Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals, IPL, 2026 May 27 Full score card

OUT! CAUGHT! Fittingly, it is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi who takes the catch to wrap up the proceedings. The Rajasthan Royals win by 47 runs and book their place in Qualifier 2, where they will face the Gujarat Titans. Bowled at pace by Mishra from around the wicket, on a good length and outside off. Kumar swings to force it through the off side. The ball flies off a thickish outside edge to short third, where Sooryavanshi is placed a bit fine, and he takes the catch around his face.

Closer to the off stump, on a short of a length. Kumar flashes hard at it but can't connect.

Wide! Mishra sprays it well wide on off, on a good length. Shivang Kumar lets it go.

Sakib connects with thin air once again. Fuller and it is the slower one, outside off. Hussain swings across and one hand comes off the bat handle. The ball dribbles behind towards the keeper.

A swing and a miss! Bowled into the strip by Brijesh, on off and middle. Sakib Hussain has an ungainly swipe across the line but fails to connect.

NO BALL! Brijesh Sharma gets it all wrong. An above-waist full toss at the bodyline of the batter. Shivang is cramped for room but manages to fend it away towards square leg and crosses over. RR have reviewed the no-ball call as they want the height to be checked. The ball is indeed above the waist. Free Hit coming up.

At the sticks, on a length. Hussain swings at it but gets an inside edge that goes wide of short fine leg for a run.

That has got to hurt. Brijesh rolls his fingers over the ball again, on a good length, on middle. Sakib has a hoick across the line but is way too early into the shot and catches it on the stomach.

Brijesh delivers the off-cutter, angled in on a good length, on middle. Shivang walks across the stumps for the scoop but toe-ends it through square leg. Kumar hobbles to the other end.

Shivang Kumar has gone down with cramps, and the RR keeper Dhruv Jurel is helping him out. Kumar seems to be in a lot of pain, and finally, the physio comes out to his aid. After a bit of a long delay, Shivang is good to continue.

Does not carry! Oh, Shivang is down with cramps after playing the shot. Brijesh bowls the slower, short ball, on off. Kumar slaps it down the ground with a horizontal bat. Donovan Ferreira runs in off the ropes and gets low with his hands out in front but the ball bounces in front before getting to him. He does well to get his body behind the ball and prevents it from going past him.

The length is pulled back a bit, on middle at 143.5 kph. Sakib swings with all his might. It is miscued wide of deep point. Ravindra Jadeja is quick across the turf and slides to mop it up. Hussain was off for a single but Shivang sent him back.

FOUR! Sweetly struck! Burger varies his length as he goes full and straight, aimed at the sticks. Hussain makes room and pumps it over the leaping Donovan Ferreira at mid off for a boundary.

From around the wicket to the new batter, on a short of a good length, on middle. Sakib backs away to run it down to deep third but misses.

Sakib Hussain is the last man in for SRH.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Wicket number 2 for Nandre Burger. Hits the deck hard, on a back of a length, on off. Eshan hangs back and swings at it. The bat turns a bit in his hand and he slices it over mid off. Jofra Archer takes a couple of steps back at mid off and takes a reverse cup catch over his head. Third catch for Jofra. SRH are now 9 down for 187.

Pace taken off and bowled into the wicket, across off. Shivang rises with the bounce and taps the ball on its head. He works it through point and picks up a single.

In the channel, on a good length. Eshan pushes at it with hard hands. The ball flies down to deep third off an outside edge. Single taken.

This is on a hard length, outside off. Kumar hangs deep in the crease and throws the kitchen sink at it. It is bowled at 144.8 kph and the ball keeps rising to go over the blade. 16 runs off Archer's final over.

Wide! Full and sprayed down leg, Shivang misses out on the tickle.

FOUR! Dispatched. Archer bangs it in short, angled in at the batter. Kumar is waiting on the back foot, expecting the short ball. He gets his hands high and pulls it through mid-wicket for another boundary.

Tucking the batter up for room this time, on a back of a length. Kumar shovels it over mid-wicket. He does not quite get hold of it and there is no protection in the deep. Ravindra Jadeja goes after it from the inner circle and hunts it down. Two runs taken.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries. Cross-seam ball, on a good length, just outside the off stump. Kumar hangs back and plays it on the up. He goes over wide mid off and picks up four more.

FOUR! Nicely done! Archer bashes the hard length, over middle. Kumar arches back to stay leg side of the ball and uses the pace. He glides it down to deep third, where Yash Punja gets to his right and extends his right hand to make the stop but fails to do so.

Archer steams in from around the wicket and angles in a length ball, following the batter. Eshan backs away, exposing all three stumps. He chips it over cover and crosses over.

In the air...but lands safely! A bit short, turning in on middle. Eshan hops back to launch it down the ground. It goes back over the bowler's head and lands well away from the long on fielder. Just a single. Yash is done for the night. He finishes with figures of 4-0-39-1.

At 84.1 kph, stays on the shorter side, on middle. Shivang rocks back to force it down the ground. He mistimes it towards long on. They cross.

Flat and short, outside off. Malinga uses the angle to cut it late and behind point for a single.

And again! Another wrong'un, this is fuller and a bit quicker as well. Eshan hangs back to punch it away but the ball spins past the outside edge.

Beaten! Out comes the googly, on a good length, spinning away. Malinga tries to steer it away on the off side but misses.

Tossed up, on a nagging length, on the off stump. Shivang hits it off the back foot to long on for a single.

Just short! Another flighted ball, at the stumps, Shivang Kumar lifts it on the bounce to the long on fielder and picks up a single.

Really slow through the air, at just 61.4 kph, on a length and on leg. Eshan Malinga waits for an eternity before pulling it through square leg for one.

Eshan Malinga walks out to bat. A slip in place for the new batter.

OUT! TAKEN! Ravindra Jadeja has the final say here and picks up his second wicket. This is floated up wide outside the off stump, a bit fuller as well. Salil Arora gets on one knee, reaches for it and looks to go over covers. He isn't completely in control and hits it straight down the throat of the fielder in the deep. Nandre Burger makes no mistake, and SRH are 8 down for 163.

SIX! Salil Arora decides to take on Jaddu. Full, on leg stump, Arora clears the front leg and launches it high over long on for a biggie.

WIDE! Good take from Jurel, could have easily been four extra runs as well. Fired in well down the leg side, Jurel springs to his left and gobbles it up.

Darted into the batter, on a length, hit off the back foot and in front of mid-wicket for one more.

Dragged length again, around off, hit away down to long on for a single.

WIDE! Length ball, wide outside off, sprayed beyond the tramline and left alone.

Dragged well short and outside off, slapped down to long off for a single.

Tossed up this time, outside off, pushed to the right of point by Arora.

A bit shorter, angled into the pads, pulled away to deep mid-wicket for just a single.

Flatter googly on middle, Shivang jams it down the deck.

In the air, lands safely! Flighted ball outside off, Salil Arora throws the kitchen sink at it but gets it nowhere. The ball gets sliced high towards extra cover, where the bowler and long off fielder run after it. But the ball falls in between and Salil gets a single.

WIDE! Full and lobbed way down the leg side. Left alone by Salil and the 150 is up for SRH.

A shorter googly, turning into the stumps. Kumar rocks back and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a run.

STRATEGIC BREAK! With the tailenders around him now, Salil Arora might as well swing at almost everything from here on. So far in this partnership, he has not taken too many risks, but you wonder how much longer he can afford to hold back with the equation climbing. One also feels it may not be too long before Riyan Parag turns back to either Jofra Archer or Nandre Burger to prise out Arora and put the game to bed.

The over's gone by in a flash, just three off it. Generously tossed up, on off stump. Shivang Kumar lunges and drives it through mid off for a run.

