Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) outclassed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by 55 runs in the 67th match of IPL 2026 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Powered by explosive half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen and Ishan Kishan, SRH piled up a gigantic 255/4 in 20 overs. Rasikh Salam (2/52 in 4 overs) remained the most successful bowler for RCB.
While chasing, Venkatesh Iyer and Virat Kohli gave RCB a flying start and added 60 runs for the first wicket in 4.3 overs. After Virat Kohli was dismissed by Sakib Hussain in the fifth over, RCB maintained the required run rate until the ninth over but kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya added 84 runs for the fourth wicket, but the required run rate skyrocketed during their partnership, and ultimately RCB fell short by 55 runs. Eshan Malinga (2/33 in 4 overs) remained the most successful bowler for Sunrisers Hyderabad, while Sakib Hussain and Travis Head took one wicket each.
However, Sunrisers Hyderabad needed to beat RCB by at least 90 runs to move into the top two spots. Although RCB lost the game, strong contributions from Rajat Patidar, Venkatesh Iyer and Krunal Pandya ensured the margin stayed under control.
In the end, all three top teams finished with 18 points. Gujarat Titans finished between RCB and SRH in second place. The final standings were decided by net run rate, which determined the teams heading to Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator.
RCB seal top position despite defeat
Before the match, RCB knew a win would guarantee safety, but even in defeat they wanted to avoid slipping out of the top two. Once SRH posted 255, the equation became simple. RCB had to ensure they did not lose by 90 runs or more.
The chase began positively thanks to Venkatesh Iyer, who attacked from the start. He welcomed Pat Cummins with a boundary and a six in the opening over. Later, he tore into left-arm wrist-spinner Shivang Kumar in the fourth over, smashing two sixes and a boundary. Although Venkatesh departed for a quick 44 off 19 balls, RCB had already raced to 60 runs in just 4.3 overs.
Virat Kohli failed to make an impact and managed only 15 runs. However, Devdutt Padikkal played a useful knock of 21 at No. 3 to keep RCB on track. Sakib Hussain bowled tightly and finished with 1/31 in four overs, preventing RCB from accelerating further.
Captain Rajat Patidar then anchored the innings beautifully. He scored 56 from 39 balls and registered his fourth half-century of the season. His innings included classy boundaries against Eshan Malinga, Cummins and Harshal Patel before Travis Head dismissed him. Krunal Pandya remained unbeaten on 41 from 31 balls and guided RCB to a respectable 200/4.
Even though RCB lost, that total was enough to secure the top spot in the standings.
Abhishek Sharma punishes sloppy fielding
RCB’s poor fielding badly hurt them during SRH’s innings. Abhishek Sharma was dropped in the sixth, seventh and eighth overs, and he made the opposition pay heavily.
On a batting-friendly pitch with little help for bowlers, Abhishek attacked aggressively from the start. He did not allow Bhuvneshwar Kumar to settle and targeted his away-swing deliveries through the off-side. Soon, he also took apart Suyash Sharma’s googlies and Romario Shepherd’s pace bowling.
Abhishek finally got out in the ninth over, but by then he had already pushed SRH close to the 100-run mark with a blistering innings.
Kishan and Klaasen continue superb form
Ishan Kishan once again delivered against RCB. Friday’s innings marked the fourth consecutive time he had scored heavily against them. He smashed 79 runs from just 46 balls.
Initially, Kishan started cautiously and scored only nine runs from his first ten deliveries. But once he settled, he shifted gears brilliantly. One of his best shots came against Krunal Pandya in the 11th over when he slogged a delivery towards the larger leg-side boundary with perfect timing.
The innings also gave Kishan his sixth score above fifty this season, making IPL 2026 his most productive campaign with the bat. His sweeps, pulls and cuts helped SRH collect 73 runs between overs 11 and 15.
Heinrich Klaasen followed a similar pattern. He struggled initially with just five runs off nine balls. However, he exploded in the 13th over against Josh Hazlewood. Klaasen smashed one six over cow corner and two more over long-on, forcing Hazlewood to concede 27 runs in the over.
He continued his assault by lofting Bhuvneshwar Kumar effortlessly over extra cover. Klaasen reached his sixth fifty of the season in the 16th over before Krunal dismissed him for 52 in the next over with a low-arm delivery.
During the knock, Klaasen also achieved a historic milestone. He became the first batter to score more than 600 runs in a T20 tournament while batting at No. 4 or lower.
Nitish Reddy provides late fireworks
Nitish Kumar Reddy added the finishing touches with a blazing unbeaten 29 off just 12 balls. He immediately attacked Krunal Pandya, smashing two sixes within his first three deliveries. Later, he also hammered Hazlewood for another maximum.
The late assault pushed SRH beyond the 250-run mark and left RCB’s experienced pace duo struggling badly. Josh Hazlewood leaked 55 runs, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar conceded 51. Neither of them managed to take a wicket.
Despite the crushing defeat, RCB walked away satisfied after securing the No. 1 spot in the league standings, while SRH had to settle for third place despite their dominant performance.