SRH vs RR Eliminator 2026: Avinash Puri Predicts Sunrisers Victory and a Shot at GT Then RCB in the Final

The IPL 2026 playoffs have reached boiling point. On Wednesday night at the New International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Sunrisers Hyderabad take on Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator. Cricket expert and respected predictor Avinash Puri has made his call crystal clear: SRH will win and keep their title dream alive.

That victory would send the Orange Army straight into Qualifier 2 on May 29 against Gujarat Titans — the same GT side that Royal Challengers Bengaluru crushed by 92 runs in Qualifier 1 on May 26. Win that, and SRH would face RCB in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium on May 31. Puri sees the path. SRH fans are already mapping it out.

Why Avinash Puri Backs SRH to Win the Eliminator

Puri has studied the numbers and the momentum. SRH finished the league stage third with 18 points and a healthy net run rate. They thrashed RCB by 55 runs in their final league game and showed they can post 250-plus and defend it. RR, meanwhile, scraped into the playoffs and enter this do-or-die match with questions over their middle order and death bowling.

“SRH’s top order fires in bursts that most teams cannot match,” Puri noted in his latest breakdown. “When Abhishek Sharma and the middle-order accelerators get going, the total becomes a mountain. RR will struggle to chase under lights at Mullanpur.”

The stadium itself adds pressure. New Chandigarh’s surface has favored batters who take calculated risks early. SRH’s aggressive style fits perfectly. RR needs something special from their experienced core just to stay competitive.

The Road SRH Must Travel

If Puri’s prediction holds, the calendar looks like this:

• May 27, 7:30 PM IST — Eliminator: SRH vs RR (Mullanpur). SRH wins.
• May 29, 7:30 PM IST — Qualifier 2: GT vs SRH (Mullanpur). SRH wins again.
• May 31, 7:30 PM IST — Final: RCB vs SRH (Ahmedabad).

That would be a classic IPL script — the team that finished third fighting through two knockout games to reach the final against the defending champions who topped the table.

What Makes SRH Dangerous Right Now

Watch the powerplay. SRH openers have repeatedly put 50-plus on the board inside the first six overs this season. That early momentum forces bowlers to bowl fuller lengths later, which SRH’s middle order punishes. Their death-over hitters have also improved their strike rates in the closing stages compared to last year.

Bowling-wise, the variety in the attack gives them options on a pitch that can slow down under lights. RR’s batting has shown flashes but lacks the consistent firepower SRH possesses across the top six.

You could almost feel the tension building in Hyderabad viewing parties last night. Orange flags hung from balconies. Kids wore replica jerseys two sizes too big. The city is ready for a long playoff run.

RCB Awaits — But First, the Business of Tonight

RCB already booked their final ticket with that dominant 92-run win over GT. Rajat Patidar’s unbeaten 93 off 33 balls announced that the defending champions are peaking at the right time. SRH would love nothing more than to meet them in Ahmedabad on May 31 and write their own chapter in IPL history.

But first comes RR. One bad powerplay or one dropped catch and the season ends. SRH knows the stakes. Puri’s prediction is not a guarantee — it is a belief backed by form, head-to-head trends, and the sheer weight of runs SRH have scored in the second half of the season.

Final Word from the Press Box

Standing pitchside in Mullanpur this afternoon, the atmosphere already crackled. Groundsmen marked the crease with extra care. Security tightened around the team buses. SRH players walked out for the warm-up with that quiet focus teams show only in knockout cricket.

Avinash Puri has called it. SRH to win tonight. GT next. Then RCB in the final. Whether it unfolds exactly that way remains to be seen, but the blueprint is clear and the belief inside the SRH camp is real.

The Orange Army is not just hoping. They are expecting.