SRH IPL 2026 Schedule: Complete Sunrisers Hyderabad Match Fixtures, Dates, Timings and Venues
The Orange Army is back. Sunrisers Hyderabad, one of the most exciting and explosive teams in IPL history, are gearing up for what promises to be a season of redemption, reinvention, and raw aggression. After a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign that saw them finish sixth on the points table, SRH head into IPL 2026 with a hunger to prove their doubters wrong. The fixtures have been announced, the squad has been bolstered, and the Orange Wave is ready to crash over every stadium in India. Here is everything you need to know about the complete Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL 2026 schedule — dates, venues, timings, and the matches that matter most.
IPL 2026: The Big Picture
The IPL 2026 season got underway on March 28, with the final scheduled for May 31. This 19th edition of the tournament follows a group stage and playoffs format. Every team will compete in the league stage, and the top four teams on the points table will qualify for the playoffs, which consist of two Qualifiers and one Eliminator. With 14 league matches to navigate before the knockout rounds, every game counts — and SRH know that better than most after last season’s painful exit.
SRH’s Home Ground: Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad
Before diving into the fixtures, it is worth appreciating the fortress that is the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad. SRH will play seven league matches at the 39,000-capacity Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, with all home fixtures scheduled at 7:30 PM IST, following the standard evening slot format. The Uppal surface is well-known among cricket enthusiasts — it offers early pace and bounce for the bowlers but tends to flatten out as the innings progresses, making it a ground where big totals are not only possible but expected. Hyderabad’s home support historically creates high-energy atmospheres, particularly during weekend fixtures against Chennai, Bangalore, and Mumbai.
The Season Opener: SRH vs RCB — March 28, Bengaluru
Sunrisers Hyderabad were handed one of the most exciting season openers possible in IPL 2026. They took on defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the very first match of the tournament at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on March 28 at 7:30 PM IST.
This was a dream opener for fans of both franchises. The SRH vs RCB rivalry has always been fiercely competitive, and having it as the curtain-raiser immediately set the tone for the entire season. Historically, the head-to-head record between the two sides has been closely contested, with SRH holding a slight overall edge. Facing the reigning champions on their home turf in the very first match is the ultimate test of character — and SRH’s performance here set the mood for their entire campaign.
Phase One Fixtures at a Glance
The BCCI released the first phase of the schedule covering the opening matches of the season, played between March 28 and April 12. Sunrisers Hyderabad played four matches in this opening phase, including two away games, one home fixture, and another away clash to round out the phase.
Here is how SRH’s opening phase shaped up:
Match 1 — SRH vs RCB Date: March 28 | Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru | Time: 7:30 PM IST
Match 2 — KKR vs SRH Following the season opener, SRH travelled to face Kolkata Knight Riders at the iconic Eden Gardens. Facing KKR in Kolkata is always a stern away assignment, with one of the loudest and most intimidating crowds in IPL cricket behind the home side.
Match 3 — SRH vs LSG (First Home Game) The homecoming for the Hyderabad faithful was scheduled for April 5, when SRH hosted Lucknow Super Giants at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. This Sunday evening game saw the Uppal ground draped in orange as fans welcomed their heroes back to the Deccan for the first time in the season.
Match 4 — PBKS vs SRH SRH then travelled to Mullanpur to face Punjab Kings, rounding out the first phase. The Mullanpur ground in Chandigarh has emerged as a genuine fortress for Punjab Kings in recent seasons, making this a tough road assignment for Pat Cummins and his side.
Key Players to Watch This Season
SRH boast explosive firepower with Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan in their line-up, all led by Australian skipper and proven match-winner Pat Cummins.
They strengthened their squad significantly in the IPL 2026 mini auction, adding England all-rounder Liam Livingstone for Rs 13 crore. Their bowling attack also received a massive boost with the addition of Mohammad Shami, who was traded from Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the season. Shami’s experience, skill with the new ball, and ability to bowl in pressure situations gives SRH a genuine match-winning option with the ball to complement their batting firepower.
Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan have risen to become the world’s top two ranked T20I batters in the ICC rankings — which means SRH go into this season with arguably the most in-form opening partnership in world cricket. If those two fire consistently, SRH will be extremely difficult to stop at any venue.
SRH’s Full IPL 2026 Squad
Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Aniket Verma, R. Smaran, Shivang Kumar, Pat Cummins (Captain), Liam Livingstone, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kamindu Mendis, Jack Edwards, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Shivam Mavi, Eshan Malinga, Brydon Carse, Zeeshan Ansari, Mohammad Shami, Sakib Hussain.
It is a well-rounded, deep squad that balances batting firepower with genuine bowling options across pace and spin. The addition of Brydon Carse brings express pace from England, while Kamindu Mendis adds an inventive and unpredictable left-arm spin option. On paper, this is one of the most complete Sunrisers Hyderabad squads assembled in recent memory.
What SRH Need to Do Differently in 2026
The numbers from last season are stark. SRH failed to reach the playoffs in IPL 2025 and finished in a disappointing sixth position on the points table. For a team that was a finalist in 2024 and set the IPL record for the highest team total of 287 runs, finishing sixth felt like a genuine underachievement that the entire squad would have reflected on deeply during the off-season.
The issue in 2025 was not a lack of talent — it was inconsistency. SRH’s top order would produce extraordinary performances in some games and go completely quiet in others. Their bowling, while talented on paper, leaked too many runs in the middle overs and failed to defend totals on flat surfaces. In 2026, the coaching staff will be sharply focused on building match-winning consistency across both departments, rather than relying solely on individual flashes of brilliance.
Ones to Watch: The Fixtures That Could Define SRH’s Season
Every IPL campaign has its defining moments — the matches where seasons are won or lost. For SRH in 2026, the fixtures against MI, CSK, and RCB in the second half of the league stage are likely to be the games that determine whether they make the top four. Home games at Uppal against strong batting sides will test their bowling depth, while away games in Chennai and Mumbai will test their temperament and adaptability under pressure.
If SRH can string together three consecutive wins at any point in the season, they have the batting line-up to go on a match-winning streak that carries them deep into the tournament.
Final Word: The Orange Wave Is Coming
IPL 2026 feels like the right season for Sunrisers Hyderabad to reassert themselves as one of the premier forces in Indian T20 cricket. The squad is arguably their best-assembled in years, the captain is a proven match-winner at the highest level, and the hunger in the camp after last year’s heartbreak is palpable. With a blockbuster season opener against RCB, a passionate home crowd waiting at Uppal, and some of the most explosive batters in world cricket wearing orange jerseys, SRH are a genuine contender this year.
Mark your calendars, charge your phones, and paint yourself orange.
Rise. Fight. Win. Go SRH.