Fuller this time, outside off, driven through cover for a single.

On the shorter side now, outside off, Arora reaches out but fails to get it through the infield.

Flatter one around off, cut away straight to point.

Nearly outfoxed the batter, did Jaddu. Jadeja sees Arora advancing and fires in a full and wide one. Arora does well to reach it.

Flighted ball, angled into middle. Kumar gets forward and drives it uppishly through mid off for one.

Shorter in length, outside off, nudged down through the short third region for one.

Jadeja showing young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi how good he is in the field. A high full toss outside off, Salil Arora just dabs it down to backward point. Vaibhav lets it go through his hands and just jogs towards the ball. Jadeja runs to his left from deep point and puts in a big dive, saving a run for his side.

Good length, sliding on from around off, punched on the up and through cover-point for one.

Another short one, wide outside off, and let down through to the keeper by Shivang.

Full and wide outside off, lands it well inside the tramline. Kumar looks to square drive but misses.

WIDE! Too short. An effort ball from Mishra, as he grunts it and digs it in high over middle. Shivang Kumar ducks under it.

The new batter is Shivang Kumar.

OUT! CAUGHT! You simply cannot keep Jofra Archer out of the action. A good change of angle from Sushant Mishra as he comes around the wicket. This is dug in short and angled into the batter. Pat Cummins tries to wallop it over deep mid-wicket but gets cramped for room and gets it high and wide of long on. Archer runs to his right and takes a fine catch, managing to not step on the ropes, and RR are just 3 wickets away from victory now.

WIDE! Banged in on a hard length and angled well outside the off stump. Wide called.

Will Brijesh Sharma continue? Nope. Sushant Mishra has been brought back.

Flatter one on off, Pat Cummins hangs back and plays a late dab to the left of short third for a single.

SRH's skipper, Pat Cummins comes out to bat.

OUT! CAUGHT! Ravindra Jadeja might have just dealt the decisive blow here. Jadeja had been bowling a bit slower throughout this over, but this is darted in at nearly 100 clicks. Bowled full and on off, Nitish Kumar Reddy sits down to slog sweep but is rushed. He ends up hitting it aerially down to deep mid-wicket, where Dasun Shanaka charges in and takes a good low catch. Reddy is devastated, and SRH are 6 down for 137.

Attacking the stumps now, worked away through mid on for one more.

Slower through the air, on a dragged length and grips a bit as well. NKR rocks back and slaps it down to wide long off for a single.

The initial call is for two and they get it with ease. Flighted on middle and leg, Nitish Kumar Reddy clips it through mid-wicket and picks up a brace.

Length ball outside off, played with an angled bat and towards deep cover-point for a single.

Ravindra Jadeja to bowl for the first time in this match.

Honing in on the off stump, on a length. Arora angles it behind point and retains the strike with a single. 18 runs off the over. At the halfway mark, SRH are 132/5, needing 112 runs from 60 balls.

FOUR! Thumped! The 50-run stand comes up in real quick time. Brijesh attempts the back-of-the-hand slower one. This is floated up right in the slot, on off. Arora gets his hands through and smacks it back past the bowler. Sharma sticks out his right hand but the ball is past him by then and it races down the ground for four more.

Takes pace off now, served on a short of a length. Reddy jabs it through mid-wicket for another single.

Bashes the hard length, over middle. Arora rolls his wrists over the ball and pulls it wide of square leg for a run.

Wide! Well wide on off. Salil lets it pass.

FOUR! In the gap! Back-of-the-hand slower one by Brijesh, on a back of a length, on middle. Arora waits on the back foot and lets the ball come to him. He pulls it hard and to the left of deep square leg for a boundary.

SIX! Salil Arora gets it on the six-hitting act now. Full and angled into the pads. Easy pickings for Salil as he keeps a still head and plays the pick-up shot off the pads. It sails over square leg for a maximum.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Wow, it's right to say that not only the players, but also the fans need a breather right now. 9 overs of pure madness thus far, 114 runs and 5 wickets. SRH are certainly keeping up with the required rate, and they are even ahead of that rate, but with 5 wickets down and only Pat Cummins to come before the tail, this is looking like an improbable task right now. Rajasthan Royals have done well to be fearless and take that risk-reward and Jofra Archer has picked up 3 huge wickets to put his side in a prime position to win the game. Can Nitish Kumar Reddy take things deep and keep SRH in the hunt? Let's find out.

SIX! Excellent innovation! A bit quicker through the air by Punja and fuller as well, aimed at the stumps. Nitish Kumar Reddy goes for the reverse and executes it well. He nails the shot over backward point for half a dozen more. 18 runs off the over.

SIX! Yash Punja continues to pay the price for being a bit too short. This is in line with the middle stump. Reddy uses the depth of the crease and pummels it to the right of deep mid-wicket for half a dozen.

Around off and he goes full this time. Reddy stabs it down to cover.

FOUR! The 100 comes up for SRH. Punja drops it a bit too short, on middle. Nitish Kumar Reddy is quick to pick up the length. He rocks back and makes room to open up the off side. He powers it up and over cover and picks up a boundary.

Attacking the front pad and the length stays full. Salil eases it to long on and gets to the other end.

Bowled full and following the batter as he backs away. Nitish Kumar Reddy works it down the ground to long on for a run.

Fuller and on off, this is drilled to long off for a single.

A bit short, on middle. NKR swivels and gets on top of the bounce before pulling it wide of deep square leg for a couple of runs.

Arora was gone had the ball hit the stumps. Mishra angles it across the right-hander once again, on a back of a length. Salil taps it in front of cover and sets off for the run. Donovan Ferreira moves to his right and kicks the ball in the direction of the stumps at the bowling end but misses. Salil was struggling to get home.

Across off, on a back of a length. Reddy angles it in front of backward point and hurries to the other end. Dasun Shanaka has a shy at the batting end but misses. Sahil would have been in anyway.

FOUR! Hammered away! Sushant Mishra errs again, as this is too short and too wide on off. Reddy cashes in as he frees his arms and smacks it with a horizontal bat past the man at mid off inside the circle for four more.

FOUR! Up and over! Short and wide on off, Reddy stands deep in the crease and rises with the bounce to slap it over cover for a boundary.

Wayward throw! Tossed up, outside off. Arora extends his hands and plays the square drive through point. Ravindra Jadeja charges across to his left and fires in a throw at the batting end. It sails over the keeper's head and the batters run one more on the overthrow.

Salil Arora walks out to bat next, and SRH are under immense pressure here.

OUT! LBW! The Royals get the review right, and they have the big fish. Yash Punja lets out a big roar. RR's joy knows no bounds. This is a body blow for SRH. Floated up, on a length, around off. Heinrich Klaasen switches his stance and goes for the reverse. The ball sneaks under the bat and hits him on the pads. A confident shout from Jurel and Punja but it gets turned down. Riyan Parag checks with the bowler and the keeper before taking the review. Where has this hit Klaasen? Well, the impact is line with the off stump and the ball goes on to crash into the off stump on Ball Tracking. It is three reds. The on-field decision is reversed and SRH lose Klaasen.

SIX! Incredible shot! Yash drops it fractionally short, on middle and leg. Klaasen hops deep in the crease and backs away. He opens up the front hip and goes inside out over cover for a biggie.

Flighted delivery, full and outside off. Reddy reaches out in front and drags it through mid-wicket for another single.

Wide! Full and fired down leg. Reddy attempts the fine sweep but fails to connect.

Slightly slower through the air and a bit of air given too. On a nagging length, outside off, a hint of turn. Klaasen hits it down to long off for one.

Sliding in at the leg stump, fractionally short. Reddy uses the depth of the crease and pulls it through square leg for a run.

