IPL 2026: SRH vs DC, Match 31 - Top player battles to watch out for

Sunrisers Hyderabad will square off against Delhi Capitals in Match No. 31 of the ongoing Indian Premier League at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, April 21.

The Orange Army currently sit fourth on the points table, having won three and lost three matches. They head into this clash on the back of consecutive wins against Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings.

Meanwhile, DC are just behind SRH in fifth place. Led by Axar Patel, the side has registered three wins and two losses in five matches so far. Notably, all three of their victories have come while chasing targets. In their most recent outing, they defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six wickets.

Here are 3 player battles for SRH vs DC, Match 31 of IPL 2026:

3) Abhishek Sharma vs Lungi Ngidi:

SRH opener Abhishek Sharma taking on Lungi Ngidi promises to be a thrilling contest. Abhishek has been in explosive form, scoring 188 runs in six innings, including two fifties, at a remarkable strike rate of 229.26, often dominating the powerplay. Meanwhile, Ngidi has been a key figure in DC’s bowling attack, picking up seven wickets in five matches, many of them at crucial moments.

2) KL Rahul vs Shivang Kumar:

Another intriguing battle features KL Rahul against the emerging Shivang Kumar. Rahul has bounced back impressively after a slow start, including a 92 against Gujarat Titans and a half-century versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Shivang, on the other hand, has claimed five wickets so far with a best of 3/33, proving effective in the middle overs with his control and consistency.

1) Heinrich Klaasen vs Kuldeep Yadav:

This middle-overs clash could be decisive. Heinrich Klaasen, currently the Orange Cap holder, has amassed 283 runs in six matches, including three fifties, often stepping up under pressure for SRH. Kuldeep Yadav, though not flashy, has been reliable with five wickets and his ability to extract turn, especially at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, could pose a serious challenge.