Key takeaways
- Chasing teams have won 48 of 88 IPL matches here, against 38 for teams batting first.
- The ground's highest total (286) and biggest chase both came in the last two seasons.
- The all-time first-innings average is 163, but recent totals are far higher — sides batting second should expect to chase 220 or more.
- Pick top-order batters first; choose bowlers for wickets, not economy.
Hyderabad at a glance
| City | Hyderabad, Telangana |
|---|---|
| IPL home team | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| IPL matches (to early May 2026) | 88 |
| Won batting first / chasing | 38 / 48 (1 tie, 1 no result) |
| Average first-innings score | 163 |
| Highest total | 286 |
| Biggest successful chase | Target of 246 — SRH v Punjab Kings, 2025 |
Is the Hyderabad pitch good for batting or bowling?
Batting. The ground's highest total (286) and biggest chase both came in the last two seasons, and chasing teams have won 48 of 88 IPL matches. Recent totals are far above the all-time average of 163 — sides batting second should expect to chase 220 or more.
What the pitch is like
The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is widely regarded as one of the best batting pitches in the country. The surface is flat, the bounce is consistent and the ball comes on to the bat, so batters can play their shots from the start.
It does not always stay that way. In IPL 2026 SRH posted 216 and 242 here, but in a later game the pitch offered some grip to bowlers as the match went on — a reminder to read the pitch report for each game.
The numbers
All-time IPL figures at the venue (88 matches, as of early May 2026):
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average first-innings score | 163 |
| Wins batting first / chasing | 38 / 48 |
| Ties / no result | 1 / 1 |
| Highest total | 286 |
| Biggest successful chase | Target of 246 |
The all-time average badly undersells recent seasons. The ground's highest total and its biggest chase have both come in the last two years: in 2025, SRH chased 246 against Punjab Kings after Abhishek Sharma scored 141 off 55 balls. Pre-match previews in 2026 suggested the side batting second should be ready to chase roughly 220 to 250.
Toss and chasing
Chasing has the better record (48 to 38), and on a flat pitch no target feels safe. For your team: after the toss, lean towards the top order of the side batting second.
Pace or spin?
On a pitch this flat, bowlers are picked for wickets rather than control:
- Wicket-taking seamers — new-ball swing bowlers and death specialists — still score well even when they concede runs.
- Holding bowlers who keep the run rate down but rarely take wickets are poor fantasy picks here.
- Spinners are usually a secondary option; pick one if he is a genuine wicket-taker or bats in the top seven.
Building a fantasy team for Hyderabad
- Load up on top-order batters from both sides — this is the best ground in the IPL for a batting captain.
- SRH's openers are the obvious core when Sunrisers bat; they set the pace for the ground's biggest totals.
- Three or four bowlers, all wicket-takers.
- Finishers gain value, because the last five overs of a big innings bring a lot of runs.
- In mega contests, the visiting side's opener as captain can separate you from the many teams captained by SRH's top order.
For a full routine, see pitch and conditions and captain and vice-captain.
SRH at home
Sunrisers Hyderabad have built an aggressive top order to make the most of this pitch, and their home games produce some of the highest fantasy batting scores of any season.
SRH's squad, core picks and recent form are in the SRH fantasy guide.
Pre-match checklist
- Read the pitch report — a surface that has been used several times may offer more grip.
- After the toss, lean towards the chasing side's top order.
- Pick bowlers who take wickets, not economical holding bowlers.
- Confirm your captain is in the top three of the batting order.
Sources
- CricTracker, SRH vs PBKS: IPL 2026 records and stats at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, May 2026 — venue figures and 2026 pitch notes.
- CricTracker, SRH vs LSG: IPL 2026 records and stats at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, April 2026 — pitch notes, the 2025 chase and expected totals.