IPL 2026 Match 9 — PBKS vs SRH: Preview, Probable XI & Prediction

PBKS

Kings

MATCH 9

March 26, 2026 · 3:30 PM IST

Punjab Cricket Association Stadium

SRH

Hyderabad

Punjab Kings host the formidable SRH batting line-up at Mullanpur — Travis Head and company will test PBKS's new-look bowling attack early.

Venue & Pitch Analysis — Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mullanpur

PBKS's home at Mullanpur has a pace-friendly surface with decent grass cover. Short extra-cover boundary (~60m) suits left-handers. Pacers get zip off the deck, especially in the powerplay.

• Average 1st innings score: 164 runs
• Average 2nd innings score: 157 runs
• Pitch type: Pace-friendly
• Toss preference: Balanced; toss winner will assess conditions before deciding

Mullanpur replaced Mohali as PBKS home ground from IPL 2024, with excellent crowd support.

Probable Playing XIs

Head-to-Head Record

This is a perfectly balanced rivalry — 11 wins each from 22 encounters. Every meeting can go either way.

Key Battles to Watch

• Rilee Rossouw vs Pat Cummins: Rossouw is in sublime touch this season and will be keen to dominate against Cummins, who will try to keep things tight in the powerplay.
• Travis Head vs Arshdeep Singh: Head is SRH's most explosive batter and Singh has the pace to trouble them. Whoever wins this duel often decides the match.
• Sam Curran vs Nitish Kumar Reddy: The all-rounder battle — both Curran and Reddy can change games with bat and ball. Their contributions in the middle overs will be critical.

Match Prediction

Balanced conditions at Mullanpur mean either team could dominate. Powerplay performance will be crucial. Sport God AI gives the edge to <strong>Sunrisers Hyderabad</strong> — their bowling depth and recent form makes them the narrow favourite at this venue.

• Predicted 1st innings total: 159–172 runs
• Likely match winner: Sunrisers Hyderabad
• Toss call: Field first — chase the target with dew assistance

Fantasy Cricket Picks

• Captain (2×): Travis Head — in top form and perfectly suited to these Mullanpur conditions.
• Vice-Captain (1.5×): Nitish Kumar Reddy — capable of winning the match almost single-handedly with bat or ball.
• Differential pick: Pat Cummins — could be a match-winner if conditions assist the bowlers in the powerplay.
• Safe pick: Arshdeep Singh — consistent performer who earns points in every game regardless of venue.
• Budget pick: Jitesh Sharma — lower price point but high ceiling in these conditions.

Get real-time win probability, live fantasy points, and ball-by-ball AI insights on the Sport God AI match center — free during IPL 2026.