCB in Hyderabad.
Earlier this season, RCB defeated SRH by six wickets in Bengaluru after successfully chasing down 202 in just 15.4 overs.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH):
Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kamindu Mendis, Pat Cummins (c), Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB):
Virat Kohli, Phil Salt/Jacob Bethell (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Tim David, Venkatesh Iyer, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma
The Hyderabad pitch is expected to favour batters with consistent bounce and short boundaries likely to produce another high-scoring contest.
The average first-innings total at the venue since 2023 has been close to 190, with teams frequently breaching the 200-run mark. Fast bowlers could get some movement early on, but batting generally becomes easier as the match progresses.
Dew is also expected to influence the second innings significantly, making chasing the preferred strategy.
Sunrisers Hyderabad:
Pat Cummins is set to continue leading the side after returning to full fitness, while SRH are expected to retain their aggressive batting combination.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
RCB are likely to welcome back Rajat Patidar after managing workload concerns earlier in the tournament, strengthening their middle order ahead of the playoffs.
Players to Watch
Heinrich Klaasen (SRH): SRH’s leading run-scorer and a destructive force in the middle overs.
Abhishek Sharma (SRH): Has consistently provided explosive starts in the powerplay.
Virat Kohli (RCB): Continues to dominate IPL attacks and has once again crossed the 500-run mark this season.
Josh Hazlewood (RCB): RCB’s strike bowler who has been crucial in powerplay and death overs.
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kamindu Mendis, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Liam Livingstone, Shivam Mavi, Brydon Carse, Smaran Ravichandran, Salil Arora, Praful Hinge, Jack Edwards, Sakib Hussain, Eshan Malinga, Aniket Verma, Amit Kumar, Zeeshan Ansari, Krains Fuletra
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Tim David, Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jordan Cox, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh Iyer, Swapnil Singh, Jacob Duffy, Kanishk Chouhan, Abhinandan Singh, Mangesh Yadav, Phil Salt, Satvik Deswal, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra
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