Rajasthan Royals Opt to Bowl First Against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026

Match Overview

In the 21st match of IPL 2026, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) won the toss and chose to field first against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The Royals made two adjustments to their lineup, opting to rest Shimron Hetmyer. Lhuan-dre Pretorius is set to make his IPL debut for the team. Pacer Brijesh Sharma was dropped, making way for Tushar Deshpande's return.

RR captain Riyan Parag expressed optimism at the toss, stating, "We’ll be bowling first. This is a new wicket for us, and it’s the first time it’s being used this season. We hope there’s a bit of stickiness at the start. We’ve successfully chased down many totals here." He reflected on the previous season, saying, "We fell short in 2024, so we aim to avoid that this time. We’ve made two changes: Brijesh steps out, and Tushar Deshpande comes in. Hetty is getting a rest, and Pretorius is making his debut. It’s been a journey for me. I learned a lot under (Sanju Samson) Bhaiya and Sangaa, who helped me improve my decision-making and involved me in tactical discussions. Now, I’ve taken on more responsibility and made some tough choices, but I’m glad to be here."

More updates to follow...