RR Opt to Bowl Against SRH as Pretorius, Deshpande Come In; Both Teams Make Key Changes

Hyderabad, April 2026 : Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to bowl first against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their Indian Premier League 2026 clash at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Monday, with both teams making notable changes to their playing XIs.

Rajasthan Royals introduced left-handed batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius and right-arm pacer Tushar Deshpande into the lineup. Deshpande replaced Brijesh Sharma, while Pretorius came in as Shimron Hetmyer was rested. The changes reflect RR’s intent to maintain their winning momentum, having arrived for this contest on the back of four consecutive victories this season.

Speaking at the toss, RR captain Riyan Parag highlighted the team’s strategy behind opting to bowl first. “It’s a new wicket for us, and the first time it’s being used this season. There might be some early assistance for bowlers. We’ve successfully chased totals here before, so we’re confident,” he said. Parag also reflected on his leadership journey, crediting former captain Sanju Samson and coach Kumar Sangakkara for shaping his tactical understanding. “I’ve grown into the role, taken tough decisions, and I’m happy to lead the side now,” he added.

On the other hand, Sunrisers Hyderabad, led by Ishan Kishan, made two changes to their bowling attack. Young pacers Sakib Hussain and Praful Hinge replaced experienced bowlers Jaydev Unadkat and Harshal Patel. SRH are looking to bounce back after suffering a six-wicket defeat against Punjab Kings in their previous outing.

Kishan emphasized the importance of leadership and teamwork, noting that his captaincy experience from junior and domestic cricket has helped him evolve as a player. “Leadership makes you more aware and responsible. It’s never about individual performance—it’s always about contributing to the team. That mindset has helped me grow,” he said.

Playing XIs:

Rajasthan Royals:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (captain), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar Deshpande

Impact Substitutes: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravi Singh, Shubham Dubey, Brijesh Sharma

Sunrisers Hyderabad:
Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (captain & wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Eshan Malinga, Praful Hinge

Impact Substitutes: R Smaran, Sakib Hussain, Liam Livingstone, Shivam Mavi, Harshal Patel

With RR aiming to extend their winning streak and SRH eager to regain form on home turf, the match promises an exciting contest between two competitive sides.

Team Maverick