Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals, 31st Match, Indian Premier League 2026 - CommentarySRH vs DC, 31st Match, Indian Premier League 2026 - Commentary

Sunrisers Hyderabad have now won three on the bounce and are building momentum. More importantly, key players are starting to click - none more so than Abhishek Sharma. The bowling unit is also coming together nicely, with Ehsan Malinga and Sakib Hussain stepping up. The next challenge for them will be translating this form into away games. For Delhi Capitals, they came into this on the back of a strong win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but one outstanding knock took the game away from them. It’s the kind of defeat they will look to quickly move past as they focus on the next fixture. That’s a wrap from this encounter. Up next, Lucknow Super Giants take on Rajasthan Royals. Until next time, goodbye and stay safe..

Abhishek Sharma | Player of the Match: The way we started, I felt we had a plan. Me and Heady, obviously, with the powerplay, that we want to use the powerplay. But when we went in the wicket, I think it was a bit slow. So we have to be, re-plan it again and we had that match-ups in our mind. So I was just wanted to utilize the powerplay as I always do and always try. And it's just, it's just always been special moment scoring in this special ground. And that also I've said in the previous interview as well, you don't know the par score till you play the 20 over[s], that was in my mind. I just wanted to entertain the crowd. That's it. (You have taken it a notch higher in the last 2-3 seasons) It's a special mention to the team coaches and captain when they give you that situation that you can just go and express yourself. I feel as a young player, three years back, probably that was there in my mind. I always wanted to show my talent, whatever I have in the powerplay or probably all the bowlers. But you have to have the back[ing] from the captain and the coach. That's very important in the team. So I felt that the environment we had in the Sunrisers in 2024 was a game-changer for all of us because it wasn't just the team, it felt like they actually wanted to win and grow the youngsters. So that was the plan. And I always wanted to play like this, in my Punjab team as well. If you've seen the Punjabi players, they always enjoy this freedom. And of course, playing in the Hyderabad has always felt like that. (About his celebration) I've been doing this L celebration for quite long. It's just love for the stadium, the way they support us throughout all the tournament and all the games, even back at the hotel as well. It's just I want to contribute from my side that I want to show some love to them. And the other thing, my parents are here. It's a very special moment. And my sister is missing today because she had some infection. So this is for you as well. (Do you get that kind of feedback from your father?) To be very honest, I don't know how since U12 days, my dad's been sitting next to the screen always and in Hyderabad as well, he's always sitting there. And whenever I'm just on the non-striker end, he always tells me how to play. So it's still going on. And next time, just I want one of the cameras to just go to him and just see his reactions. It's going to be really fun. And it's actually incredible that how I always look at him and he's always looking at me and giving me the instructions. So that also helps me a bit. And of course, it's always special to perform in front of the parents and the friends as well.

Ishan Kishan | SRH captain: What do I say right now, looking at how Abhishek batted throughout the innings and Klassen finishing it off, you don't have much to say when you have 200-plus runs on scoreboard on this kind of wicket where the ball is going to get old. It's not easy to hit for new batsmen when he comes in. But still, a lot of credit, I mean, all the credit goes to Abhishek, I feel. (What is that discussion?) The discussion is just make sure we take match by match, one day at a time, and everyone likes to hit in our team. So, we just have to give ourselves 2-3 balls to understand how the wicket is going to play, what kind of bounce there's going to be, and we just play our game. We don't think so much. We don't have a plan behind it, but we just look to watch the ball and play our game. (What was the plan behind holding Harsh back?) I think I just wanted the ratio of balls and runs to get as far as possible, when the batter is trying to just hit hard, it's not easy on these kind of wickets. And I know Harsh Dubey, whenever I get him, he's capable of bowling those good balls. He's a very smart bowler. And I just spoke to him and I said you will be bowling the most crucial overs. But the plan was to get your best bowlers when needed, when the two best batters of the team are batting. And I think that worked pretty well for us. (Are you a very vocal captain in that change room?) Not so much, I just say enjoy.

Best figures by overseas bowlers for SRH
4/11 Mohd Nabi vs RCB Hyderabad 2019
4/22 Darren Sammy vs PK Mohali 2013
4/32 Ehsan Malinga vs DC Hyderabad 2026

Most wins after scoring 200+ batting first in IPL
23 CSK (in 29 matches)
23 RCB (in 30)
20 SRH (in 24)
18 MI (in 19)
15 KKR (in 20)

Spinners picking three wickets in 20th over in IPL
Amit Mishra DC vs Deccan Delhi 2008
Adam Zampa RPS vs SRH Vizag 2016
Rahul Tewatia DC vs KKR Kolkata 2018
Krunal Pandya RCB vs MI Wankhede 2025
Harsh Dubey SRH vs DC Hyderabad 2026 *

Ehsan Malinga: So I am very happy about my performance and I hope to thank every team member for giving support [to] me in the middle. Then, so yeah. (What was the key?) The key was we came with the same plan as last game. We know how the wicket plays, the reverse comes into the game. And yeah, we executed that same plan and my mindset also, it's very calm and do the basic, stick [to] my basic and execute that. (What pleased you about that (wickets)?) So that time when I see the ball, it's one side is getting damaged, I know that it's [going to] reverse coming into the game and I tried the reversing for Nitish Rana and it's the same length and I got the wicket. (Have you spent time with Lasith Malinga?) Yeah, yeah, yeah. Always. (And he's told you a little bit about that reverse?) Yeah, actually, he worked with the last couple of months in Sri Lanka with us and yeah, I worked with him. (How impressed are you with such a young man?) Yeah, he's (Sakib) a brilliant bowler and good potential he has. I think he can go a lot of career going up.

Axar Patel | DC Captain - The run-out and the catch we missed - had we taken it, we could have restricted them (on the chances missed against Abhishek Sharma). But yes, if someone bats that well, and their execution is not lacking, credit must be given for such a performance. Considering the way Klaasen also batted from the other side, it’s not the bowler’s fault. When a batsman bats like this, the coach and the captain must accept that even a captain cannot stop someone. I was telling the bowlers the same thing, that if you executed well, and after that he still hit a good shot, then you cannot do anything. You know, you have to move on. The fielding area is in your hands. Catching and run-outs - those you can do. And you know, at such times, supporting the bowler is very important. So I think that is where we could have done better. (On possible changes going further) No, right now it doesn’t feel like that, because the kind of cricket that is going on - if you see, obviously we are batting well and bowling well. It feels like, I think you know, when the wicket is so good, then this should be considered an off day and forgotten.

23:26 Local Time, 17:56 GMT: Delhi Capitals never really got going in the chase of 243. Nissanka fell early, and though Rahul and Nitish Rana tried to rebuild with a 50-plus stand, they fell just as the innings was starting to gain some momentum. The game slipped further when the two set batters departed in quick succession, and Miller followed them, pushing the chase out of reach. The required rate kept climbing, and despite some resistance from Rizvi and Stubbs, they never looked like pulling it back against Sunrisers Hyderabad. With the ball, Ehsan Malinga and Sakib Hussain were outstanding - mixing their variations cleverly and even extracting some reverse swing, finishing with combined figures - 8-0-61-5. Three consecutive wins at home now for Sunrisers Hyderabad - they’re building momentum nicely. Stay tuned for the presentations..

Harsh Dubey to Lungi Ngidi, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Harsh Dubey to Sameer Rizvi, THATS OUT!! Caught!!