Sunrisers Hyderabad Clinches Victory Over RCB in IPL 2026

SRH Secures a Dominant Win Against RCB

On May 22, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) concluded their IPL 2026 league stage with a commanding 55-run victory against the reigning champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

SRH set a formidable target of 255 runs, bolstered by impressive half-centuries from Ishan Kishan (79), Abhishek Sharma (57), and Heinrich Klaasen (51), along with a quick 29 not out from Nitish Kumar Reddy. In response, RCB managed to score only 200 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in their 20 overs, despite a strong fifty from Rajat Patidar and a brisk 41 from Krunal Pandya.

Eshan Malinga was the standout bowler for SRH, taking 2 wickets for 33 runs in his four overs, while Sakib Hussain and Travis Head chipped in with one wicket each, ensuring a comprehensive home victory.

Batting Brilliance from SRH

Captain Pat Cummins' choice to bat first proved advantageous as the explosive opening partnership of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma launched an aggressive start, reaching 45 runs without loss in just 3.5 overs before Head was dismissed for 26.

Abhishek then partnered with Ishan Kishan, forming a crucial 52-run partnership for the second wicket until Abhishek fell at 97/2. Following this, Ishan and Heinrich Klaasen built a remarkable 113-run partnership for the third wicket, effectively taking control of the match.

The duo's relentless scoring on a flat pitch left RCB's bowlers struggling, as SRH surged from 97/2 to 210/2 in just 8 overs. After Klaasen's dismissal, Ishan was joined by Nitish Kumar Reddy, who quickly made an impact, scoring 29 runs off just 11 balls.

RCB's Chase Falls Short

In pursuit of the 256-run target, RCB's openers Venkatesh Iyer and Virat Kohli started strong, reaching 60 runs in just 4.2 overs before Iyer was dismissed for 44. Kohli soon followed, scoring only 15 runs, leaving RCB at 74/2.

Despite a brief revival from Rajat Patidar (56) and Krunal Pandya, who added 84 runs for the fourth wicket, RCB's hopes dwindled after Patidar's dismissal at 178/4. With the required run rate soaring, the team struggled to keep pace.

In the end, RCB's efforts fell short, and despite the loss, they secured the top position in the league stage, earning a spot in Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans, while SRH will face the fourth-placed team in the Eliminator.