Will Riyan Parag give Jofra Archer a fourth over on the trot and look for the kill? No, not yet. Yash Punja to bowl right after the Powerplay.

Back to bowling pace on, on a short of a length, on top of off. Klaasen stands tall and plays the short-arm jab towards wide long on. Donovan Ferreira gets around to his right and slides to mop it up. A couple of runs to end the Powerplay. After 6 overs, SRH are 71/4, needing 173 from 84 balls.

FOUR! Nicely done! Klaasen backs away early and Brijesh follows him with the leg-cutter, bowled on a back of a length. Heinrich waits on it and just helps it through backward square leg for a boundary.

Skidding through again, on a short of a good length. Reddy presses back for the pull but is a bit rushed. It goes aerially but drops well in front of the man at deep square leg. They cross.

Bowled at 139.3 kph, on a back of a length, on off. Reddy taps it from the crease to cover.

Pushes the length up, angled in on middle and leg. Klaasen brings his bat out in front and drives it to long on for a run.

Digs it in short first up, on middle. Reddy swivels and mistimes the pull wide of mid-wicket for a single.

Brijesh Sharma to close out the Powerplay.

FOUR! Oh, what a shot, so pleasing to the eyes. Back of a length and outside off, Heinrich Klaasen just hangs on the back foot, gets his arms high up and pats it down through the gap at covers for a boundary.

Short of a length, around off, nudged down with soft hands towards backward point for one.

SRH slide further into trouble. Nitish Kumar Reddy walks out to the middle with Jofra Archer right on top of his game and charging in with his tail well and truly up.

OUT! TIMBER! Is that the game right there? Jofra Archer needs to get his own statue outside Sawai Mansingh Stadium for his performances in the last couple of games. Archer's been peppering the length until now, but this time he goes full, and he goes fast as well at over 150 kph. He saw Travis Head making room a couple of times and Head does just that yet again. The length is a surprise for Head and he is also beaten for raw pace as he tries to hammer it through the off side. The ball smashes into the off pole and knocks it out of the ground. SRH in a spot of real bother at 57/4 as Archer gets his third wicket.

Better timing than the last one, but Head finds the fielder this time. Fractionally short and over middle, slapped straight to the point fielder.

FOUR! That's well played. Hard length on leg, Travis Head steps away to the leg side, makes room and forces the cut through point for a boundary.

Back of a length, right at the batter. Head hops up to defend.

Third over on the trot for Jofra Archer.

Nandre Burger has sucked all the momentum out of the chase, just a run and a wicket off the over. Length again, attacking the stumps, Klaasen inside-edges it back onto the pads.

A full toss now, on middle, Heinrich Klaasen opts to just pat it down the pitch.

WIDE! Well bowled, just a bit too high though. A quick bumper, over middle and leg. Klaasen looks to pull but is well beaten.

Oh, that must have stung. Dug in a bit short over middle, shoots off the deck. Heinrich Klaasen hops up to defend but gets hit on the gloves. Four dots in the over so far.

Heinrich Klaasen comes out to the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT! Ravichandran Smaran comes, and Ravichandran Smaran goes. SRH are haemorrhaging wickets now. Nandre Burger hits a hard length and bowls it around off. Smaran comes down the pitch and looks to take it on, and he's undone by the pressure of the previous two dot balls. Smaran mistimes it badly, Jofra Archer backtracks at mid on and takes it safely.

Swing and a miss! The last thing SRH want is a new batter eating up deliveries in the Powerplay. Bowled on a good length, over middle. Smaran comes forward to go over mid off but misses.

Good length, in and around off, Smaran pats it down to cover.

RR were 45/0 after the first three overs and eventually finished the Powerplay at 80 without losing a wicket. SRH are 52/2, and Nandre Burger is all set to continue.

A fiery length ball, angling across off. Ravichandran Smaran stays back and angles it down to deep third for one.

Jofra Archer fights back. SRH are 2 down inside the Powerplay. Ravichandran Smaran has walked in ahead of Heinrich Klaasen.

OUT! CAUGHT! The Ishan Kishan show is over and Jofra Archer has the last laugh in this battle. Archer bangs it in a bit short again and darts it quickly across the left-hander. Ishan Kishan looks to hammer it down the ground but ends up slicing it off the top edge. The ball lobs up towards cover, where Donovan Ferreira takes a dolly of a catch. Archer has two big wickets and SRH now need 193 off 103 balls.

DROPPED AND SIX! Just over. Could Ravindra Jadeja have done better? Surely, by his standards, he should have even taken it. A really well-directed bumper from Jofra Archer and Ishan Kishan nearly gets cleaned up. However, Kishan does go after it and gets a top edge that sails down to deep square leg. It goes so high that even Jaddu doesn't quite get his position right and lunges to take it over the ropes but spills it. 50 UP FOR SRH.

Oh, a dot ball. Boo, hoo! Good length, slanted across off, Kishan looks to make room and cut but ends up just tapping it down to mid off.

SIX! Even better and Ishan Kishan is on fire out there. Fuller one, targeting the pads, Kishan gets low and shovels the pick-up shot over long leg for a biggie. He's raced to 27 off just 8 balls.

FOUR! The ball is really flying around tonight. Archer bowls it back of a length and outside off, at around 150 clicks. Kishan makes a bit of room and shows tremendous bat speed to flay it up and over backward point for a boundary.

FOUR! No respite from the batters, 19 off the over. Length ball on off, Head backs away and slaps it between mid off and cover, over the infield and for a boundary.

SIX! Travis Head has literally dragged the ball to the fence here. Shorter but around waist height. Head swivels and pulls it flat over the man at deep backward square leg for a biggie.

Good length, angled into middle and leg at 143.6 clicks. Kishan stabs it in front of mid on for an easy single.

Pitched fuller and outside off, Kishan leans ahead and just checks his shot, pushing it to cover.

Back of a length, on off and middle, Head pulls it off the back foot, without much timing and through mid-wicket for a single.

FIVE WIDES! Down the wrong line and Burger pays a hefty price for it. Full and looking to swing it into the batter, but the starting line is middle and leg. That ball swings well down leg and beats the diving keeper to roll into the fine leg fence.

Off the mark right away. Burger comes from over the wicket, cramps the batter as he angles it into the ribs. Head hops back and dabs it gently through the space between square leg and mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

No shortage of action in that opening over. If that is a sign of things to come, strap yourselves in because we could be in for an absolute rollercoaster here. Here's Nandre Burger from the other end.

FOUR! That's pinged off the bat. What an entertaining first over, a wicket and then 16 runs thereafter. Full and wide, bowled at a brisk pace again. Kishan goes on one knee and smacks it flat over point for another boundary.

FOUR! Flies off the edge! Pitched fuller and in the channel outside off. Ishan Kishan flashes hard at it and gets a thick outside edge that flies over the slip cordon for a boundary.

SIX! On the pads, and with that much pace already on the ball, that's easy pickings for KIshan. Good length on leg, picked up and dumped over fine leg for a biggie.

No fear from Ishan Kishan. Another quick short ball, at 150.8 kph this time. Kishan goes after it and top edges it well wide to the right of long leg for a couple of runs.

RR strike early. Ishan Kishan is in at number 3.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Jofra Archer has done it again. He's been lethal in the first over, and he gets a huge wicket. Archer bowls this at a searing 148.5 kph, over leg stump and digs it in short. The ball flies right between the shoulder and the helmet and Abhishek Sharma awkwardly tries to fend it away. He ends up gloving it behind and Dhruv Jurel takes a simple catch. Archer is off in celebration, and why not? SRH are rocked early.

A loose shot from Abhishek Sharma and he nearly chips it straight to mid off. Back of a length and wide outside off, Sharma goes after it but gets it off the toe end of the bat and in front of the mid off fielder.

