SRH vs KKR Match 45 Preview: Pat Cummins' Home Test vs Varun Chakravarthy

Sunrisers Hyderabad take on Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026 Match 45 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad — and the playoff math is starting to bite. With Pat Cummins leading Sunrisers Hyderabad and Ajinkya Rahane leading Kolkata Knight Riders, this fixture is more than two points: it reshapes the top four. In this preview we cover the pitch, the predicted XIs, the key battles, Dream11 captain picks, and the one toss-call that could decide the match before the first ball is bowled.

Match Overview

Match: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders — IPL 2026 Match 45 Date & time: Check the IPL 2026 schedule for start time Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad Broadcast: Star Sports Network, JioHotstar (free on mobile)

Current form & points table context

As of 2026-04-21, Punjab Kings sit unbeaten at the top of the table, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad round out the top four, and both Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders are fighting from the bottom half. For the live standings, see our IPL 2026 points table and mid-season analysis.

Sunrisers Hyderabad form

Sunrisers Hyderabad come into Match 45 under Pat Cummins. Key players to watch: Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma. Their death-overs unit has been a strength this season — see IPL 2026 death-overs specialists ranked for the data.

Kolkata Knight Riders form

Kolkata Knight Riders under Ajinkya Rahane bring their own firepower: Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Varun Chakravarthy. For how their impact player use compares to the rest of the league, read our impact-player rule breakdown.

Pitch report — Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad

Flat Hyderabad road. Average first-innings 185+. Klaasen and Abhishek Sharma feast here. See our Rajiv Gandhi Stadium pitch report.

Key battles to watch

1. Travis Head vs Lockie Ferguson — the marquee battle that decides the powerplay shape. For powerplay form, see IPL 2026 powerplay leaders.
2. Sunil Narine vs Gerald Coetzee — death-overs chess that decides the total.
3. Spin vs the wicket — especially in overs 8–14.

Predicted playing XIs

Sunrisers Hyderabad XI (predicted)

1. Travis Head
2. Heinrich Klaasen
3. Pat Cummins (c)
4. Abhishek Sharma
5. Gerald Coetzee
6. • 5 more from squad depth — track the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad analysis.

Kolkata Knight Riders XI (predicted)

1. Sunil Narine
2. Rinku Singh
3. Venkatesh Iyer
4. Varun Chakravarthy
5. Rinku Singh (finisher; KKR's death-overs role post-Russell retirement)
6. • 5 more from the full Kolkata Knight Riders squad.

Head-to-head records

For the all-time head-to-head between these two sides, bookmark our Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders all-time comparison. Short version: this is one of the more competitive match-ups in IPL history, with neither side dominating more than 55% of encounters.

Dream11 fantasy picks

Captain picks (in order of confidence):

1. Travis Head
2. Sunil Narine
3. Pat Cummins

Differential picks — for grand-league edge, read Dream11 batter differential picks IPL 2026 and powerplay bowlers differential picks.

Credits-efficient XI tips: see how to build a budget Dream11 team IPL 2026.

Prediction

Based on current form, venue trends and squad balance, the slight edge is with Sunrisers Hyderabad on paper — but IPL 2026 has been a season of upsets, and the side that wins the toss at this venue will have a real advantage because of the dew equation.

Where to watch

Star Sports 1 / 3 HD (English & Hindi), JioHotstar (free on mobile via app), CricJosh live score page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders Match 45 start?

Match 45 follows the standard IPL 2026 schedule. Evening games start at 19:30 IST, afternoon double-header games at 15:30 IST. Confirm on our live IPL 2026 schedule.

Where can I watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders live?

Star Sports Network (TV) and JioHotstar (streaming, free on mobile). For live scorecard, visit our CricJosh live page.

Who is the captain of each team in Match 45?

Sunrisers Hyderabad are led by Pat Cummins. Kolkata Knight Riders are led by Ajinkya Rahane.

What is the venue and pitch type?

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. See the pitch report section above for batting-first average, dew factor and spin vs pace behaviour.

Who should I pick as Dream11 captain?

Top choices are Travis Head and Sunil Narine. For the full method, read our Dream11 captain-picks strategy.

The takeaway

Bookmark the IPL 2026 points table, check the live schedule, and use our Dream11 tools before you lock your fantasy team. CricJosh updates every hub after every match — no stale data.