Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders Prediction & Preview – IPL 2026 45th Match

Sunrisers Hyderabad won only one of their first four games, but a five-match winning streak has lifted them to third with a net run rate of 0.832. Their latest win was a five-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians, chasing 244 in 18.4 overs.

Travis Head struck 76 off 30 balls in that game and Heinrich Klaasen finished unbeaten on 65 off 30. Abhishek Sharma has 425 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 210, and Ishan Kishan has 312 at close to 70, including 16 sixes. Pat Cummins is back as captain, and Eshan Malinga leads the bowlers with 15 wickets at an average of 9.16, helped by Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge, Harsh Dubey and Shivang Kumar.

Kolkata Knight Riders lost five of their first six but have beaten Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants narrowly to climb to eighth. Angkrish Raghuvanshi has 209 runs at a strike rate of 141, and Rinku Singh has found form with an unbeaten 83 and a 53. Vaibhav Arora and Kartik Tyagi have nine wickets each, though expensively, so the spin of Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine and Anukul Roy may be crucial.

Probable playing XI

Pitch report

The Hyderabad surface is usually balanced, with true bounce and carry that let batters play their shots, and a quick outfield that rewards timing. Pacers may find some early movement, but it fades. The pitch tends to slow in the middle overs, which helps spinners. This is a day game, so dew should not be a major factor.

Weather

A 3:30 pm start in Hyderabad means hot and dry conditions, with temperatures around 33–36°C and strong sun. Skies should be clear or slightly hazy and rain is unlikely, though a brief shower in May is not impossible. Humidity is moderate.

Expected scores

• 1st innings: 185–205
• 2nd innings: 175–200

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