PV Sindhu cheers SRH in orange at IPL 2026 clash vs KKR in Hyderabad
Synopsis
PV Sindhu stepped into the IPL spotlight on 3 May, watching SRH take on KKR at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium alongside her husband. The appearance marked a brief respite after India's Uber Cup campaign ended in disappointment — a 0-5 loss to China where Sindhu herself fell short against Wang Zhi Yi despite leading 18-12 in the decider.
Key Takeaways
PV Sindhu attended the IPL 2026 match between SRH and KKR on 3 May at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad .
The Commonwealth gold medalist was accompanied by her husband Venkata Datta Sai , both wearing orange to support the home franchise.
India lost 0-5 to China in the Uber Cup Group A final fixture; Sindhu led Wang Zhi Yi 18-12 in the decider but fell short.
Isharani Baruah and Devika Sihag also lost their singles matches; the women's doubles pair won one game but lost the tie.
SRH made two changes: Smaran Ravichandran debuted and Harshal Patel replaced Harsh Dubey .
PV Sindhu, India's decorated badminton champion, attended the IPL 2026 encounter between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on 3 May at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. The Commonwealth gold medalist was accompanied by her husband Venkata Datta Sai, with both sporting orange attire in support of the home franchise alongside owner Kavya Maran.
Sindhu's recent Uber Cup campaign
The appearance came shortly after Sindhu's participation in the Uber Cup, where India's women's badminton contingent exited following a 0-5 loss to China in their final Group A fixture. Facing a must-win scenario to secure a quarterfinal berth, the former world champion opened India's singles lineup against world number two Wang Zhi Yi.
Sindhu mounted a spirited challenge, leading for much of the third game and establishing an 18-12 advantage in the decider. However, Wang reeled off seven consecutive points to seize momentum and clinched the match shortly after.
India's doubles struggles against China
India's other singles representatives — Isharani Baruah and Devika Sihag — also pressed their Chinese opponents but could not secure victories. Baruah fell to Olympic Champion Chen Yu Fei with a scoreline of 20-22, 13-21, while Sihag went down 21-19, 17-21, 10-21 against Xu Wen Jing. The women's doubles pairing of Tanisha Crasto and Kavipriya Selvam captured the opening game against Luo Xu Min and Zhang Shu Xian but ultimately lost 10-21, 21-12, 21-19.
SRH vs KKR match details
SRH won the toss and opted to bat. The home side made two changes to their playing XI: Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out due to illness, with Smaran Ravichandran making his debut, while Harshal Patel replaced Harsh Dubey. KKR also altered their lineup, bringing in Finn Allen and Manish Pandey in place of Tim Seifert and Ramandeep Singh.
What's next for Sindhu
With the Uber Cup campaign concluded, Sindhu's focus now shifts to domestic tournaments and preparation for upcoming international badminton calendars. Her presence at the IPL fixture underscores the cross-sport engagement among Indian sporting icons and the growing convergence of cricket and other athletic disciplines in the nation's entertainment ecosystem.
Point of View
Where IPL remains the gravitational centre.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was PV Sindhu at the IPL 2026 match between SRH and KKR?
PV Sindhu attended the match as a spectator to support Sunrisers Hyderabad, the home franchise in Hyderabad, on 3 May 2026. She was accompanied by her husband Venkata Datta Sai, and both wore orange to show their backing for the team.
What happened to India in the Uber Cup?
India's women's badminton team lost 0-5 to China in their final Group A fixture of the Uber Cup, eliminating them from the quarterfinal race. PV Sindhu played the opening singles match against world number two Wang Zhi Yi, leading 18-12 in the decider before losing.
How did PV Sindhu perform in her Uber Cup match?
Sindhu mounted a strong challenge against Wang Zhi Yi, leading for much of the third game and building an 18-12 advantage in the decider. However, Wang reeled off seven consecutive points to overturn the deficit and sealed the match shortly after.
Which other Indian badminton players lost in the Uber Cup Group A fixture?
Isharani Baruah lost to Olympic Champion Chen Yu Fei 20-22, 13-21, while Devika Sihag fell to Xu Wen Jing 21-19, 17-21, 10-21. The women's doubles pair of Tanisha Crasto and Kavipriya Selvam won the opening game but lost the tie 10-21, 21-12, 21-19.
