IPL 2026: Punjab Kings' strongest predicted XI against Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad will host Punjab Kings in Match 49 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Hyderabad, on May 6. Both teams remain firmly in the playoff race, making this clash crucial in the context of the points table.

Punjab Kings have been one of the more consistent sides this season, despite a slight dip in recent games, while Sunrisers Hyderabad have relied on their explosive batting lineup to stay competitive, especially in high-scoring encounters.

SRH’s top order, featuring Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan, has the ability to take games away quickly, but their bowling unit has been inconsistent. Punjab Kings, on the other hand, boast a more balanced setup with Shreyas Iyer leading a solid batting unit and Arshdeep Singh spearheading the attack. With Hyderabad’s pitch expected to favor batters, another high-scoring contest could be on the cards. 

Here is PBKS' strongest predicted XI vs SRH in Match 49, IPL 2026:

Top Order: Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly

This top three consisting of Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, and Cooper Connolly has been PBKS’ biggest strength this season, as they have managed to tear apart opposition bowling attacks in the powerplay itself. Prabhsimran has been their top-scorer so far, scoring 361 runs, whereas Priyansh Arya has scored runs at a whopping strike rate of 247. Australia’s Copper Connolly has been a revelation at number 3, playing some valuable knocks for the side.