Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara believes his side will need to raise their intensity and adopt a far more aggressive approach when they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 Eliminator. The Royals secured the final playoff spot after a convincing 30-run victory over the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, but Sangakkara admitted the challenge against SRH will be on an entirely different level.

Rajasthan produced a composed all-round display against Mumbai to finish fourth in the standings, yet Sangakkara made it clear that containing Hyderabad’s explosive batting line-up will require sharper execution with both bat and ball. SRH have built their campaign around fearless strokeplay and relentless attacking cricket, something Sangakkara believes cannot be countered with defensive tactics.

“They’re a good side, aren’t they? They bat well. They trust themselves to go hard and they’ve done it the whole tournament,” Kumar Sangakkara said while previewing the knockout clash in Mullanpur. “We know what we’re going to face. We have got to hold the line, really. Be disciplined and understand that they’re not a side that you’re going to limit to 120 or 130. But we’ve got to be aggressive with our lines and lengths.”

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The former Sri Lanka captain stressed that Rajasthan’s bowlers must continue attacking even while using slower deliveries and variations. According to Sangakkara, intent and clarity will be crucial against a batting unit that thrives on putting bowlers under pressure from the very first over.

“Even if you’re trying to bowl a good length ball, or a slower ball, it has to be bowled with intent. With the Sunrisers, it’s going to be a tough clash for us,” he added.

Sangakkara also revealed that Ravindra Jadeja has been managing an injury and that the franchise has carefully monitored his workload ahead of the Eliminator. The extra recovery time before the knockout fixture is expected to help the experienced all-rounder.

The Rajasthan coach also praised captain Riyan Parag for his leadership during the campaign. Sangakkara said Parag has earned the respect of both players and support staff despite criticism throughout his IPL career, adding that the franchise remains fully committed to backing him as a long-term leader.

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He also confirmed that Jofra Archer staying for the IPL rather than immediately joining England’s Test preparations was a collective decision between the player and the ECB, with workload management remaining the top priority.