Punjab Kings are bracing for a season that feels more like life on the move than a true “at home” campaign. With just one match already completed in New Chandigarh, they have already played 25% of their fixtures at the venue, and the broader pattern underlines why the franchise has often found better momentum on the road. New Chandigarh is a place PBKS have struggled to master, losing 15 of their 21 games there, and the franchise’s history of relocating across Dharamsala, Pune, Indore and Mohali has meant this latest “home” stop is still bedding in. There are signs of progress—PBKS have managed four wins from seven matches since last year—but they still have a long way to go.
Key takeaways
- PBKS have lost 15 of 21 matches in New Chandigarh, making it a tough venue for the franchise.
- SRH have won only 2 of their last 7 home games across the previous two IPL seasons.
- Mohammed Shami’s return to action earlier in the season included a game-changing slow-ball spell against Lucknow Super Giants.
- Arshdeep Singh’s IPL 2026 wicket tally is yet to open, despite conceding 99 runs in 10 overs.
- Pat Cummins is expected to join SRH for the later stages of the tournament after scans at home.
PBKS vs SRH: why New Chandigarh still feels unsettled
The way home advantage has played out for Punjab Kings has rarely looked like it does for some other franchises. Their results in New Chandigarh continue to lag, even as they try to turn the ground into something familiar. Improvement has come, but not enough to erase the underlying concern: the venue has not yet become a fortress for PBKS. The franchise has had to adapt repeatedly over the years, and that constant change has likely delayed full comfort with “home” conditions.
Sunrisers Hyderabad arrive with a similar motivation, but from a different direction. After a run that has not gone their way at home, they are now looking to find rhythm in New Chandigarh. Across the last two seasons, SRH have managed only two wins in seven matches at their home ground, so the prospect of playing in a venue that still does not guarantee easy outcomes is one they will want to solve quickly. For them, the suitcase theme is not new either—much like PBKS, SRH have had to make adjustments to what “home” means in practice.
In the background is a reminder that comfort can be manufactured, not assumed. Not long ago, Mohammed Shami—traded away before the season and now back in action with Lucknow Super Giants—returned to Hyderabad and helped LSG beat SRH there. His impact was tied to a slower ball he had developed, underlining how SRH can be challenged even when they are playing under familiar lights. While SRH do have Harshal Patel and Liam Livingstone, both of whom have played for PBKS previously, they may not get the same immediate “recent” edge that Shami carried. Abhishek Sharma stands out as the closest to that kind of familiarity, having been born in Amritsar and raised through Punjab cricket pathways. Against this opposition, Abhishek has been a reliable performer, averaging more than 52 with a strike rate just under 200.
For SRH, the early phase will be especially important. Without Pat Cummins and without the same unusual volume of deliveries that Travishek provided in recent seasons, SRH have looked slightly adrift at times. They come to New Chandigarh chasing two points and with memories from previous meetings, but with the venue still open for the taking, PBKS also have a chance to reclaim their own footing at home.
Match details, pitch view and head-to-head
When: Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 3:30 PM local
Where: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh
What to expect: The pitch at this venue is typically well prepared and can be slightly dry. In the only match played here this season, Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill said it “never looked like a 210-220 wicket,” and noted that hitting straight became harder as the ball aged. Since this is a day game, dew is not expected to influence play, which means the captain winning the toss could lean toward batting first.
Head to head: PBKS 7 – 17 SRH
Team watch: injuries, tactics, probable XIs and “did you know”
Punjab Kings
Injuries/Unavailability: Lockie Ferguson has not yet joined the squad. Shreyas Iyer, who was struck on the hand in the opening match, appears to have recovered well.
Tactics & Matchups: PBKS will be watching Arshdeep Singh closely, with his current rhythm a concern. In 2026, he has taken only five wickets in Powerplay overs across 15 games and is averaging 57.60. His IPL 2026 wicket count is still at zero, and he has conceded 99 runs in the 10 overs he has bowled. Still, he carries a strong head-to-head record against Travis Head, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen.
Probable XI: Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (w), Shreyas Iyer (c), Cooper Connolly, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Injuries/Unavailability: Pat Cummins has returned home for scans and is expected to be available only for the latter portion of the tournament. Brydon Carse missed the start of the season due to a hand injury sustained during net sessions, though he has been improving gradually.
Tactics & Matchups: Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat both have a favourable angle against Shreyas Iyer, with three wickets each against him.
Probable XI: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (w/c), Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga / David Payne / Brydon Carse
Did you know?
– SRH have successfully chased 200-plus in each of their last two matches against PBKS. Abhishek Sharma was central to both chases—he struck a 66 off 28 in 2024 and followed it with a 141 off 55 in 2025, earning Player-of-the-Match honours in both. The 2025 knock became especially memorable when he pulled out a note that read, “THIS ONE IS FOR ORANGE ARMY!”
– Every one of Shreyas Iyer’s six dismissals in New Chandigarh came against pace.
– Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh have averaged only 16.57 as an opening partnership in New Chandigarh, while in away games that figure rises to 40.33.
What players said ahead of the contest
Prabhsimran Singh (on the Impact Player rule): “When I came to PBKS—it has been eight years now—I didn’t really get many chances in the first four years. I used to sit outside and think [about] how I could get a chance to play. But because of Impact Player, opportunities have increased.”
Ishan Kishan (after a loss to LSG): “We need to work on our batting. Giving so many wickets early on makes it easier for the opposition team.”
