IPL2026 : SRH batters decimate RCB but will play in the eliminator

 


Royal Challengers Bengaluru were blown away by Sunrisers Hyderabad’s brutal batting assault, but Virat Kohli and his men still had reason to celebrate at the end of the night. Bengaluru officially secured a top-place finish in the points table, ensuring a crucial second chance to reach the final even if they lose the first qualifier.

Batting first, Hyderabad unleashed complete carnage with the bat to pile up a daunting 255/4, powered by explosive knocks from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen. In reply, Bengaluru could only manage 200/4 as Hyderabad stormed to a commanding 55-run victory.

The win helped Hyderabad finish the league stage level with Bengaluru on 18 points, but inferior net run rate meant they remained third in the standings. Hyderabad needed a victory margin of at least 90 runs to overtake Bengaluru’s net run rate, while Bengaluru only needed to reach 166 to secure a top-two finish — a target they crossed comfortably despite the defeat.

With the league stage now complete, Bengaluru finished at the summit of the table and will face Gujarat Titans in the first qualifier on May 26. Hyderabad, meanwhile, stayed locked in third place, while the battle for the fourth playoff spot remains open.

Hyderabad’s intent was crystal clear from the very beginning. Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, already renowned for their ultra-aggressive batting, launched a ferocious attack even against the disciplined pace duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. Abhishek smashed a four and a six off Bhuvneshwar in the opening over, while Head tore into Rasikh Dar with three boundaries in one over before falling.

If Bengaluru thought Head’s dismissal would slow things down, they were badly mistaken. Ishan Kishan joined forces with Abhishek as the pair tore apart the bowling attack with fearless strokeplay. Abhishek raced to a stunning half-century off just 20 balls before falling for a sparkling 56. Thereafter, Kishan shifted gears effortlessly, especially after Klaasen walked in.

The South African powerhouse produced one of the most destructive cameos of the season, hammering Hazlewood for three sixes and a four in a single over worth 27 runs. Klaasen smashed 51 off only 24 balls with two fours and five sixes before falling to Krunal Pandya. Kishan remained the backbone of the innings, finishing with a magnificent 79 off 46 balls, studded with eight fours and three sixes.

Bengaluru’s chase was complicated even before it began. Phil Salt returned from England but was not included in the playing XI, while Jacob Bethell missed out with a finger injury. As a result, Bengaluru experimented with Venkatesh Iyer as Virat Kohli’s opening partner — and the move paid early dividends.

Venkatesh played a fearless hand, smashing Pat Cummins for a four and a six in the opening over before demolishing Shivam Kumar with three sixes and a boundary in another over. However, just as he threatened to take the game away, he departed for a brisk 44.

Kohli, who began cautiously, perished for 15 while trying to accelerate, and Devdutt Padikkal’s dismissal for 21 deepened Bengaluru’s troubles further. Captain Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya then revived the chase with an impressive 84-run stand for the fourth wicket, but the soaring asking rate kept pushing Bengaluru further behind.

Patidar struck a fighting 56 before falling, while Krunal remained unbeaten on 41 alongside Tim David’s unbeaten 15. But by then, Hyderabad had already sealed a thoroughly dominant victory.

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