Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are set to take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 27 of the ongoing IPL 2025 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday, April 12. Interestingly, the two teams have experienced vastly different campaigns so far this season.
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Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings: Preview
One team is piling on runs at a breakneck pace—second only to Lucknow Super Giants—while the other has struggled, losing more wickets in the powerplay than any other side.
One outfit has found a different batting match-winner in nearly every game, while the other is still searching for someone to take charge with the bat.
One boasts the second-best team batting average this season, while the other’s top three have the second-worst.
It’s almost as if Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have swapped roles this IPL.
Sunrisers Hyderabad, once hailed as the team poised to shatter records and possibly breach the 300-run mark this season, have instead stumbled repeatedly in IPL 2025 due to their all-or-nothing approach. Five matches in, they now find themselves languishing at the foot of the table.
Their misfiring batters have only further exposed a fragile bowling unit—one that has struggled since last season. Earlier, explosive batting performances and imposing totals often masked their bowling frailties, but that cover has worn thin. With issues plaguing both departments and a playing XI still in flux, SRH now brace for a stern test against a red-hot Punjab Kings side that’s climbing the table with confidence.
Both teams possess firepower with the bat, which could very well dictate the flow of the match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Saturday evening. However, as the previous game at this venue proved, the result might hinge on more than just the pitch conditions.
For SRH, this isn’t just about securing two points—it’s also about salvaging pride after heavy defeats in their last three outings, which have battered their Net Run Rate.
Dan Vettori’s backing of an aggressive top order—tempered with “respect for conditions”—sheds light on the balancing act SRH now must master. Their intent to play fearless cricket isn’t the issue; it’s the execution without awareness that’s proving costly. So, what’s the best way forward?
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s opening pair of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who were a revelation last season with an average stand of 49.90, have seen a dramatic dip in form this year—their partnership average has plummeted to just 16.80 in IPL 2025.
Ishan Kishan, meanwhile, holds intriguing match-ups against two key Punjab Kings bowlers. Against Arshdeep Singh, he has scored 31 runs off just 15 deliveries but has been dismissed thrice. Similarly, he enjoys a strike rate of nearly 172 against Yuzvendra Chahal, yet Chahal too has managed to dismiss him three times in 32 balls—a classic risk-reward battle waiting to unfold.
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s woes in the powerplay continue to mount—they’ve lost 12 wickets in this phase so far, the most by any team in IPL 2025, averaging a dismissal every 15 deliveries. The early collapses have consistently put them on the back foot.
SRH’s problems aren’t limited to batting alone. Their pace attack has been underwhelming, holding the worst bowling average (42.86) and the second-worst economy rate (10.74) among all seam units this season—a reflection of both lack of penetration and control.
SRH currently hold the worst economy rate (10.73) and the highest bowling average (41.47) in the league. They’ve also managed just the second-fewest wickets in the middle overs (7-16), and with Adam Zampa left out, the spin department rests heavily on the young and relatively inexperienced Zeeshan Ansari.
Whether it’s with the bat or the ball, SRH urgently need to course-correct, or risk seeing their playoff hopes slip away.
PBKS are firing on all cylinders with the bat, with three different players—most notably the breakout star Priyansh Arya—claiming Player-of-the-Match honours in each of their wins. And they’ve done this without any major contributions from marquee names like Marcus Stoinis or Glenn Maxwell.
Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer has been in blazing form, boasting a strike rate of exactly 200 this season—a critical anchor around which their explosive batting has flourished.
Adding a bit of nostalgic flair, Glenn Maxwell’s highest-ever IPL score of 95 came against SRH back in 2014—ironically, when he was donning the PBKS jersey in his first successful stint with the franchise.
To add a curious stat from history: Punjab Kings have managed just one win in Hyderabad across all IPL seasons—and that solitary victory came in 2014, coincidentally the last time they made it to the playoffs.
For Shreyas Iyer and his PBKS squad, the mission is clearer: maintain momentum and continue the winning surge.
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings: Head-to-Head
SRH hold a dominant 16-7 head-to-head advantage over PBKS and have emerged victorious in four of their last five encounters since 2022. On their home turf in Hyderabad, they’ve suffered just one defeat in nine clashes against the Kings.
- Matches Played: 23
- Won by Sunrisers Hyderabad: 16
- Won by Punjab Kings: 7
- Tied: 0
- No Result: 0
- First-ever Fixture: April 19, 2013
- Most-recent Fixture: May 19, 2024
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings: Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
Hyderabad has seen three matches so far this season, with SRH batting first in each. Their scores have steadily declined—from a high of 286 to 190, and then to just 152. In the build-up to this game, the city has experienced rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds. However, the forecast looks promising for Saturday evening, with no rain expected and temperatures cooling to below 30°C after peaking around 36°C in the afternoon.
Though the previous match didn’t deliver the usual high-scoring spectacle associated with this venue, it’s likely to remain a batting-friendly pitch—unless SRH’s aggressive approach backfires once again.
