The work aims to investigate the effect of elliptical pocket shape parameters on the static and dynamic characteristics and stability of pocket-roller pair and provide a theoretical basis for the optimization design of pocket in cylindrical roller bearings for reducing friction and vibration. Based on the theory of hydrodynamic lubrication, the mathematical model for the hydrodynamic lubrication of elliptic pocket-roller pair was established. Finite difference method and successive over relaxation were used to solve the model. The oil film pressure distribution, bearing capacity, friction coefficient, temperature rise, stiffness, damping and threshold rotational speed of elliptical pocket-roller pair under different ovality and hole arc surface offset angles of pocket were calculated. The effect of dimensionless ovality of pocket and hole arc surface offset angles on the static and dynamic characteristics and stability of the pocket-roller pair was studied. Due to the unique structure of elliptical pocket cylindrical roller bearing, it was difficult to experimentally verify the lubrication performance of a single elliptical pocket-roller pair. The good hydrodynamic lubrication effect of the elliptical pocket pair was verified indirectly by comparing the cage slip rate of the elliptical pocket pair and the ordinary circular pocket pair, and the high oil film stiffness and damping of the elliptical pocket pair was also verified indirectly by comparing the vibration acceleration amplitude. As a result, when the dimensionless ovality increased from 0 to 4.61×10–3, the peak pressure increased at first and then stabilized, the bearing capacity reduced gradually, the friction coefficient decreased at first and then increased, the maximum temperature rise decreased at first and then stabilized, the stiffness, damping and threshold rotational speed increased at first and then stabilized. When the dimensionless ovality was 1.32×10–3, the pocket-roller pair had best tribological performance, lower temperature rise and best stability. When the hole arc surface offset angle increased from 0° to 150°, the peak pressure and bearing capacity increased at first and then decreased, the friction coefficient and maximum temperature decreased at first and then increased, the stiffness, damping and threshold rotational speed increased at first and then decreased. When hole arc surface offset angle was small or large, the bearing capacity reduced sharply. When hole arc surface offset angle was 90°, the lubrication performance of the pocket-roller pair was best. In summary, the dimensionless ovality of the pocket and hole arc surface offset angles have significant effect on the static and dynamic characteristics and stability of the pocket-roller pair. Proper selection of dimensionless ovality of pocket and hole arc surface offset angles can significantly improve the bearing capacity and friction performance, effectively inhibit the temperature rise, and significantly increase the stiffness, damping and limiting destabilizing rotational speed of the pocket-roller pair. Through relevant experiments, it is found that, the cage slip rate of elliptical pocket cylindrical roller bearing is lower than that of ordinary circular pocket bearing and the vibration acceleration amplitude is significantly smaller than that of ordinary circular pocket bearing. It has been indirectly verified that the elliptical pocket pair has good hydrodynamic lubrication effect and high oil film stiffness and damping.