A bizarre piece of play to end the innings. Rajasthan Royals finish with 243/8, their highest IPL total ever, beating their previous best of 242/6 against SRH as well last season. Sakib Hussain takes pace off for the umpteenth time and drags the length back, angling it across off. Jadeja comes forward and misses the swipe across the line, but the batters go for the bye. Ishan Kishan fires in a wide throw at the keeper's end and the bowler fails to collect it cleanly. This allows the batters to pinch the second bye as well.

Length ball outside off, Mishra advances, gets bat to ball and gets it towards cover for a quick single.

Praful Hinge is substituted by Salil Arora

Another swing and a miss, and another dot ball. Sakib Hussain keeps it full and around off, slower too. Sushant Mishra goes after it but fails to lay a bat on it and Jadeja isn't interested in the bye either.

Could have easily been another run out. Slower one, full and outside off. Sushant Mishra swings and misses and looks for the single but Jaddu sends him back. Ishan Kishan misses his shy at the stumps.

Right, RR have used their Impact Sub. The left-arm quick, Sushant Mishra comes in, replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Yashasvi Jaiswal is substituted by Sushant Mishra

OUT! BURGER IS RUN OUT! They say never run off a misfield and why would Ravindra Jadeja even go for the second run when he's the senior batter out there? Strange running and RR aren't quite finishing with any sort of a flourish here. This is bowled on a length, just outside off. Nandre Burger pushes it to deep point for one. Eshan Malinga misfields and Jadeja calls him back for the second run. Malinga is quick to pick it up again and throws it to the keeper. Ishan Kishan whips off the bails with Nandre Burger nowhere in the frame.

Another wicket down? The answer is yes. A late decision to go for the second run and Nandre Burger is found short.

Jadeja takes the single off the first ball, surprising. Slower ball, back of a length and outside off. Jadeja angles it down in front of mid-wicket and picks up a single.

Sakib Hussain to bowl the last over. Nandre Burger is the new man in, but it will be Ravindra Jadeja on strike at the start of the over.

OUT! CAUGHT! Such calm under pressure from Abhishek Sharma and Nitish Kumar Reddy has delivered a stellar 19th over for his side. Reddy keeps the length full but bowls it much straighter this time. Jofra Archer can't quite under the ball and heaves it down to long on. Sharma pouches it over his head and has the presence of mind to lob it up as he is about to touch the ropes. However, he ends up not touching the ropes at all and pouches it back with ease.

Taken at long on. Jofra Archer looks perplexed. Abhishek Sharma is pretty confident that his effort is neat, and the replays confirm the same.

Reddy comes back well. Another wide yorker, perfectly just an inch or two inside the tramline and right on the popping crease. Jofra Archer fails to get any bat on it.

FOUR! Reddy overpitches and gets punished. Misses the yorker and serves a full toss around off. Archer manages to power it to the right of the cover fielder for a boundary.

Wow, another dot. Very full and very wide outside off, but Nitish Kumar Reddy lands it perfectly inside the tramline. Archer leaves it in hopes of a wide but won't get it.

Full and outside off again, Jofra Archer jams it into the turf and straight to the cover fielder.

Jofra Archer makes his way out to bat.

OUT! FERREIRA IS RUN OUT! Never a two there, and Donovan Ferreira has to walk back. Nitish Kumar Reddy dishes out a full and wide ball, outside the off stump. Ferreira reaches out and squeezes it to the right of deep third for a single. Shivang Kumar runs across and picks it up, and the batters decide a bit late to go for the second run. Kumar throws it to the keeper and Ishan Kishan whips off the bails in a flash. Replays show that Ferreira put in a dive, but he is well short.

Gone? Donovan Ferreira is walking off without even waiting for the replays. A shake of the head on the sidelines from Riyan Parag. Yep, Ferreira is indeed short of the ground despite the dive.

Sakib Hussain has one over left in the bank, and he will surely bowl one of the remaining two overs. The other will most likely have to come from Nitish Kumar Reddy. It will be Reddy to bowl the 19th over.

FOUR! A boundary off the final ball makes it 13 off the over. Full and tailing in at the toes, Jadeja manages to jam his bat down, and cue ends it fine of short fine leg for a boundary.

And again! A fourth double in the over. Back of a length, around off, Ravindra Jadeja hangs back, waits for it and short-arm jabs it between deep mid-wicket and long on for two runs.

Full and around off, Jadeja leans on and punches it across to wide long on for yet another brace.

A bit of a bad bounce now and they get two more. Slower and shorter, angling away. Jadeja dabs it down to backward point, where Shivang Kumar gets a bad bounce and spills it behind.

Slower one, short of a good length and outside off. This is hit away down to long off for a single.

Should have been a run out! Full and angling into the pads, Ferreira clips it down to the right of deep backward square leg and wants two right away. Ravindra Jadeja is a bit hesitant and Eshan Malinga in the deep throws it to the keeper. Ferreira is well in, but had Malinga thrown it to the bowler, Jadeja would have been well out.

Pat Cummins to bowl out now. 3-0-51-0 so far for the SRH skipper.

Good length on off, punched down to long off for one.

FOUR! That's streaky, and not the first time that an edge has run away to the boundary this evening. Pace on from Malinga, a bit short and wide outside off. Ferreira goes hard at the cut and gets an outside edge that flies between the keeper and the short third fielder for a boundary.

Short again, this time Jadeja gets on top of the bounce and pulls it to deep square leg for one.

Oh, that could easily have been a run out, but Ravindra Jadeja escapes. A skiddy short ball from Malinga, right at the throat. Jadeja leans back to pull but mistimes it to the left of mid-wicket and sets off for the single. Pat Cummins picks it up and fires in a throw at the keeper's end, but misses and Jaddu is able to make it back in.

Length again, around middle, Jadeja gets forward and pushes it straight back to the bowler.

Jofra Archer time? Nope, not yet. Ravindra Jadeja comes out to the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT! Another one bites the dust. Eshan Malinga peppers the hard length at 141 clicks and jams it in over off and middle. Dasun Shanaka backs away to swing it leg side but gets it really high on the bat. Shanaka clubs it between long on and deep mid-wicket, and it is Abhishek Sharma from the former position, who runs to his right and takes a well-judged catch. Malinga gets his fellow Sri Lankan and RR are now 214/5.

Praful Hinge is done with his spell, and he goes out. In comes Salil Arora as SRH's Impact Sub. Jofra Archer is padded up. He could come in next for RR, just as he did the other day in Mumbai, when he walked in ahead of Ravindra Jadeja and Shubham Dubey. Eshan Malinga is back for his final over.

Excellent over given the match situation, just 7 runs and a wicket off it. A yorker, just outside off, jammed out firmly towards extra cover by Ferreira.

Dug in short over middle, gets big on the batter. Donovan Ferreira miscues the pull into the vacant mid-wicket region and picks up a couple of handy runs.

On the pads again, tucked away through the big gap at mid-wicket for a single this time.

FOUR! Delicate touch from Dasun Shanaka, but that's down the wrong line from Hinge. Good length around the hips, Shanaka gets inside the line and tickles it past the keeper into the fine leg fence.

Dasun Shanaka walks in next.

OUT! CAUGHT! Another timely wicket for Praful Hinge, his third of this game. Hinge hits the deck hard and just bowls it back of a length over middle. Riyan Parag hangs deep, looks to swat it over long on, but snatches at it. He hits it flat towards long on, where Heinrich Klaasen times the leap well and snaffles it with both hands. End of a breezy cameo from the RR skipper.

Seemed like a quick off-cutter, slightly into the pitch and angled into the batter. Parag swings across the line but misses and the ball goes off the pads, rolling into the off side. Parag isn't quite fit enough to go for a quick single here.

Bowled on a back of a length, outside off. Parag swings across for the pull. Ekes out an inside edge that goes towards short fine leg. A fumble there allows the batters to sneak in a single.

SIX! Nothing edgy about this one. Sakib goes into the surface, over middle. Parag stands tall and latches onto it. He nails the pull in front of square on the leg side for a flat six.

FOUR! A fortuitous boundary for the RR skipper. Sakib keeps the stumps in play and hurls it on a length. Parag has a hoick across the line but gets a top edge and it flies over short third for a boundary. The 200 comes up for RR.

Fuller and attacking the front pad, this is driven to long on for one more.

Lands it on a back of a length, on middle. Riyan whips it towards wide long on for a single.

Edgy! Angled in at the sticks, on a length, on middle. Parag tries to clip it away on the leg side with a closed bat face. The ball straightens a bit to catch the leading edge. It goes uppishly but away from the backward point fielder to his right. Parag limps but manages to come back for the second run.

STRATEGIC BREAK! We are 14 overs down in the first innings and Rajasthan Royals are still going at around 14 runs an over. The only way Sunrisers Hyderabad can pull things back is via wickets, but still, a score of 250-plus shouldn't be a big ask for RR from here. If SRH do manage to keep the Royals to under 250, they will be pleased, given how things have been going thus far. Let's see which team wrestles the momentum heading into the innings interval. Also, Sakib Hussain is back into the attack now. He's gone for 34 runs in his two overs so far.

Are they going to review it? Another short ball, over middle and leg. Donovan Ferreira ducks under it. A quizzical look at the umpire by Ferreira, but he does not get the wide call. Parag at the non-striker's end was a bit reluctant to review it. The on-air commentators felt the batters had run out of time, but after a chat between the umpires, Rajasthan's review is eventually allowed to go through. Riyan felt that it was the third bouncer of the over and wanted to check the height. As it turns out, the Ball Tracking shows that the ball is below the shoulder, and it is a fair delivery. RR lose their review.

The next batter is Donovan Ferreira.

OUT! CAUGHT! High but not long enough. A well-directed short ball by Hinge at the bodyline of the batter. Jurel swivels for the pull but the ball also gets big on him. Dhruv gets the height but not the distance. It goes only as far as deep square leg, where Nitish Kumar Reddy settles under the skier and does the rest.

SIX! Just over and that takes Dhruv Jurel to his sixth FIFTY of the season. Dhruv has perhaps been guilty at times of not quite matching the tempo set by the openers, but he has walked out with clear intent tonight and ensured the momentum has not dipped after the blazing start. Banged in short, on off, Jurel hops and reaches out to flay it towards deep backward point. Sakib Hussain leaps and sticks out the right hand but can only get fingertips it to it and the ball drops beyond the fence. The 50-run stand is also up between these two.

Hinge bowls the off-cutter, on a good length, on middle. Parag swipes it through square leg and turns the strike over.

This is on a length, on off, Jurel dabs it into the off side for a single.

FOUR! Not in complete control, but he will take it. With this boundary, Jurel brings up 500 runs for the season. Hing directs a short ball around the left shoulder. The ball gets big on Dhruv, who swivels and manages to get it away. It goes more off the gloves but fine of the man at deep fine leg.

Pat Cummins is chopping and changing his bowlers, but the boundaries just keep coming. Praful Hinge is now back on.

Well bowled! A bit of tail back into the right-hander, a yorker at the base of the middle stump. Parag watchfully keeps it out.

FOUR! Good use of the wrists. Malinga errs in both line and length. Low full toss, sliding onto the pads. Riyan clips it behind square leg and manages to beat the man in the deep to his left.

Takes pace off and this is on a shortish length, outside off. Jurel reaches out and hits it towards deep point. They cross.

In the air...but it lands safely! Malinga hurls it on a length, outside off. With mid off inside the circle, Jurel extends his hands into the lofted hit. He does not quite get hold of it, and Heinrich Klaasen runs over his left shoulder from mid off but the ball drops out of his reach. The ball bounces in front of the boundary cushions and plugs. Klaasen is able to flick it away and prevent the boundary. Two runs taken.

Wide! Out comes the slower, short ball, outside off. It is too high as the ball balloons over Jurel's head.

In and around the off stump, on a short of a length. A bit of extra bounce as Jurel glides it behind the wicket on the off side. He is keen for a single but Ishan Kishan dives to his right and cuts it off.

FOUR! Nitish Kumar Reddy's effort goes in vain. On the shorter side and Jurel gets the width to free his arms. He waits on the back foot and cuts it past backward point. Reddy moves to his left swiftly and dives but to no avail.

Despite the two wickets, there's no stopping the Royals juggernaut at the moment. Eshan Malinga is now brought back into the attack.

Another expensive over from the SRH skipper. Cummins pulls the length back, on off. Jurel plays the short-arm jab down to long on for a single. 17 runs off the over. Pat's figures read 3-0-51-0.

FOUR! Class written all over it. Cummins goes searching for the yorker but ends up with a half-volley, on off. Jurel springs onto the front foot and drives it all along the ground to the right of mid off for a four.

SIX! Into the stands! Cross-seam ball, dug in short, around the right shoulder at 141 kph. Jurel swivels and parks the pull behind square leg for a biggie.

Pace on now, full and outside off. Jurel extends his hands and angles the drive to the right of deep point for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Nicely done! Pace taken off, angled in on a length, around off. Jurel walks across the stumps just as Pat is about to release the ball. He hangs low to get under the ball and scoops it over short fine leg for a boundary.

At 134.4 kph, on a back of a length, outside off. Fast hands from Jurel as he cuts it behind point but can't beat Travis Head this time.

Pat Cummins (2-0-34-0) brings himself back on.

SIX! Stand and deliver stuff! Fractionally short at 91.3 kph, it is the googly that spins away from the right-hander. Parag hangs deep in the crease and pummels it over wide long on for his first six of the night. The 150 is up for RR.

Fine footwork! Drops it short, does Shivang, on middle and leg. Jurel rocks back and whips it wide of deep mid-wicket. Eshan Malinga covers good ground to his right in the deep and slides. He sticks out the right foot and makes the stop. Just a single.

SIX! Good hit. Floated up there by Shivang, a bit too full, on middle. Jurel is quick to get down on a knee and plays the slog sweep over deep square leg for a biggie.

Short and on leg, that is flicked off the back foot through square leg for a run.

The RR skipper, Riyan Parag, walks out to bat next.

OUT! CAUGHT! Yashasvi Jaiswal holes out. A good little phase in the game for SRH. Shivang serves the googly, full and outside off. Jaiswal dances down the strip and manages to get to the pitch of the ball. He was intending to go inside out but ended up hitting it a lot straighter. Hits it flat and down to long off. Abhishek Sharma bends and takes the catch safely to his right.

Flighted delivery, full and on middle. Jurel gets down on a knee and sweeps it through backward square leg for a single.

Decent couple of overs for SRH as some serenity has finally returned after the carnage earlier on.

No run there either and SRH slip in another decent over, just 7 off it. A few inches shorter than good length and over middle. Jaiswal presses back and rises with the bounce, punching it straight to extra cover.

Good-length delivery, attacking off stump, Jaiswal angles it towards point. Again, Jurel wants the quick single but is sent back.

Full and outside off, Jaiswal stays back, goes hard at it and carves it wide to the left of deep point for a couple of runs.

Shortish delivery, attacking the bodyline. Jaiswal leans back and tries to cutely guide it between keeeper and short third, but hits it straight to the man at short third.

Back of a length again, around off, dabbed past backward point for a single.

FOUR! Cracking shot. Back of a length, just outside off. Dhruv Jurel hangs back well and cuts it late, to the left of Travis Head at backward point and it goes through for a boundary. Head will feel he should have done better there.

Nitish Kumar Reddy has been called into the attack. SRH's 6th bowling option of the night.

Flighted ball, outside off, tapped away towards cover. Jurel wants the single, but Jaiswal rightly says no. That is the first over of this innings without a boundary.

Oh, gets a hand on it, does Shivang Kumar, and that will sting a bit as well. Full and flat, dished outside off. Dhruv Jurel goes on one knee, drags it straight back, with power. Shivang sticks out his left hand and deflects it to mid off for a single. That's a certain boundary saved, rather than a dropped catch.

Length, on off, Jaiswal shows the full face of the bat and punches it down to long off for a run.

Play and a miss! Flatter trajectory, a bit full and darted outside off. Jaiswal gets low to cut but misses.

A bit flatter now, around leg, Jurel presses back and dabs it wide of square leg for one more.

Floated full, around middle, Jaiswal lunges and eases it through mid on for a single.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi trudges off to a standing ovation. The Mullanpur crowd rises to its feet, and so do his teammates in the dugout after a breathtaking knock. Dhruv Jurel is in at number 3. First look at spin as Shivang Kumar comes on.

OUT! CAUGHT! Would you believe it? Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is standing there, in absolute disbelief, and so is the crowd, but he has to walk back on 97, and Chris Gayle can breathe a sigh of relief. Praful Hinge bangs it in quick and short, wide outside off. Sooryavanshi throws his hands at it and gets it off the outer half of the blade. The ball flies down to deep third, where Ravichandran Smaran runs in off the ropes and dives to snaffle it. That's the end of one of the most memorable knocks in IPL history.

SIX! This is just ridiculous hitting now, but it was there to be hit as well. A full-length ball outside off, right in the slot. Sooryavanshi just swings through the line and nails it over long off for a biggie. 97 off just 28 balls. Chris Gayle holds the record for the fastest IPL ton in 30 balls, and that is in danger now.

SIX! Sooryavanshi has zoomed into the 90s, and the fastest IPL ton is surely on the cards now. A low full toss, on middle. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hangs deep and hoicks it away in front of mid-wicket for another biggie.

NO BALL AND FOUR! Ominous signs for SRH and even the beamer has gone for four. A very high full toss, right around the rib cage. Sooryavanshi fends it away well and manages to get it to the left of short fine leg for four runs. Free Hit loading...

FOUR! No one in the deep square on the off side, and that's not an ideal delivery to bowl with that field. Fractionally short but wide outside off. Sooryavanshi is able to free his arms and thrashes it over the point region for a boundary.

WIDE! Hinge looks to go for the wide yorker, but spills it just beyond the tramline outisde off stump.

SIX! That's a stylish hit from Vaibhav now. Full and attacking the toes, a bit too full though. Sooryavanshi takes the front leg out and nonchalantly flicks it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. The 100-run stand is up between the RR openers as well.

Back of a length, on off, Jaiswal punches it off the back foot to extra cover for a single.

SIX! No problem with the connection on this occasion. Another off-pace delivery, sliding it across the left-hander. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi leans to the off side, gets low and inside the line and picks it handsomely over long leg for another biggie.

FOUR! Just short of the ropes. Slower ball, back of a length and on leg. Sooryavanshi waits well and wallops the pull, doesn't time it greatly, but finds the vacant fence at deep backward square leg.

Direct hit, but Sooryavanshi is safe! Full and outside off, jammed to the right of the point fielder by Jaiswal and the batters set off for the single. Shivang Kumar is a bit slow to pick it up, but hits the bullseye at the keeper's end. Sooryavanshi is well home, though.

Goes back to hitting a good length, does Hussain. Serves it on middle and Jaiswal plays it back to the bowler.

FOUR! Jaiswal's done extremely well to reach it. Dug in halfway into the pitch, over off. Yashasvi Jaiswal gets on his toes, reaches out with his willow and manages to get enough of a connection to angle it between the keeper and short third for a boundary.

Good length, slanted across off. Sooryavanshi pushes it off the higher part of the blade and to the right of mid off for a single.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Sunrisers Hyderabad take the timeout at the first opportunity available, and they desperately needed a moment to regroup after being taken apart by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Every misexecution has disappeared to the boundary, and SRH will now hope to bring about some control through the middle phase. Rajasthan Royals are off to a flying start, but this will also remind them of that league stage game against the Delhi Capitals, where they failed to cash in after being in a strong position. RR will be wary of not letting this platform slip away tonight. Sakib Hussain returns to the attack, replacing Eshan Malinga.

Hinge does well to end the Powerplay with a tidy over, just 6 off it. He goes for the yorker outside off, Jaiswal backs away and ends up squeezing it down to short third. Still, RR are flying high at 80/0 after 6 overs.

A low full toss on leg stump, Sooryavanshi crouches a bit and slogs it across to deep mid-wicket for a single. Decent over so far from Praful.

Hard length on off, shanked away towards cover for a quick single. The fielder over there scampers to his right, but fails to collect the ball cleanly.

FOUR! A well-manufactured shot from Jaiswal. Predictable line and length, just outside off. Yashasvi Jaiswal reads it well, shuffles across and forces the scoop over short fine leg and picks up a boundary. Not the prettiest of shots, though.

Hinge hits the length hard, bowling it over the top of off stump. Jaiswal leans back to smack it downtown but finds the fielder at mid off.

Beaten! Hinge dishes out a fullish delivery, darting it wide of the off stump. Yashasvi Jaiswal slashes and slashes hard, but fails to lay a bat on it.

Another bowling change? Yes, indeed. Praful Hinge comes in to bowl now.

Edgy! Keeps the stumps in play, and the length is full this time. Sooryavanshi tries to turn it away on the leg side but he closes the bat face early. Gets a soft leading edge and it dribbles past the stumps at the bowling end.

Good stop! Bowled on a nagging length, on off. Jaiswal punches it off the back foot between cover and mid off. Pat Cummins sprints and dives to his right to save a certain boundary. Keeps the batters down to a single.

Low full toss, at the sticks, this is knocked to long on for a single.

FOUR! Carved away! This is on a length, angled away from the left-hander. Sooryavanshi angles the bat face and swings at it to split the fielders at point and cover and pick up a boundary.

Hurls it on a shortish length, on off. Jaiswal cuts it to deep point for a single.

FOUR! Lovely shot! On a hard length, on off. Jaiswal gets on his toes and punches it neatly through covers for a boundary.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already broken the record for most sixes in a single IPL season, and he might get two more games to extend that record beyond anyone's reach. Also, Eshan Malinga returns to the attack, replacing Pat Cummins.

SIX! Vaibhav Sooryavanshi goes back-to-back to bring up a 16-ball FIFTY. This has been ball-striking of the highest order. As many as 8 sixes and just a solitary four in this knock. Hussain goes short, on middle. He fails to get it high enough to trouble Vaibhav, who swivels and parks it over square leg with a pull for a biggie.

SIX! High and long enough! Hussain dishes it out on a length, off-cuttter, on off. Vaibhav holds his shape as he hangs back and thumps it over long off with a clean swing of the arms. Six number 60 for Sooryavanshi. With this, Vaibhav has overtaken Chris Gayle for most sixes in a single IPL season.

And again! Off-cutter bowled into the surface, outside off. Vaibhav swivels for the pace but is undone by the slowness of the ball and the ball sneaks under the willow.

A swing and a miss. Pace on now, very full and near the tramline. Sooryavanshi throws his hands at the ball and is beaten for pace.

