In a high-stakes encounter in Match 31 of IPL 2026, Sunrisers Hyderabad locked horns with Delhi Capitals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. With both teams closely placed in the points table—SRH at fourth and DC at fifth—the contest carried significant playoff implications. Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel won the toss and elected to field first, signaling confidence in chasing on a batting-friendly surface. However, one of the biggest talking points ahead of the game was the absence of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s promising pacer Praful Hinge from the playing XI.
Tactical tweaks from both camps
Delhi Capitals opted for a minimal yet strategic change. They brought in Nitish Rana to strengthen their middle order, replacing Auqib Nabi. The move underlined DC’s intent to add stability and experience while chasing under lights in Hyderabad, a venue known for high-scoring games. With Axar marking his 100th appearance for the franchise, the Capitals appeared focused on composure and batting depth.
On the other hand, Sunrisers Hyderabad made more noticeable changes. They handed a debut to Sri Lankan left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka and included Harsh Dubey to reinforce their bowling unit. The changes came at the expense of Hinge and England all-rounder Liam Livingstone, with Livingstone shifted to the Impact Substitute bench—indicating a flexible strategy based on match conditions.
Why Praful Hinge is not playing today’s match?
Although Ishan Kishan did not specifically provided the reason but it seems Hinge’s omission was not due to injury but rather a tactical decision shaped by recent performances and pitch dynamics. The young pacer had a dream debut earlier in the season, picking up a sensational four-wicket haul against Rajasthan Royals and instantly making headlines. However, his form dipped slightly in the following match against Chennai Super Kings.
Despite successfully defending 18 runs in a tense final over, Hinge proved expensive overall, conceding 60 runs in his four overs while picking up just one wicket. On a Hyderabad pitch that traditionally favors batters, the team management likely prioritized bowlers who could offer tighter control and variation.
The inclusion of Madushanka suggests SRH were keen on leveraging left-arm pace and swing, especially in the early overs. His international experience and ability to strike with the new ball may have tilted the balance in his favor. Meanwhile, Dubey’s selection added depth and flexibility to the bowling attack.
Also READ: IPL 2026: Irfan Pathan reveals tactics to neutralize Delhi Capitals’ opener before SRH encounter
Playing XI of both sides
Delhi Capitals: Pathum Nissanka, KL Rahul (wk), Sameer Rizvi, Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (c), David Miller, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan, Lungi Ngidi
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (c), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora (wk), Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivang Kumar, Harsh Dubey, Sakib Hussain, Eshan Malinga
Also READ: Ravichandran Ashwin predicts the ‘comeback’ of Hardik Pandya after MI’s dominant win over GT in IPL 2026