Sunrisers Hyderabad wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan delivered a cheeky dig at Punjab Kings after his side’s 33-run triumph in their IPL 2026 clash on Wednesday. The result marked Punjab Kings’ third consecutive defeat and helped SRH move to the summit of the points table. After posting a commanding 235/4 in 20 overs, SRH’s batting set the tone—but it was Punjab’s wayward fielding that drew the most attention. Kishan, in particular, benefited from three reprieves, with two chances going down and a stumping attempt also missed, while Heinrich Klaasen was dropped once as both batters converted their opportunities into half-centuries. Even with Cooper Connolly smashing an unbeaten century, Punjab Kings fell short of the target.
Key takeaways
- SRH defeated PBKS by 33 runs, with the win lifting Sunrisers Hyderabad to the top of the IPL points table.
- Punjab Kings suffered their third straight loss after a match where fielding errors proved decisive.
- Ishan Kishan received three chances during the innings, including two dropped catches and a missed stumping chance.
- Heinrich Klaasen also was dropped once and went on to score 69 off 43 balls, while Kishan made 55 off 32.
- Cooper Connolly finished with an unbeaten century, but PBKS still came up short of the 236-run target.
SRH set 235/4 and turned chances into control
Sunrisers Hyderabad put together a high-scoring display, reaching 235/4 in their 20 overs. The foundations were laid by Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen, who both capitalised on key moments when Punjab Kings failed to convert chances in the field. Kishan’s wicket-keeping role also meant he was central to the story at the crease and behind the stumps, with the match turning at multiple points due to missed dismissals.
Punjab Kings’ problems began early when Cooper Connolly put down a catch of Ishan Kishan in the eighth over. Kishan was on nine at the time, and the reprieve allowed him to keep building. The next over brought another let-off for SRH: Shashank Singh failed to take a chance to dismiss Heinrich Klaasen off Yuzvendra Chahal’s bowling.
Kishan then received yet another lifeline in the 11th over. Lockie Ferguson dropped him again, this time when he was on 18. Instead of wasting those opportunities, both batters made full use of the chances available to them. Klaasen struck 69 off 43 deliveries, while Kishan went on to score 55 off 32 as SRH’s batting pressure continued to mount.
Connolly’s century not enough as PBKS’ fielding cost them
Despite the early damage, Punjab Kings received a late surge from Cooper Connolly, who struck an unbeaten century. However, SRH’s total proved too steep. Even with Connolly’s 100 not out, PBKS were unable to overhaul 235/4 and ended up well short of the target.
After the match, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer reflected on the defeat and specifically pointed to the dropped chances. He said his team paid the price for poor fielding, particularly the early catches, and added that once the pitch began to slow down, Sunrisers Hyderabad gained better control of the contest.
Iyer also praised Connolly’s innings, calling it phenomenal under pressure. He further highlighted Yuzvendra Chahal’s bowling, describing his approach as fearless. Iyer said Punjab Kings got off to a good start to the season, but stressed the need for improvement in consistency and fielding standards to maintain momentum.
“It was a bit too much because we dropped catches at the start. The wicket kept getting slower. They played comprehensive cricket and showed us how to win the match. I feel we got a fairytale start in the tournament, and everyone was in a great space. If we are going to continue with the same form, that’s not going to help us. Connolly is phenomenal. His mindset is top-notch. He has a knack for scoring big runs in pressure situations. The way Chahal bowled, he was fearless. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to take catches,” Iyer said.
Kishan’s cheeky post after the win
Adding a lighter touch to the aftermath, Ishan Kishan shared photos from the encounter on his Instagram account. Along with the posts, he used a cheeky caption that read: “Catch me if you can.”
