Hyderabad: Punjab Kings haven't won at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium since 2014, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have won four of the last five encounters between the two sides.
When the two teams clash in the 27th match of the Indian Premier League 2025 on Saturday, the contest will be as much about breaking patterns as it will be about points.
Hyderabad, led by Pat Cummins, are on a slippery slope after four straight defeats. Their campaign, once brimming with promise, is now teetering on the edge. The team’s last outing saw a meek surrender to Gujarat Titans by 7 wickets, exposing glaring holes in both their batting and bowling. With a playoff spot slipping away, SRH must arrest the slide, and there is no better venue than home to begin a turnaround.
Historically, SRH have turned the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium into a fortress. The team thrives on familiar conditions, fans support, and a surface that favours strokeplay and spin. Their head-to-head dominance over Punjab further strengthens their confidence ahead of this fixture.
The SRH's top order, however, has misfired in recent games. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, explosive on paper, have struggled for consistency. The middle order—featuring Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Heinrich Klaasen—will be expected to anchor the innings and provide acceleration at the death.
Bowling-wise, Mohammed Shami remains a vital cog, but support from Jaydev Unadkat, Simarjeet Singh, and Zeeshan Ansari is crucial, especially in the middle overs.
Punjab come into this game with momentum after a well-earned 18-run win over Chennai Super Kings. Shreyas Iyer’s men have shown character this season, with Priyansh Arya emerging as a match-winner at the top of the order. His century against CSK was one of the most dominant innings of the season so far, and PBKS will hope he can replicate that form against SRH.
The team also boasts a dynamic middle order featuring Prabhsimran Singh, Marcus Stoinis, and Nehal Wadhera, while Glenn Maxwell and Marco Jansen provide crucial depth. The bowling attack, spearheaded by Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur, and Lockie Ferguson, has shown the ability to strike early and contain in the death.
Yuzvendra Chahal and Maxwell’s spin could be key on the Hyderabad pitch, which tends to offer grip and turn in the second innings.
The surface in Hyderabad is known for producing high scores, and Saturday is expected to be no different. Clear skies and dry conditions will favour the side batting first, and with chasing becoming increasingly difficult here, the toss could play a pivotal role.
For Punjab, the match is an opportunity to not only climb the points table but also to exorcise the ghosts Hyderabad—a venue where they have lost seven straight matches. For SRH, it is about salvaging pride, reviving belief, and reigniting their campaign.
Whichever way the result swings, it promises to be a contest full of intensity, pressure, and high-stakes cricket.
Toss at 1900 hrs IST. Match starts at 1930 hrs IST.