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings: Team News and Predicted XI
Sunrisers Hyderabad – Team News
The home side currently have no injury concerns. Harshal Patel, who missed the previous game due to illness, was replaced by Jaydev Unadkat, who bowled only two overs. If Harshal is available, he’s likely to return to the XI for his effective cutters and proven skills at the death.
One of the key decisions for SRH will be whether to bring back Adam Zampa, leaving out Kamindu Mendis in favour of a more attacking spin option. So far, SRH’s wrist spinners have struggled, conceding runs at 10.21 per over—the worst economy rate for wrist spin across all teams. Zampa featured in the opening two fixtures before being replaced by youngster Zeeshan Ansari for the last three. In terms of alternatives, Rahul Chahar remains an option in the reserves and has a favourable record against the PBKS middle order—having dismissed Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis twice each, and Shreyas Iyer three times.
Sunrisers Hyderabad – Predicted XI
- Travis Head
- Abhishek Sharma
- Ishan Kishan
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Heinrich Klaasen (wk)
- Aniket Verma
- Kamindu Mendis
- Pat Cummins (capt)
- Zeeshan Ansari
- Jaydev Unadkat/Harshal Patel
- Mohammed Shami
- Simarjeet Singh/Rahul Chahar
Punjab Kings – Team News
Punjab Kings have no injury concerns in their squad either. They fielded an unchanged XI in their previous outing against CSK, with right-arm pacer Yash Thakur coming in as an Impact Player for centurion Priyansh Arya during the bowling innings—a move they could repeat.
Given SRH’s spin attack largely favours match-ups against left-handers, Nehal Wadhera might retain his place ahead of Suryansh Shedge to bring balance to PBKS’s predominantly right-handed middle order. Additionally, Yuzvendra Chahal and Glenn Maxwell—who have bowled a combined seven overs in the last two matches—could be handed more responsibility with the ball in Hyderabad.
Punjab Kings – Predicted XI
- Prabhsimran Singh (wk)
- Priyansh Arya
- Shreyas Iyer (capt)
- Nehal Wadhera
- Shashank Singh
- Glenn Maxwell
- Marcus Stoinis
- Marco Jansen
- Yuzvendra Chahal
- Arshdeep Singh
- Lockie Ferguson
- Yash Thakur
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings: Players To Watch Out For
Pat Cummins (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
The Pat Cummins on show this season has been a shadow of his bowling form from last year. He’s conceding runs at an alarming 11.16 per over—starkly higher than his 7.30 economy after five matches in IPL 2024. To put things in perspective, his fellow bowlers Mohammed Shami and Harshal Patel have both kept their economy under 9.50 this season.
Unlike last year, where Cummins was highly effective in the middle overs—picking up nine wickets at under eight an over—he’s opted to bowl more frequently in the powerplay this time. However, the returns haven’t followed: only two wickets and an economy rate of 9.28. The death overs have been the most punishing, where he has gone wicketless and bled runs at nearly 19 an over. The big question now is—can Cummins, much like SRH’s misfiring batters, bounce back in front of the home crowd?
Yuzvendra Chahal (Punjab Kings)
Yuzvendra Chahal hasn’t quite looked like his usual self this season, remaining wicketless in three of his four appearances so far. He hasn’t consistently bowled his full quota either—getting just one over against CSK (in the 17th), and not completing his spell against both Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans. If SRH’s top order finds form on Saturday, Chahal will face a tough challenge bowling to a trio of left-handers in Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, and Ishan Kishan, with Kamindu Mendis possibly joining them later in the innings.
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings: Prediction
Scenario 1
- Toss: Sunrisers Hyderabad win the toss and bowl first
- Powerplay Score: 40-50
- Punjab Kings Total: 200-220
- Match Result: Sunrisers Hyderabad win the match
Scenario 2
- Toss: Punjab Kings win the toss and bowl first
- Powerplay Score: 50-60
- Sunrisers Hyderabad Total: 180-200
- Match Result: Punjab Kings win the match
When and Where To Watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The Indian Premier League 2025 clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings is set to begin at 7:30 PM IST on Saturday, April 12, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad. The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports network and will also be available for live streaming on JioHotstar for FREE.
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FAQs
What is the head-to-head record between SRH and PBKS in the IPL?
Sunrisers Hyderabad lead the head-to-head with 16 wins out of 23 matches against Punjab Kings, who have won 7. SRH have also won 4 of the last 5 encounters since 2022.
How have SRH performed at home against PBKS?
SRH have dominated PBKS in Hyderabad, winning 8 of the 9 matches played at home.
What’s the latest pitch and weather update for SRH vs PBKS in Hyderabad?
Despite recent thunderstorms, no rain is forecast for Saturday evening. The pitch remains a batting-friendly surface, though SRH’s totals have dipped across their three home games this season.
Who are the key players to watch in the SRH vs PBKS clash?
For PBKS, Priyansh Arya and Shreyas Iyer have been standout performers. SRH will rely on Head, Abhishek, and Ishan Kishan to rediscover form, while Pat Cummins and Yuzvendra Chahal are under the spotlight.
Are there any injury concerns for SRH or PBKS?
Both teams currently have no major injury concerns. Harshal Patel could return for SRH if fully recovered from illness.
