Sunrisers Hyderabad Hammer Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 55 Runs

Sunrisers Hyderabad (ANI Photo)

Sunrisers Hyderabad once again unleashed their fearless batting blueprint in IPL 2026, hammering Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 55 runs in Hyderabad on Friday. However, despite the heavy defeat, RCB still managed to finish at the top of the league table and secure a coveted top-two finish heading into the playoffs. Powered by explosive knocks from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen, SRH piled up a massive 255 for 4 on a batting paradise at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Abhishek provided the early destruction with a breathtaking 56 off just 22 balls, racing to another 20-ball half-century while taking apart former SRH spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the powerplay. Kishan then anchored the innings brilliantly with a classy yet aggressive 79 off 44 deliveries, finding boundaries with ease while mixing timing and innovation. The innings reached another level once Klaasen walked in. The South African powerhouse smashed 51 off only 24 balls and completely dismantled Josh Hazlewood, collecting 27 runs in one over to push Hyderabad beyond the 250-run mark yet again. Nitish Kumar Reddy added the finishing touches with a rapid unbeaten 29 off just 12 deliveries as SRH ended with 20 fours and 16 sixes. RCB’s chase was never realistically about victory after the enormous target, but the visitors had one crucial objective — crossing 166 runs to guarantee a top-two finish and secure two opportunities to reach the IPL final. An aggressive start from Venkatesh Iyer briefly lifted hopes, although Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal failed to make major contributions. Once the equation became clear, captain Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya shifted focus entirely towards the qualification target. The duo stitched together a vital 84-run partnership, calmly steering RCB beyond the required mark. Patidar’s six off Pat Cummins effectively sealed top spot for Bengaluru before he departed for a composed 56 off 39 balls. Krunal remained unbeaten on 41 as RCB finished on 200 for 4. The result meant RCB topped the IPL 2026 league standings with a superior net run rate of +0.783, while Gujarat Titans finished second and SRH third despite all three teams ending on 18 points. Among the SRH bowlers, Eshan Malinga impressed again with figures of 2 for 33, while young pacer Sakib Hussain also played a key role in controlling the middle overs.