Rajasthan Royals’ approach to home advantage in the IPL continues to be one of the more intriguing narratives in the league. Traditionally, teams build dominance around a single venue, but RR have embraced a dual-home model in recent seasons, splitting games between Jaipur and Guwahati. While this strategy has delivered mixed results, their historical record at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium still holds weight—especially considering their unbeaten runs in 2008 and 2013.
This season has followed a similar pattern. RR played three of their seven designated home games in Guwahati and managed impressive wins over Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. However, their record in Jaipur often plays a decisive role in shaping their campaign. In recent years, a positive win-loss ratio at this venue has closely aligned with playoff qualification.Heading into the second half of IPL 2026 with 10 points, RR are well-placed but not entirely secure.
Their recent win in Lucknow, where they successfully defended 159, has restored some momentum. Returning to Jaipur now offers them a chance to consolidate their position in the top half—something they’ve struggled to maintain in past seasons despite strong starts. However, the challenge ahead is far from straightforward. Sunrisers Hyderabad arrive with growing confidence, riding a three-match winning streak that interestingly began against RR earlier in the tournament.
ALSO READ: IPL 2026: Match 35 (DC vs PBKS) – 3 Player Battles To Watch Out For
The expected return of captain Pat Cummins further strengthens an already settled bowling unit while adding depth to their batting lineup. Both teams, though, will be keeping a close eye on key players searching for form. Travis Head for SRH and Riyan Parag for RR have yet to fully fire this season, and their contributions could be pivotal in a high-stakes clash that may influence playoff scenarios.
Jaipur’s conditions are expected to be demanding, with soaring April temperatures and a surface that typically produces high-scoring games. While the average first-innings score hovers around 198, the larger boundaries and slightly slower pitch could bring bowlers into play.
Historically, SRH hold the edge in this rivalry, leading 13-9 overall and winning the last five encounters. At Jaipur, however, the contest remains evenly balanced, setting the stage for a compelling showdown.
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Rajasthan Royals’ batting approach has evolved noticeably after their early collapse to 2/4 against Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain earlier this season. Since that setback, the RR openers have shown greater composure in the Powerplay, choosing to build their innings more cautiously before accelerating. While this strategy helped them navigate tricky conditions in games where they posted modest totals of 155 and 159, a shift in intent could be on the cards. Back on a better batting surface, expect RR to adopt a more aggressive approach in the Powerplay to maximise scoring opportunities.
A key tactical battle will revolve around Ravi Bishnoi and Ishan Kishan. The leg-spinner has enjoyed a dominant record against the left-hander, dismissing him four times in the IPL while conceding just 48 runs off 46 deliveries. It wouldn’t be surprising if Bishnoi is brought into the attack immediately after the first wicket to exploit this matchup.
Probable XII: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Sandeep Sharma
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad are set for a major boost with Pat Cummins likely to return to the XI, as hinted by his recent social media post. His inclusion could make way for Dilshan Madushanka.
SRH may also consider reintroducing Praful Hinge, whose explosive three-wicket over earlier in the season rattled RR. With the bat, Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen will be crucial in countering spin and maintaining momentum.
Probable XII: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Aniket Verma, Salil Arora, Pat Cummins (c), Harsh Dubey/Praful Hinge, Shivang Kumar, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain
