Sunrisers Hyderabad played the familiar attacking brand of T20 cricket, but even a convincing 55-run win wasn’t enough to stop Royal Challengers Bengaluru from finishing first in the points table after the IPL 2026 league stage on Friday. Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen combined to drive SRH to a commanding 255 for 4, yet RCB’s chase—though always chasing a high mark—ended with them reaching 200 for 4, a result that still sealed their top-two position.
RCB finish top, SRH secure third
RCB’s primary objective was to score at least 166 to ensure they ended inside the top two and earned two chances to reach the IPL final. They achieved that comfortably despite losing the match by a large margin. Bengaluru closed on 200 for 4, while SRH’s league-stage finish remained strong enough to place them third on net run rate.
With 18 points apiece, RCB topped the standings on NRR (0.783), ahead of Gujarat Titans (NRR 0.695) and SRH (NRR 0.524). The league finale set up the next phase as follows: RCB and GT will play Qualifier 1, while SRH will take on the winner of the Eliminator. The Eliminator opponent is still to be confirmed, with Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals still in contention for the last playoff spot.
How the chase unfolded for RCB
- Venkatesh Iyer provided a quick start for RCB, scoring 44 off 19 balls.
- Virat Kohli managed 15 off 11 deliveries, while Devdutt Padikkal contributed 21 off 14 balls.
- As soon as it became clear that the chase couldn’t be completed, Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya shifted focus to the “magic figure” of 166.
- Patidar hit a six over deep point off Pat Cummins, helping RCB move closer to the target needed for a top-two finish.
- Patidar was dismissed when RCB’s total was 178, the score that effectively put Bengaluru in the driving seat at the top of the table.
- Krunal Pandya remained unbeaten on 41 off 31 balls as RCB finished on 200 for 4.
SRH bowling impact
SRH’s bowling kept its rhythm even with the match result already slipping away for RCB. Eshan Malinga was especially effective, taking 2 for 33 in his four overs with tight lengths, while Bihar youngster Sakib Hussain also delivered in the middle overs, returning 1 for 31 as SRH restricted the batters from fully taking over.
SRH innings: 255 for 4 built on ruthless power
- Abhishek Sharma struck another brisk half-century, reaching 56 off 22 balls and immediately blunting the impact of Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s opening spell.
- Ishan Kishan played the kind of innings that combined clean striking with quick gaps, finishing with 79 off 44 balls.
- Heinrich Klaasen—renowned for his consistency in the middle order—produced a 51 off 24 balls and ensured SRH crossed the 250-mark on a batter-friendly surface.
- Hazlewood was punished as Klaasen scored 27 runs off his third over and SRH’s 13th over, accelerating the tempo at the most crucial phase.
- Abhishek began the batting mayhem with a lofted six over wide of long-off off Bhuvneshwar.
- After that early surge, Bhuvneshwar looked to regain control, but Kishan and the others kept finding scoring areas, including back-to-back boundaries off flicks over square-leg and deep mid-wicket.
- Romario Shepherd’s occasional medium pace didn’t unsettle SRH’s rhythm, as he was struck for a couple of straight sixes, while Suyash Sharma also went for runs with lofted hitting.
- SRH maintained pressure through the innings, with 20 boundaries and 16 sixes in total.
- In the finishing burst, Nitish Reddy closed the innings with a quick 29 not out off 12 balls.
Even with RCB’s defeat, the day belonged to the bigger picture: Bengaluru’s ability to reach the required threshold ensured top placement, setting up Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans. For SRH, the 55-run margin underlined their threat with the bat, but their league position will now send them into the Eliminator with the opponent still waiting to be determined.