SIX! Wow, that is a shot and a half. Out comes the off-cutter from Hussain, on a good length, angling away. Sooryavanshi picks the slower one and waits for the ball to arrive. He presents a high elbow and goes inside out over cover for a six. 59th six of the season for the youngster. Vaibhav is now level with Chris Gayle for most sixes in an IPL season.

Starts well, does Sakib. Gets the yorker in at the base of the off stump. Vaibhav digs it out to cover.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is putting on a show right now. He is now just one shy of Chris Gayle's record of most sixes in a single IPL season of 59. With that said, Sakib Hussain comes in as the first bowling change.

Nails the yorker, at the toes. Sooryavanshi jams it out through mid on and keeps the strike with a single. 25 runs off the over!

SIX! Make that a hat-trick of sixes from Sooryavanshi. Cummins is being taken to the cleaners. Pat takes pace off and bowls it on a length, keeping it away from the batter's arc. Vaibhav reaches out and slams it back over the bowler's head. It bounces just beyond the boundary cushions for yet another six. 24 runs off the over with a ball to go.

SIX MORE! Not quite from the middle but it does the job for the youngster. Cummins digs it in short and pushes it across the left-hander. Sooryavanshi lets the ball come to him and uses the angle to flay it over backward point. It comes more off the lower half of the blade but he gets enough bat on it to clear the fence.

SIX! All the way! Pat slips in a full ball, on middle and leg. Sooryavanshi clears the front leg and he does not try to overhit this one. Just checks his lofted hit with a straight bat and goes over mid on for a flat six.

Wide! Play and a miss! Well wide on off, Vaibhav lets it go.

FOUR! Banged away! Pat delivers it full, on off. Sooryavanshi gets his hands through the line and drills it down the ground. Travis Head is placed at a straight mid off but he is a mere spectator. The ball flies well wide of him to his right and races into the fence. Vaibhav brings up 600 runs this season.

Fine stop! Cummins hurls it on a back of a length, on off. Jaiswal stands tall on top of the bounce and punches it neatly towards cover. Shivang Kumar moves to his left and puts in a dive to save at least a couple of runs for his side. Just a single.

Just one over from Pat? No, the SRH skipper will continue.

SIX! That has gone back a long way. Malinga bends his back and serves a bumper at the bodyline of the batter. Sooryavanshi pivots and gets inside the line of the ball. He hooks it way beyond the long leg fence for half a dozen.

Missed out! A bit of shape back into the left-hander, low full toss, on the pads. Sooryavanshi tries to work it away on the leg side but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

Lands it on a hard length, on off. Jaiswal arches back and flays it down to deep backward point for a single.

Beaten! Tighter line, closer to the off stump, on a back of a length. Jaiswal hangs back and looks to push it away. The ball kisses the deck and skids through to beat the southpaw for pace.

FOUR! Off the edge! This is on a good length, outside off. Jaiswal throws the kitchen sink at it. It flies off a thickish outside edge and goes wide of the man at short third to his right for a boundary.

Hits the deck hard, angling away. Jaiswal punches it on the up without much timing to cover.

Eshan Malinga to share the new ball with Pat Cummins.

SIX! Sooryavanshi comes up with the first six of the Eliminator. Cummins switches to around the wicket and goes searching for the yorker. Dishes it out right in the slot, on off. Sooryavanshi puts his head down, swings through the line and pumps it back over the bowler's head for a six.

Drags the length back and pushes it across the left-hander. Jaiswal gets on top of the bounce and slaps it to deep point for a single.

Another yorker by the SRH skipper. This is just outside the off stump. Sooryavanshi squeezes it out towards mid off and hurries to the other end. 'Hold, hold' is the call from Pat, but Shivang Kumar still has a shy at the bowling end. It rolls down to deep square leg but it does not cost SRH any extra runs.

Pat nails the yorker in line with the middle stump. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hurriedly gets his bat down and digs it out to mid off.

Shaping back in at the pads and the length stays full. Jaiswal's head falls over to the off side as he attempts the flick. Ekes out an inside edge onto the pads. The ball drops in front of square leg and the batters cross over. Yashasvi and the Royals are underway.

Hit too straight! Cummins steams in from over the wicket and pitches it up, on off. Jaiswal brings his bat out in front and firms the drive down the strip. Pat can't lay a hand or a foot on the ball, and it crashes into the sticks at the bowling end.

All in readiness for this do-or-die clash to get underway. The umpires are the first ones to make their way through the fireworks, followed by the players of Sunrisers Hyderabad, being led by Pat Cummins. It will be the young and dynamic duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to open the innings for Rajasthan Royals as usual. It will be Pat Cummins who will take the new ball himself. Let's play...

SRH's Mr Consistent - Heinrich Klaasen has caught up with Harsha Bhogle. Klaasen says not playing international cricket does stay somewhere in the back of your mind, but adds that as long as you are competing regularly, there is no reason to doubt your skills. Heinrich mentions that his aim is to become the best middle-order batter in the world and believes a lot of it comes down to mindset. He also says stepping away from international cricket has helped him enter franchise tournaments mentally fresh. Klaasen acknowledges that tonight is a bigger game than a league fixture, but says experience helps in dealing with the nerves. Shares that he has been amazed watching the way the top three go about their business. Further adds that while sitting in the dugout, he tries not to over-read the game too much.

A quick chat with the young leggie - RR's Yash Punja starts by talking about his journey and says that he's trying to soak it all in and take it one game at a time. He says that the support staff and the captain have been guiding him well, and he's enjoying the journey. Yash further mentions that he likes to do his homework, and there were certain things they tried to nail in the pre-season practice, and now it is just about adapting. When asked if variations become difficult because of his height, he says that not really, and it's just that it might get a bit tough to give more flight, and overall, the extra height is definitely an advantage for him. On comparisons with Anil Kumble, he says that he's yet to speak to him and wants to have a chat with him.

Impact sub options for RR - Shubham Dubey, Sushant Mishra, Aman Perala, Ravi Bishnoi and Tushar Deshpande.

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI) - Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Donovan Ferreira, Dasun Shanaka, Ravindra Jadeja (In for Shubham Dubey), Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma and Yash Punja.

Impact sub options for SRH - Aniket Verma, Salil Arora, Liam Livingstone, Harsh Dubey and Harshal Patel.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI) - Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan(WK), Heinrich Klaasen, Ravichandran Smaran, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins (C), Shivang Kumar, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain and Praful Hinge (In for Harshal Patel).

The captain of the Rajasthan Royals - Riyan Parag says he probably would have bowled first as well, looking at the history at this venue. Adds that they have happy memories in Mullanpur and hopes that the run continues tonight. On the shift in mindset heading into the playoffs, he says the conversations within the group have largely been about continuing to do the same things that brought them here. Shares that they want to go out there, give everything for 40 overs, and then look back at themselves in the mirror with no regrets. Informs that Ravindra Jadeja comes into the starting XI, while Shubham Dubey features among the impact substitutes.

The skipper of the Sunrisers Hyderabad - Pat Cummins says that they will bowl first. On how much having experience as a captain in the big games helps, he says that not much really, and you just feel a bit more relaxed. On the message to the bowlers, he says that they try to keep things simple. Informs that Praful Hinge is back in the lineup. On chasing here, he says that they have won games batting first, but he just feels that this is a chasing ground, and it doesn't really matter much for them.

TOSS - Riyan Parag and Pat Cummins walk out to the middle for the toss. 'Tails' is the call from Riyan, but it has come down as a Head. Sunrisers Hyderabad elect to BOWL first.

