The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have looked like two different teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Early on, they lost 3 of their first 4 matches—the batting wasn’t clicking, and the proven bowlers from last season weren’t up to the mark. However, as the season progressed, the batters found form, and new bowlers, Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain, were introduced. As a result, SRH have suddenly become one of the best teams, now enjoying a 5-match win streak.
It’s come to a point that SRH have a problem of plenty now. Eshan Malinga and Pat Cummins are a lock. But Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Hinge, and Sakib need to fight for three spots. One of them has been missing out since Cummins returned to the side. As SRH return home to the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) match, they need to decide who sits out.
Spin effect in Hyderabad
In IPL 2026, spinners have found success in Hyderabad. Harsh and Shivang have both been economical. The latter hasn’t struck enough, some of which has been due to shoddy fielding, but both have managed to keep the batters under pressure. Naturally, one expects both to play.
Harsh Dubey & Shivang Kumar in Hyderabad in IPL 2026
| Innings | Overs | Wickets | Best Figures | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harsh Dubey | 3 | 10 | 5 | 3/12 | 10.40 | 5.20 | 12.00 |
| Shivang Kumar | 4 | 12 | 2 | 1/18 | 52.00 | 8.66 | 36.00 |
Time to bench Praful Hinge?
If both the spinners play, one of the pacers – Hinge and Sakib – has to sit out. From what we’ve seen. The latter is the more flexible of the two. Who possesses the ability to bowl well in all phases. Of the 5 games Sakib has played, he’s conceded 40 runs – just one. However, he did concede 62 runs against the Rajasthan Royals.
As for Hinge, he’s conceded 163 runs in his last 3 games. He has been able to strike more consistently, but the 24-year-old hasn’t shown the ability to keep things quiet. In contrast, Sakib, at his best, has managed to shut up shop. He’s got more variations as well. All things considered, SRH might rest Hinge against KKR.
Sakib Hussain & Praful Hinge stats comparison in IPL 2026
| Innings | Overs | Wickets | Best Figures | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sakib Hussain | 5 | 19.0 | 8 | 4/24 | 23.25 | 9.78 | 14.25 |
| Praful Hinge | 4 | 16.0 | 8 | 4/34 | 24.62 | 12.31 | 12.00 |
Predicted SRH Playing XI vs KKR
| S. No. | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abhishek Sharma | Opener |
| 2 | Travis Head ✈️ | Opener |
| 3 | Ishan Kishan (wk) | Top-order batter |
| 4 | Heinrich Klaasen✈️ | Middle-order batter |
| 5 | Nitish Kumar Reddy | All-rounder (pace) |
| 6 | Salil Aroa | Middle-order batter |
| 7 | Pat Cummins✈️ | Bowling all-rounder (pace) |
| 8 | Sakib Hussain | Right-arm fast bowler |
| 9 | Harsh Dubey | Left-arm orthodox spinner |
| 10 | Shivang Kumar | Left-arm wrist spinner |
| 11 | Eshan Malinga✈️ | Right-arm fast bowler |
| 12 (Impact Sub) | Praful Hinge/ Aniket Verma |
Cricket
Predicted SRH Playing XI vs KKR: Pat Cummins to bench Praful Hinge for Shivang Kumar?
