However, the season will not get off to an easy start for SRH. They will be without their captain Pat Cummins for the initial stages as he recovers from a lumbar stress fracture. In his absence, Ishan Kishan Will take over the leadership role, which will come at a crucial time. The preliminary matches, especially the away games against RCB on March 28 and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 2, will test the team’s depth and stamina. These matches could determine the direction of their campaign, especially as they try to remain competitive without their regular captain.
The good news for SRH is that they have a strong home advantage this season. They will play seven matches at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, a venue where they have traditionally performed well. An important phase comes in mid-April, when they will play several home matches in quick succession – against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on April 13, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 18, and Delhi Capitals (DC) on April 21. This period could prove decisive in shaping their playoff chances, as strong performances in domestic matches often build confidence and momentum, especially in a long tournament like the IPL.
Another positive for SRH is that their travel schedule is relatively balanced. Unlike some teams who have to deal with multiple venues, SRH’s matches are spread across familiar cricket hubs such as Bengaluru, Kolkata, Jaipur, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Chennai. This consistency in travel reduces fatigue and allows the team to focus more on performance. Additionally, SRH will also take part in two afternoon matches – both on Sundays – against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 5 and Kolkata Knight Riders on May 3, which will start at 3:30 PM IST.
These games will involve the challenge of adapting to different pitch conditions and playing in the afternoon heat.SRH full IPL 2026 schedule
- March 28 – Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Bengaluru – 7:30PM IST
- April 2 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Kolkata – 7:30PM IST
- 5 April – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants – Hyderabad – 3:30PM IST
- April 11 – Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Mallanpur – 3:30PM IST
- 13 April – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals – Hyderabad – 7:30PM IST
- April 18 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings – Hyderabad – 7:30PM IST
- April 21 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals – Hyderabad – 7:30PM IST
- 25 April – Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Jaipur – 7:30PM IST
- 29 April – Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Mumbai – 7:30PM IST
- May 2 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Hyderabad – 7:30PM IST
- 6 May – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings – Hyderabad – 7:30PM IST
- May 12 – Gujarat Titans vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Ahmedabad – 7:30PM IST
- May 18 – Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Chennai – 7:30PM IST
- May 22 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Hyderabad – 7:30PM IST
Note: IST=GMT+5:30 hours
