Axar Patel has revealed his pick for the strongest IPL 2026 playoff side. The Delhi Capitals (DC) captain feels that the 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are the strongest team heading into the playoffs this IPL season.
Speaking after DC’s 40-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the last league stage game of IPL 2026 at the Eden Gardens on May 24, Axar said that SRH’s top-three batters are extremely dangerous, and it becomes difficult to overcome the Orange Army when they fire.
“I think SRH are looking very strong. When their top-three score runs, that team becomes very difficult to stop. So I think SRH,” Axar said at the post-match presentation.
Sunrisers Hyderabad finished third on the points table. They won nine and lost five out of their 14 fixtures. SRH stunned the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in their last group-stage fixture on May 22. The Pat Cummins-led side beat RCB by 55 runs after scoring 255. SRH needed to restrict RCB to 165 or less. However, after getting off to a flyer, RCB changed their approach and focused on ensuring a top-two finish instead of chasing the target set by SRH.
SRH to square off against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 Eliminator
Sunrisers Hyderabad will now take on Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator of IPL 2026. Royals booked their playoff ticket by beating the five-time champions Mumbai Indians, in Mumbai on May 24. Batting first, RR managed to post a score of 205 on the board.
They restricted Mumbai to 175 for the loss of nine wickets in 20 overs and advanced to the playoffs. Meanwhile, SRH have the upper hand over Rajasthan Royals as they have beaten them twice this IPL season. Both teams have played against each other 23 times in the IPL. SRH have won 14 of those games, whereas RR have gotten over the line nine times.
