IPL 2026: Match 45, SRH vs KKR Match Prediction – Who will win today’s IPL match between Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders?

Published - 02 May 2026, 17:00 IST | Updated - 02 May 2026, 17:09 IST

Stakes will be high when Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) cross swords with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Match No. 45 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday, May 03.

Sunrisers Hyderabad have shown a tremendous amount of winning consistency this season, having clinched six victories in nine matches thus far this season. They have twelve points and are placed third on the leaderboard. A win against KKR can help them solidify their chances for playoff qualification, which are already quite high at the moment.

Kolkata Knight Riders, on the other hand, started their IPL 2026 on a pathetic note but have gained wins in the last couple of matches. The Ajinkya Rahane-led side seems in no mood to be giving up so early and would be desperate to thump the Sunrisers in an afternoon fixture, especially with the return of Matheesha Pathirana being extremely likely.

The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad has already produced a few high-scoring encounters this season. The contest on Sunday is expected to be yet another run-fest of a clash between SRH and KKR. Spinners can come good at this venue, but even the help for them reduces in the second half of the match. As a result, chasing becomes a relatively easier task at the Uppal deck, and the captain winning the toss on Sunday should be eyeing exactly that.

Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (WK), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora (WK), Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins (C), Harsh Dubey, Praful Hinge, Eshan Malinga

Ajinkya Rahane (C), Sunil Narine, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (WK), Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Anukul Roy, Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Varun Chakravarthy

Abhishek Sharma has been at his explosive best in the 2026 season of the cash-rich tournament. The left-handed opener is also the second on the Orange Cap list with 425 runs from nine matches at an average of 53.13. He has also smashed one century, coupled with three half-centuries to show a great deal of consistency, ensuring a steady flow of runs from his marauding blade. He will be the key to SRH's chances in the upcoming encounter as well.

Sunil Narine has shown what experience is all about in this IPL season. Using his immensely seasoned skills, the Caribbean cricketer has already delivered a couple of impactful spells with the ball. His most notable performance this season came when he bowled the Super Over against Lucknow Super Giants, giving away just one run, as KKR were able to clinch the thriller. Narine can be the best bowler for KKR against the Hyderabad-based franchise.