SRH vs RCB, IPL 2026: Sunrisers Hyderabad wins big but misses out on top-two finish

There was no feeling-out period, no cautious buildup, and no respite for the bowlers. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) launched into Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and never relented, producing a batting exhibition that laid the foundation for its 55-run victory in their IPL clash at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday.

Yet, in the broader context, the result barely caused a ripple. RCB had done enough to seal a top-of-the-table finish, while SRH remained in third place.

Opting to bat, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head refused to be intimidated by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, this edition’s leading wicket-taker, plundering 25 runs from his first two overs. Head then greeted Rasikh Dar with three rasping boundaries before the 26-year-old sent his off-stump tumbling with a searing yorker.

Abhishek survived two reprieves in as many overs, courtesy of slips by Venkatesh Iyer and Jordan Cox. Devdutt Padikkal nearly pulled off a spectacular catch running back toward long-on, only for the ball to brush past his fingertips.

The southpaw then brought up his maiden half-century against RCB, before Cox pouched a miscued hit off Suyash Sharma to end his stay.

Heinrich Klaasen, who began cautiously, tore into Josh Hazlewood, adding 27 runs to the scoreboard. At the other end, Kishan quietly brought up his second half-century of the campaign against RCB.

They helped SRH storm past 200 for the ninth time this season, before Klaasen fell just after raising his sixth fifty of the campaign. Nitish Reddy then took over the baton to leave RCB a monumental task on hand.

The chase began with intent, as Venkatesh, opening for the first time since 2023, took on Pat Cummins early and shifted gears further once spin was introduced. Eshan Malinga, against the run of play, broke the stand by sending Venkatesh packing. The damage deepened when Virat Kohli perished to a slower ball from Sakib Hussain.

With Rajat Patidar and Padikkal attempting to rebuild, Cummins reintroduced Malinga, and the Sri Lankan struck again by removing the latter. From there, RCB’s approach shifted towards safeguarding a top-two finish. Patidar steered his side past the 166-run mark that confirmed a place in Qualifier 1.

By the time Patidar fell, in the penultimate over, the contest had long since slipped beyond doubt.

Published on May 22, 2026