Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Match 45 of the IPL 2026 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday, May 3. Hyderabad initially struggled but have turned their campaign around with five consecutive wins, currently sitting comfortably in third place with a net run rate of +0.832.
Kolkata Knight Riders remain in the lower half of the points table after an inconsistent start to the season. Despite winning back-to-back matches, they are still at eighth and will face a tough challenge against Sunrisers Hyderabad, making this clash extremely important for their playoff qualification hopes this season.
Teams Preview
Sunrisers Hyderabad Preview
Sunrisers Hyderabad have transformed their campaign by winning five consecutive matches. In their latest game, they chased 244 against Mumbai Indians in just 18.4 overs.
Recent 5 Matches:
Sunrisers Hyderabad won by 6 wickets
Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Rajasthan Royals by 5 wickets
Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Delhi Capitals by 47 runs
Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Chennai Super Kings by 10 runs
Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Rajasthan Royals by 57 runs
Abhishek Sharma is the leading run getter for Sunrisers Hyderabad with 425 runs and a 210 strike rate. Heinrich Klaasen provides firepower in the middle order with 414 runs, at an average of 60.00, and a strike rate ofv 157. Ishan Kishan has accumulated 312 runs, a 70.00 average, and a 197 strike rate.
Eshan Malinga is the leading wicket-taker for SRH with 15 wickets and a 9.16 average. Captain Pat Cummins maintains strict discipline during the powerplay overs. Sakib Hussain and Praful Hinge provide essential pace depth, while Harsh Dubey and Shivang Kumar consistently control the middle overs.
Key Players: Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins
Sunrisers Hyderabad Predicted Playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins (c), Harsh Dubey, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge, Eshan Malinga
Impact Subs: Aniket Verma, Liam Livingstone
Kolkata Knight Riders Preview
Kolkata Knight Riders have shown slight improvement with consecutive wins over Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants. However, their overall performance remains inconsistent. Captain Ajinkya Rahane must bring stability, while the batting unit needs stronger middle-order contributions.
Recent 5 Matches:
Kolkata Knight Riders Won by Super Over
Kolkata Knight Riders beat Rajasthan Royals by 4 wickets
Gujarat Titans won by 5 wickets
Chennai Super Kings beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 32 runs
Lucknow Super Giants Won by 3 Wickets
Angkrish Raghuvanshi is the leading run-getter for Kolkata Knight Riders with 209 runs at a strike rate of 141. Cameron Green has a strike rate of 153, while Rinku Singh has returned to form with scores of 83 against Lucknow Super Giants and 53 against Rajasthan Royals.
Vaibhav Arora and Kartik Tyagi are the joint leading wicket-takers for KKR with nine wickets each. Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy and Anukul Roy need to deliver tight spells to support the pace attack.
Key Players: Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh
Kolkata Knight Riders Predicted Playing XI: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Tim Seifert (wk), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi
Impact Subs: Varun Chakravarthy, Manish Pandey
Weather Conditions
Hyderabad will experience extremely hot and dry conditions during the afternoon match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Temperatures will stay in the mid-to-high 30s throughout the day. With clear skies, light winds, and no chance of rain, players will face physically demanding but stable playing conditions.
SRH vs KKR Pitch Report
The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium offers a batting-friendly surface that often becomes easier under lights. The average first-innings score is around 202 runs. Fast bowlers will rely on slower balls and cutters, while spinners must maintain accuracy during the middle overs to control scoring.
Toss Decision: Bat First
Although chasing has been a common trend this season, Sunrisers Hyderabad have made their home ground a stronghold when batting first. The heat will challenge fielding teams, so the captain winning the toss is likely to bat and put pressure on Kolkata Knight Riders early.
Winning Prediction
Sunrisers Hyderabad enter as clear favourites with a five-match winning streak and a powerful batting unit. Kolkata Knight Riders lack consistency and depend on individual efforts. With home advantage and better balance, Sunrisers Hyderabad are expected to win this contest.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where is the SRH vs KKR match being played? The match will be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, the home ground of Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Who are the key batters to watch for Sunrisers Hyderabad? Abhishek Sharma is the leading run getter, consistently dominating opposition bowling attacks alongside Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen.
Why are Kolkata Knight Riders struggling this season? Kolkata Knight Riders severely lack consistency in their bowling economy rates and heavily rely on isolated batting performances rather than collective team efforts.
What is a competitive score on the Hyderabad pitch? The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is an absolute batting paradise. Teams should ideally aim for 215–230 runs when batting first.
Who is predicted to win the SRH vs KKR match? Backed by a dominant five-match winning streak and incredible batting depth, Sunrisers Hyderabad are strongly predicted to win the match.