PITCH REPORT - Deep Dasgupta starts by talking about the dimensions and says that there is a bias between the square boundaries, and it is 63 meters on one side and 69 meters on the other side, with the straight hit being 74 meters  Aaron Finch joins him and says that the wicket looks flat and anybody would love to bat on it, but feels that the world-class bowlers like Jofra Archer and Pat Cummins can hit those bare patches and create some doubts for the batters. Deep then mentions that it is generally a chasing venue, and Finch shares that 201 is the average score batting first here, and to win while defending, you'd need a lot more than that, so chasing is the way to go.

Something has to give - SRH have certainly had the upper hand in this rivalry, winning each of their last six matches against RR, including both meetings earlier this season. However, the Royals have enjoyed their visits to Mullanpur, winning all three matches they have played at this venue so far. History also favours SRH on the Eliminator route. They remain the only side in IPL history to win the title after coming through this stage, doing so back in 2016. Tonight, one of these teams moves a step closer to possibly repeating that journey while the other goes home. Stick around as the flip of the coin is not far away.

Closely matched with the bat - When it comes to batting firepower, there is very little separating the two teams. SRH have scored at 10.6 runs an over this season, the third-best among all teams, while RR are just below them at 10.3. Bowling could be where Hyderabad carry a slight advantage. Their pace attack has picked up 67 wickets this season, compared to RR's 55, while SRH's quicks also boast a better strike rate, average and economy rate overall.

Fight to stay alive - Hello and welcome, one and all. It is go big or go home time for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals as they square off in the Eliminator here in Mullanpur. Last night, Royal Challengers Bengaluru blew Gujarat Titans away to storm into the final, and now GT await the winner of this clash in Friday's Qualifier 2. Usually, the winner of the Eliminator would have had to travel for Qualifier 2, but not this year. The winner tonight stays right here in Mullanpur, while the Titans make the trip down from Dharamsala. It may seem like a small detail, but at this stage of the tournament, every little advantage matters.

... MATCH DAY ...

Who will rule the North? Cersei Lannister once said - When you play the Game of Thrones, you win, or you die. This is exactly the situation the two teams fighting through the Eliminator will feel. It is crunch time in IPL 2026, and the house that falls tonight packs its banners, extinguishes its torches, and rides home with nothing but a winter full of what ifs. A win, however, does not open the gates to Ahmedabad just yet. The victor must still take the longer road, the Qualifier 2, where the loser of the Qualifier 1 awaits. On one hand stands the battle-hardened House Sunrisers, who has spectacularly exceeded all the expectations this year and have made it this far as the silent assassins. On the other side rides the House of the Royals, who have clawed and scrambled to keep their crown in this fight. Of all the houses scrapping for that fourth spot on the table, they were the only ones who held their fate in their own hands. And to their credit, when the moment came, they did not flinch. Two houses. One battlefield. The Sunrisers Hyderabad take on the Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator at Mullanpur. The journey so far - The Sunrisers didn’t have the best of starts this year, as they lost three of their first four games. But they almost bossed up the middle phase of the season after that, stringing a streak of five wins on the trot which saw them leap into the top four and since then, they haven’t looked back. Unlike most of the teams, though, SRH have followed a different trajectory. Out of nine wins, six of those have come while defending their totals, which is the most wins while bowling second this year by any team. They finished on 18 points eventually, locked levels with the top two, but that 82-run defeat against GT, where they were bundled on 86 while chasing, dented their net run rate significantly and they eventually had to settle with the third spot. The Royals, on the other hand, have rather progressed through a long scenic route. They began their campaign with four back-to-back wins and just when they looked unstoppable, a spectacular slide saw them lose six of their next eight games, failing to put on a winning streak. It also put their playoff hopes in jeopardy, but winning their last two league games commandingly, chasing 221 against LSG and routing MI in a defence of 205, helped them secure their spot. The top three lead the way - Travishek - For the Sunrisers, the duo of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma has been the engine at the top. The second-most productive opening pair in the tournament this season, they have combined for 690 runs at an average of 49.28, with two century stands and four fifty-plus partnerships to their name. Head has blown hot and cold through the campaign, managing just two fifties, but Abhishek has more than carried the load. The young left-hander has been a force of nature upfront, piling up 563 runs at a strike rate north of 200. JaiSoorya - Similarly, for the Rajasthan Royals, it is the alliance of Yashasvi Jaiswal and especially Vaibhav Sooryavanshi that has blazed mercilessly against the best of the bowling attacks. They are the third-best opening pair this year. While Jaiswal had a bit of quiet patch in between, though it is still not a bad season at all for him, Sooryavanshi’s punishing mode has been so dominating that his contributions have flown under the radar. A strike rate of 232.27. At fifteen years of age. Let that sink in for a moment. Between the two of them, they have put on six fifty-plus opening stands, the most by any opening pair this time. Kishan vs Jurel - Whereas at a crucial number three position, Ishan Kishan’s presence has cemented SRH’s dominance further as he has scored the most runs batting at this position, with six fifties, the most by any batter this year at number 3. He is coming off two back-to-back match-winning knocks and that momentum heading into the playoff will prove really crucial. Whereas for Dhruv Jurel, it has been one of the best IPL seasons, being promoted to number three. At this position, with 458 runs, he has scored the second-most runs after Kishan. Though his first half of the season was a bit underwhelming, in the second half, he has been steadily consistent. The key differentiator - If there is one area where these two sides are not evenly matched, it is the middle order, and the difference has a name. Heinrich Klaasen. He’s been nothing short of a phenomenon this season, trumping SRH top three as their leading run scorer with 606 runs. But it is not just the volume that is staggering. It is the consistency. Not a single single-digit score all season. Six fifties. Five scores of thirty-plus. An average of 50.5. He has been an unbreakable pillar, an unconditional insurance policy, holding the entire Sunrisers middle order together with Nitish Kumar Reddy upping his game by a notch as well. For the Rajasthan Royals, this has been the missing piece of the puzzle all season. Riyan Parag and Ferreira have had their moments of brilliance but between them have not even matched Klaasen's individual tally. Ravindra Jadeja, who had been sidelined with an injured elbow for a period, did return in the last league game. But the middle order as a collective has been inconsistent. Bowling comparisons - Pat Cummins didn’t play the first half of the seasons, but when he joined the squad, SRH had already won four of their first seven games and were in the ascendancy. That momentum was built on the backs of some remarkable bowling performances without their captain. Eshan Malinga has had a pathbreaking campaign with 19 wickets, while rookies Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain have impressed everyone with a composure that belies their inexperience. These three built the foundation, and Cummins' arrival has only made an already dangerous attack more complete. For the Rajasthan Royals, Jofra Archer has been the heartbeat of the bowling unit. With 21 wickets and the fact that he has stayed fit through every game is a story in itself. While the likes of Burger and Brijesh have provided solid support around him, while Yash Punja has been the pleasant surprise of the campaign. The tall left-arm spinner has bowled with real heart, stepping up in crunch moments and taking wickets when his side needed them most. Team form (Last 5 completed IPL matches, recent first) SRH - WWLWL | RR - WWLLL. What to expect? The pitch at the Maharaja Yadvindra Singh International Cricket Stadium has been a belter for batting so far. Teams batting first have scored well beyond 200-plus thrice in this edition in four games so far, with two times those targets being chased down as well. But in an interesting highlight from this season only, the Sunrisers failed to defend 219 vs PBKS, but the Royals chased down 223 against PBKS successfully. So both have had contrasting pasts at this venue and with another batting-friendly pitch expected to be deployed, one can expect it to be an absolute run-fest and with dew being a major factor here, chasing would be a preferable option. 2023 was the last time RR defeated SRH. Since then, the Orange Army has won all six encounters until now and the Men in Pink would be desperate enough to break this cycle when it matters most. All in all, this one has all the ingredients of a delicious recipe in the making.