Sunrisers Hyderabad continued to lean on a daring, high-tempo batting approach in IPL 2026, beating Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 55 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday. The win was convincing, but it did not change Bengaluru’s postseason positioning—RCB still ended the league phase on top and locked in a top-two place for the playoffs.
After being sent in, SRH produced a punishing total of 255 for 4 in what turned into a batting-friendly contest. The foundation was laid by Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen, whose combined impact ensured Bengaluru had to chase a number that felt out of reach from the start.
Abhishek struck early and with intent, blasting 56 off only 22 balls. He kept accelerating into the middle overs, reaching another half-century in quick time as he repeatedly attacked gaps and timed the powerplay attack. A major highlight came when he dismantled former SRH pace spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar during the early phase, setting the tone for the innings.
Ishan Kishan then steadied the chase of their own targets, building a knock that mixed authority with invention. Kishan struck 79 off 44 deliveries, finding boundaries frequently and keeping the scoring rate moving with calculated risk. His ability to alternate between clean hitting and smart shot selection helped SRH maintain pressure as the innings progressed.
When Klaasen joined the party, the innings surged again. The South African batter slammed 51 off 24 balls, striking with power and precision and quickly turning the tempo even higher. He also made significant inroads into Bengaluru’s bowling, smashing Josh Hazlewood for 27 runs in a single over, a burst that pushed SRH past the 250 mark once more.
Nitish Kumar Reddy provided the late acceleration, finishing the innings with an unbeaten 29 off just 12 balls. In total, SRH finished with 20 fours and 16 sixes, a haul that made the final target extremely challenging for RCB to chase.
Bengaluru’s run chase was never truly about chasing the win after the size of the target, but the visitors had one clear priority: getting past 166 runs to secure a top-two finish and earn two chances to reach the IPL final. Early on, Venkatesh Iyer gave RCB a brief lift with an aggressive start, though Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal could not add meaningful momentum.
As soon as the qualification equation became clearer, RCB’s batting plan shifted. Captain Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya focused entirely on clearing the qualification threshold, pacing their innings with intent and control. The pair assembled a crucial 84-run stand that steadily moved RCB towards the number they needed.
Patidar’s impact at the right moment was decisive—his six off Pat Cummins effectively sealed Bengaluru’s top spot. He then departed for a composed 56 off 39 balls, while Krunal remained not out on 41. RCB ultimately closed on 200 for 4, a total that ensured the desired league finish.
The outcome left RCB at the summit of the IPL 2026 table, finishing first with a superior net run rate of +0.783. Gujarat Titans placed second, while SRH ended third, even though all three sides finished the league phase level on 18 points. Among SRH’s bowlers, Eshan Malinga stood out with figures of 2 for 33, and Sakib Hussain also contributed by tightening the middle overs to help protect the massive total.
