Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) Go into IPL 2026 with a schedule that offers both uniformity and serious challenges. Their campaign begins with a high-profile clash against the defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Bengaluru on March 28, and fittingly, their league journey will also end against the same opponent in Hyderabad on May 22. This opener-to-finale storyline gives SRH a unique narrative arc, where they can potentially measure their growth in the tournament against one of the strongest teams in the league.
However, the season hasn’t had the easiest start for SRH. They will be without their captain Pat Cummins in the initial stages as he recovers from a lumbar stress fracture. In his absence, Ishan Kishan Stepping into a leadership role at a critical time and taking charge. The opening fixtures, especially the matches against RCB on March 28 and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 2, will test the team’s depth and resilience. These matches could decide the direction of their campaign, especially as they look to remain competitive without their regular captain.
The good news for SRH is that they have got a strong home advantage this season. They will play seven matches at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, where they have traditionally performed well. An important phase comes in mid-April, when they play several home games back-to-back – against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on April 13, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 18 and Delhi Capitals (DC) on April 21. This stretch could prove decisive in shaping their playoff chances, as strong performances on home soil often build confidence and momentum heading into a long tournament like the IPL.
Another positive for SRH is their relatively balanced travel schedule. Unlike some teams, who have to deal with multiple secondary venues, SRH’s fixtures are spread across familiar cricket hubs like Bengaluru, Kolkata, Jaipur, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Chennai. This continuity in travel reduces fatigue and allows the team to focus more on performance. Additionally, SRH will take part in two afternoon matches – both on Sundays – against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 5 and Kolkata Knight Riders on May 3, starting at 3:30 PM IST. These games will require adjustment to different pitch conditions and the challenge of playing in the afternoon heat.
Also read: SWOT analysis of Sunrisers Hyderabad – SRH’s report card ahead of IPL 2026
srh full ipl 2026 schedule
- March 28 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Bengaluru – 7:30 PM IST
- April 2 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Kolkata – 7:30 PM IST
- April 5 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants – Hyderabad – 3:30 PM IST
- April 11 – Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Mullanpur – 3:30 PM IST
- April 13 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals – Hyderabad – 7:30 PM IST
- April 18 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings – Hyderabad – 7:30 PM IST
- April 21 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals – Hyderabad – 7:30 PM IST
- April 25 – Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Jaipur – 7:30 PM IST
- April 29 – Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Mumbai – 7:30 PM IST
- May 2 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Hyderabad – 7:30 PM IST
- May 6 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings – Hyderabad – 7:30 PM IST
- May 12 – Gujarat Titans vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Ahmedabad – 7:30 PM IST
- May 18 – Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad – Chennai – 7:30 PM IST
- May 22 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore – Hyderabad – 7:30 PM IST
Note: IST = GMT+5:30
Also read: Ravichandran Ashwin announces his Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) playing XI for IPL 2026