Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins admitted that chasing 244 against Mumbai Indians looked daunting at the start, but insisted the target was within reach on a favourable Wankhede pitch. SRH delivered when it mattered, beating MI by six wickets in their IPL 2026 match on Wednesday, completing a 243-run chase with eight balls to spare.
SRH’s chase: a big total made achievable
Travis Head blazed away with 76 off 30 balls, while Heinrich Klaasen finished things off with a composed 65 not out from 30 deliveries. Abhishek Sharma provided momentum with a 45 off 24, and Salil Arora struck late with an unbeaten 30 off only 10 balls as SRH reached 243 with eight balls remaining.
- SRH chased 243 successfully, finishing at 243/4 in the allotted 20 overs with eight balls left.
- Head and Abhishek stitched together a 129-run first-wicket stand in just 52 balls, laying the groundwork for the chase.
- Klaasen’s unbeaten effort (65* off 30) was crucial in guiding SRH across the line.
- Arora added finishing touches with 30* off 10 deliveries.
MI set the target with a dominant innings
Put in to bat first, Mumbai Indians posted 243/5 in 20 overs after electing to bat. The innings was anchored by Ryan Rickelton, who struck a powerful 55-ball unbeaten 123 to give MI a platform from which they could push for a high score at Wankhede.
- MI scored 243/5 in 20 overs.
- Ryan Rickelton produced a match-defining 123* off 55 balls.
What Cummins and Klaasen said after the match
At the post-match presentation, Cummins explained that while the chase appeared difficult early on, his confidence stemmed from the strength of SRH’s batting unit and the quality of the surface. He also highlighted the attacking mindset of the openers and praised the bold approach shown by SRH’s younger players.
Cummins’ comments reflected a broader shift in T20 batting, noting that run rates that once looked excessive are now often treated as chaseable targets when the batting plan is right.
- He felt the chase was “tough to start with” but believed the target was achievable given the batting lineup and the pitch.
- On Head and Abhishek: when the wicket is good, they can play a wide range of shots.
- On the youngsters: SRH’s younger batters are extremely aggressive and bring a fearless approach.
- On modern T20 expectations: even a rate like 12 an over can be chased as a batting unit, so bowlers need to recalibrate their thinking.
Klaasen, who earned Player of the Match for his unbeaten 65, said the pitch was good, but MI’s bowling attack was strong—so SRH took calculated risks. He also pointed out that pressure created by the openers made his role easier.
- Klaasen said the wicket suited batting, but MI’s bowling was strong.
- He added that SRH balanced risk with judgement to keep the chase on track.
- He credited Head and Abhishek for putting the bowlers under pressure.
Bowling impact and points table update
MI bowlers were hit consistently, with SRH batters not allowing them to go for fewer than 10 runs per over. Jasprit Bumrah, despite his reputation, recorded figures of 0/54 in his four overs as SRH maintained control during the chase.
- SRH ensured MI bowlers never went under 10 runs per over.
- Jasprit Bumrah finished with 0/54 in 4 overs.
With the win, SRH climbed to third place in the IPL 2026 points table, collecting 12 points from nine matches. MI, meanwhile, slipped to ninth in the standings.
