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Former India captain Anil Kumble believes Sunrisers Hyderabad head into the IPL 2026 Eliminator with a stronger and more balanced squad than Rajasthan Royals, insisting Hyderabad possess far more match-winners across both batting and bowling departments. The high-pressure knockout clash will take place at the PCA New International Stadium, with the losing side set to crash out of the tournament. Sharing his thoughts ahead of the game on Jio Hotstar, Kumble explained that Rajasthan appear overly dependent on a small core of players, while SRH have multiple options capable of changing the game. “If you compare the two teams man for man, SRH have more match-winners. Rajasthan, on the other hand, relies heavily on a few individuals – Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and Jofra Archer,” Kumble told Jio Hotstar. Kumble warned that Rajasthan’s chances in the Eliminator could hinge entirely on whether those key names step up under pressure. “If those three don’t fire, their batting and bowling both look thin. That could be the difference in a knockout game,” he added. The former India coach also reflected on SRH’s earlier league-stage victory over Rajasthan, describing it as one of the defining moments of Hyderabad’s campaign this season. Kumble highlighted the impact of young fast bowlers Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain, who made their IPL debuts during that clash and immediately transformed SRH’s bowling attack. “The game that Sunrisers Hyderabad would remember dearly is the one against Rajasthan Royals of the league phase, where Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain made their IPL debuts. That was a turning point for Sunrisers Hyderabad this season,” Kumble noted. “Before that game, they had a different playing combination. After bringing in those young bowlers, they found a winning formula. Hinge and Hussain tore through RR’s top order in that game,” he added. Kumble further hinted that Hyderabad may once again back Hinge for the crucial Eliminator encounter and suggested the youngster could replace Harshal Patel in the playing XI. “So I expect SRH might go with Hinge again in place of Harshal Patel for the eliminator. Hinge also dismissed Vaibhav Suryavanshi in his first game, which gives him a psychological edge going into the eliminator,” he said. With a place in Qualifier 2 on the line, both teams now prepare for a knockout battle that could define their IPL 2026 campaign.
