IPL: RCB secure top-two berth despite 55 runs crushing defeat to SRH

Sunrisers Hyderabad erstwhile again unleashed their fearless batting blueprint successful IPL 2026, hammering Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 55 runs successful Hyderabad connected Friday. However, contempt the dense defeat, RCB inactive managed to decorativeness astatine the apical of the league array and unafraid a coveted top-two decorativeness heading into the playoffs. Powered by explosive knocks from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen, SRH piled up a monolithic 255 for 4 connected a batting paradise astatine the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Abhishek provided the aboriginal demolition with a breathtaking 56 disconnected conscionable 22 balls, racing to different 20-ball half-century portion taking isolated erstwhile SRH spearhead

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

successful the powerplay. Kishan past anchored the innings brilliantly with a classy yet assertive 79 disconnected 44 deliveries, uncovering boundaries with easiness portion mixing timing and innovation. The innings reached different level erstwhile Klaasen walked in. The South African powerhouse smashed 51 disconnected lone 24 balls and wholly dismantled Josh Hazlewood, collecting 27 runs successful 1 implicit to propulsion Hyderabad beyond the 250-run people yet again. Nitish Kumar Reddy added the finishing touches with a accelerated unbeaten 29 disconnected conscionable 12 deliveries arsenic SRH ended with 20 fours and 16 sixes. RCB’s pursuit was ne'er realistically astir triumph aft the tremendous target, but the visitors had 1 important nonsubjective — crossing 166 runs to warrant a top-two decorativeness and unafraid 2 opportunities to scope the IPL final.

An assertive commencement from Venkatesh Iyer concisely lifted hopes, though

Virat Kohli

and Devdutt Padikkal failed to marque large contributions. Once the equation became clear, skipper Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya shifted absorption wholly towards the qualification target. The duo stitched unneurotic a captious 84-run partnership, calmly steering RCB beyond the required mark. Patidar’s six disconnected

Pat Cummins

efficaciously sealed apical spot for Bengaluru earlier helium departed for a composed 56 disconnected 39 balls.

Krunal remained unbeaten connected 41 arsenic RCB finished connected 200 for 4. The effect meant RCB topped the IPL 2026 league standings with a superior nett tally complaint of +0.783, portion Gujarat Titans finished 2nd and SRH 3rd contempt each 3 teams ending connected 18 points. Among the SRH bowlers, Eshan Malinga impressed again with figures of 2 for 33, portion young pacer Sakib Hussain besides played a cardinal relation successful controlling the mediate overs.