IPL 2026: Sunrisers Hyderabad has started IPL 2026 with a crushing defeat. Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 6 wickets in the first match of the tournament. Sunrisers, which was the biggest strength of Hyderabad, flopped miserably in this match. We are talking about the opening pair of Sunrisers Hyderabad. In the last few seasons, if any team has been discussed the most about its opening pair, then it is Sunrisers Hyderabad. The opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head creates panic in the opposing teams, but the poor form of these two players can increase the tension for SRH.

The opening pair of Abhishek-Head is SRH’s biggest strength.

The opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head is considered to be the biggest strength of Sunrisers Hyderabad. These two openers have been the most talked about topic for the last few seasons. The opening pair of Abhishek and Head has led Sunrisers Hyderabad to victory many times, but for some time now, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma have been going through poor form, the effect of which was visible in the first match of IPL 2026 itself.

SRH’s opening pair flopped in the very first match

In the first match of IPL 2026 against Royal Challengers Bangalore, the opening pair of Sunrisers Hyderabad flopped badly. Abhishek Sharma was out after scoring only 7 runs in 8. He was sent to the pavilion by 31-year-old RCB fast bowler Jacob Duffy, who was playing his IPL debut match. After this, Travis Head also did not bat and he also became the victim of Jacob Duffy. Head was out after scoring only 11 runs on 9 balls. The poor form of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head can increase the problems of Sunrisers Hyderabad a lot.

Abhishek and Head flopped in T20 World Cup 2026

The bats of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head have been silent for some time. Even in T20 World Cup 2026, both Abhishek and Head proved to be flops. Travis Head’s performance in the T20 World Cup 2026 was disappointing. Only one half-century was scored from Head’s bat, after which Australia was out of the group stage itself. Whereas Abhishek Sharma was out three times in a row in the T20 World Cup without opening the account. His very poor performance was seen in the entire tournament. Although Abhishek definitely scored 52 runs in the final, but now his poor form was seen in the first match of IPL 2026 itself.

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowling exposed in the very first match

If these two openers do not return to form from the second match of IPL 2026, then the problems of Sunrisers Hyderabad will increase significantly, because if the team does not score much runs, then SRH does not have any top level bowler who can stop the pace of runs of the opposing teams. Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowling was also exposed in the very first match against RCB. RCB easily chased the target of 202 runs given by Sunrisers Hyderabad by losing 4 wickets in 15.4 overs. In such a situation, both batsmen and bowlers can increase the tension of Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Sunrisers Hyderabad schedule in IPL 2026

28 March 2026 – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chinnaswamy Stadium

March 2, 2026 – Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Eden Gardens

5 April 2026 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants – Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium