IPL 2026: Ishan Kishan and Aniket Verma Power Sunrisers Hyderabad to 201 Against RCB
Sunrisers Hyderabad Sets a Challenging Target
Bengaluru: In the opening match of IPL 2026 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) set a formidable target of 201 runs, thanks to captain Ishan Kishan's explosive 80 runs off 38 balls and a late surge from Aniket Verma, who scored 43 runs off just 18 deliveries against the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
SRH opted to bat first on a pitch that proved tricky, losing three wickets during the power-play. However, a crucial partnership of 97 runs off 53 balls between Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen, who contributed 31 runs, helped stabilize the innings. Despite losing wickets in quick succession later, Aniket's impressive performance, highlighted by his ability to hit sixes, propelled SRH past the 200-run mark.
Jacob Duffy made a notable debut for RCB, taking 3 wickets for 22 runs, while Romario Shepherd also claimed 3 wickets for 54 runs. The match began dramatically as Duffy dismissed Abhishek Sharma early, catching a top-edge pull from him.
Duffy continued to trouble the SRH batsmen, sending Travis Head back to the pavilion and dismissing Nitish Kumar Reddy in similar fashion, giving RCB an early advantage. Kishan then took control, combining solid defense with aggressive strokes, effectively rebuilding the innings with precise shot selection and punishing loose deliveries from Abhinandan Singh and Suyash Sharma.
Kishan reached his fifty in just 32 balls, showcasing his power-hitting ability with eight fours and five sixes. However, RCB's bowlers kept applying pressure, leading to Klaasen's dismissal, which was controversially caught by Phil Salt near the boundary.
The turning point came when Kishan was dismissed for 80 runs, with Salt executing a spectacular one-handed catch off Abhinandan's bowling. Following the quick dismissals of Harsh Dubey and Harshal Patel, Aniket shifted the momentum with a fearless batting display, hitting three fours and four sixes, particularly targeting Shepherd. Although Shepherd eventually dismissed Aniket in the 19th over, SRH had already set a challenging target for RCB to chase under the lights.
Brief Scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad 201/9 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 80, Aniket Verma 43; Jacob Duffy 3-22, Romario Shepherd 3-54) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru.