Sunrisers Hyderabad ended their IPL 2026 league campaign on a high, brushing aside Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 55 runs in their final round. The driving force was Ishan Kishan, whose 79 off 46 powered SRH to a commanding total of 255/4.
Quick facts
- Match result: SRH beat RCB by 55 runs in IPL 2026 league-stage finale.
- Player of the Match: Ishan Kishan (79 off 46; 8 fours, 3 sixes).
- SRH total: 255/4.
- RCB chase: Started well with Venkatesh Iyer (44 off 19) but fell short.
- RCB key knocks: Rajat Patidar 50+; Krunal Pandya 41* off 31.
- SRH bowling: Eshan Malinga 2 wickets; Travis Head 1; Sakib Hussain 1.
- Hussain’s highlight: Dismissed Virat Kohli, calling it his “dream wicket”.
- Table impact: RCB finished top with 9 wins, 5 losses (18 points); Gujarat Titans also on 18 points in second. SRH finished third and will play the Eliminator.
Kishan’s knock earned him Player of the Match honours, with his boundary-heavy innings setting the platform for SRH to control the game. After receiving the award, he said he was simply taking things “one game at a time” and highlighted the importance of confidence when facing RCB. He also credited shot selection and routine preparation, insisting the goal from the start was to finish in the top two.
The SRH batter further praised the role of the team environment, adding that his arrival was supported by “one of the best bowlers” and that everyone helped the side stay “in the zone.” He described the approach as staying simple—“enjoying in the middle”—and closed by giving credit to the support staff and Pat Cummins.
RCB’s chase
Chasing 256, RCB got off to a brisk start through Venkatesh Iyer, who struck 44 off only 19 balls. That momentum looked promising early, but SRH’s bowlers kept applying pressure at key moments.
Rajat Patidar added a half-century, while Krunal Pandya remained unbeaten on 41 from 31 deliveries. Despite those efforts, RCB could not cross the line and ended up short of the target.
With the ball, Eshan Malinga claimed two wickets, while Travis Head and Sakib Hussain each picked up a scalp. Hussain, in particular, made an impact by removing Virat Kohli, and he later described it as his “dream wicket.”
Hussain explained that his plan was to read the pitch and bowl accordingly, saying the team had targeted slower balls. He ended by promising the same level of effort moving forward and hoping it would translate into more success.
How SRH built 255/4
Earlier, SRH chose to bat first and posted 255/4, supported by multiple contributions at the top. Abhishek Sharma struck 56 off 22 balls, Heinrich Klaasen made 51 off 24, and Kishan delivered the centrepiece knock of 79 off 46.
Travis Head and Nitish Kumar Reddy also chipped in with useful batting to keep the innings competitive and prevent RCB from tightening the screws. In response, Rasikh Salam Dar took two wickets for Bengaluru, while Suyash Sharma and Krunal Pandya each finished with one.
Even with the loss, RCB wrapped up the league phase in first place, finishing with nine wins and five defeats for 18 points. They have already secured the Qualifier One spot and will face Gujarat Titans (GT) next, with GT also second on 18 points.
SRH, meanwhile, completed the table in third position on the same points tally—nine wins and five losses—and will now move into the Eliminator stage.
