Sakib Hussain stole the Impact Player spotlight last time out, ripping through Rajasthan Royals with 4/24 on debut to become only the fourth uncapped bowler in IPL history to claim a four-wicket haul on debut.
Akeal Hosein delivered equally for CSK, returning 1/26 in four overs against KKR to seal their 32-run win. Both sides possess match-turning substitutes at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on April 18, 2026, with Pat Cummins ruled out until April 25.
SRH Impact Player Substitutes
SRH’s Impact Player rotation has been the story of their season, with Sakib Hussain’s 4/24 on debut headlining a substitute bench that now includes five quality options.
| Player | Role | Previous Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Sakib Hussain | Bowler | Used vs RR (4/24 on debut) |
| Harshal Patel | Bowler | Benched for Hinge vs RR |
| Liam Livingstone | All-Rounder | Available |
| Ravichandran Smaran | Wicketkeeper-Batter | Available |
| Shivam Mavi | Bowler | Available |
Sakib Hussain was SRH’s Impact Player against Rajasthan Royals, replacing Travis Head at the end of the 19th over before unleashing a dream debut spell of 4/24. The 21-year-old Bihar pacer dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal, Donovan Ferreira, Jofra Archer, and Ravi Bishnoi to become only the fourth uncapped bowler with a four-wicket haul on IPL debut. Notably, his slower off-cutters drew comparisons to Mustafizur Rahman from former New Zealand pacer Mitchell McClenaghan.
Harshal Patel lost his spot to Praful Hinge for the RR game. The seasoned death-overs specialist has previously delivered crucial yorkers and slower balls, making him a strong option if SRH want experienced hands on a dew-affected surface.
Liam Livingstone offers explosive middle-order batting and part-time spin. The England all-rounder’s 360-degree stroke-play makes him a dangerous substitute when SRH chase or accelerate in the death overs.
Ravichandran Smaran provides wicketkeeping cover and middle-order batting depth. The young Karnataka talent brings tactical flexibility as both a batting or fielding substitute.
Shivam Mavi adds right-arm pace variety to the attack. The experienced campaigner can swing the new ball and has consistently performed well at the death across IPL seasons.
CSK Impact Player Substitutes
CSK have leaned heavily on Akeal Hosein as their recent go-to Impact Player, with the West Indies spinner delivering 1/26 in four overs during the 32-run win over KKR.
| Player | Role | Previous Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Akeal Hosein | Bowler | Used vs KKR (1/26 in 4 overs) |
| Matt Henry | Bowler | Available (2 wickets in 3 matches) |
| Ashwin Kumar | All-Rounder | Available |
| Kyle Jamieson | All-Rounder | Available |
| Ramakrishna Ghosh | Bowler | Available |
Akeal Hosein was CSK’s Impact Player against KKR, replacing Ayush Mhatre at the end of CSK’s innings before choking the chase with 1/26 in four overs. The left-arm spinner has formed a formidable middle-overs partnership with Noor Ahmad, whose 3/21 in the same match earned him Player of the Match honours. Hosein’s economy of 6.50 rpo at Chepauk makes him a strong candidate for this Uppal surface that also rewards disciplined spin.
Matt Henry brings experienced New Zealand pace with two wickets in three matches this season. The seasoned campaigner can swing the new ball effectively and could be deployed if CSK want fresh legs against SRH’s explosive openers.
Ashwin Kumar provides part-time spin and lower-order hitting. The young all-rounder brings tactical versatility and offers left-handed batting variety in the middle order.
Kyle Jamieson offers genuine pace and lower-order hitting from his 6’8″ frame. The towering New Zealander extracts extra bounce and can clear boundaries, making him a unique X-factor on any surface.
Ramakrishna Ghosh has been identified as a like-for-like replacement following Khaleel Ahmed’s quadricep injury that ruled him out of IPL 2026. The Bengal pacer generates sharp swing with the new ball.
Batting First Factor
Bowling reinforcements typically replace a lower-order batter when teams defend totals at Uppal. SRH would likely retain Sakib Hussain or bring back Harshal Patel given the significant dew after the 14th over, while CSK could deploy Matt Henry for new-ball swing against Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan.
Bowling First Factor
Chasing teams prefer batting substitutes due to the dew factor and 195-plus average score this IPL 2026 season at Hyderabad. SRH might introduce Liam Livingstone for middle-order firepower, while CSK could opt for Ashwin Kumar to add late-innings acceleration alongside their established batters.
Related Reads
- SRH vs CSK IPL 2026 Match 27 Playing XI: Prediction & Lineups
- IPL 2026: SRH vs CSK Today Match 27 Prediction – Who Will Win?
- IPL 2026: SRH vs CSK Match 27 – Top Players To Watch Out For
Frequently Asked Questions
Sakib Hussain was SRH’s Impact Player against RR and returned figures of 4/24 on his IPL debut, becoming the fourth uncapped bowler ever to take a four-wicket haul on debut.
SRH’s Impact Player options include Sakib Hussain, Harshal Patel, Liam Livingstone, Ravichandran Smaran, and Shivam Mavi.
CSK’s Impact Player options include Akeal Hosein, Matt Henry, Ashwin Kumar, Kyle Jamieson, and Ramakrishna Ghosh.
No, Pat Cummins has ruled himself out of the CSK match and is targeting a return on April 25 against Rajasthan Royals after his back injury rehabilitation.
Akeal Hosein was CSK’s Impact Player against KKR, replacing Ayush Mhatre and returning figures of 1/26 in his four-over spell.
