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SRH Predicted Playing XI vs PBKS, IPL 2026, Credits - AP
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have had a topsy-turvy tournament so far. After winning one and losing two matches, the Orange Army will be up against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Saturday afternoon.
In skipper Pat Cummins' absence, they opened the campaign with a hard loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Although SRH returned with a bang by beating KKR in Eden Gardens, Lucknow outclassed them at home.
LSG's Mohammed Shami had the top order, but explosive Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Kumar Reddy's calmness took them to a respectable score of 156/9. The Proteas smasher hit 62, while Reddy scored a 33-ball 56.
However, the Hyderabad bowlers failed to defend the score against a valiant Rishabh Pant, despite Harsh Dubey and Eshan Malinga bowling well.
Ahead of their next clash, let us look at what could be the SRH Playing XI vs PBKS in New Chandigarh.
SRH Playing XI vs PBKS- IPL 2026, Match 17
Top Order: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan
Despite the gung-ho pair of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma not firing against LSG, the Sunrisers management will surely move forward with the pair. On their given day, the SRH openers have the calibre to murder any bowling - as they did against KKR during their only win of the season.
Ishan Kishan may have failed in the last game, but the stand-in captain bashed RCB in the opening match. He is the flavour of the season, especially since the 2026 T20 World Cup. He will definitely be a part of the SRH Playing XI vs PBKS.
Also Read: Heinrich Klaasen Openly Calls Out SRH Teammates For Failure In IPL 2026
Middle Order & All-Rounders: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Salil Arora
Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen have been the only consistent batters for Hyderabad so far. They have bailed them out of trouble twice in three games. The cool, aggressive pair of Reddy and Klaasen will be crucial against Punjab's bowling line-up.
As Liam Livingstone failed in the previous, SRH will fancy bringing in Salil Arora, who was supremely impressive in the two intra-squad games. Benching Livingstone will also help SRH bring an additional foreign pacer.
Aniket Verma, the finisher, has to be a part of the SRH Playing XI vs PBKS. The youngster knows the way to dismantle a bowling using his strong base, which enables him to unleash his powerful strokes.
Bowlers: Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Harshal Patel, Eshan Malinga
Left-arm spinner Harsh Dubey has been the best bowler for SRH this season. So far, he has taken four wickets, but his economy rate has been below 9, which is great in today's day and age.
If Dubey chokes runs, then Shivang Kumar knows how to scalp wickets in the middle phase. Although the leggie has taken just a solitary wicket in IPL 2026, he will be lethal for Hyderabad in this afternoon game.
The SRH Playing XI vs PBKS will be completed by Harshal Patel and Eshan Malinga. These two will be the most effective pacemen in the Sunrisers' line-up.
After Jaydev Unadkat's last outing, the team management is likely to recall David Payne as the Impact Player.
SRH Predicted Playing XI vs PBKS- Match 17, IPL 2026
Travis Head
Abhishek Sharma
Ishan Kishan
Nitish Kumar Reddy
Heinrich Klaasen
Aniket Verma
Salil Arora
Harsh Dubey
Shivang Kumar
Harshal Patel
Eshan Malinga
PBKS vs SRH Impact Player Options
SRH Impact sub: Jaydev Unadkat, Liam Livingstone, David Payne, Zeeshan Ansari
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