IPL 2026 | Sunrisers Hyderabad secure 55-run win over RCB, set for Eliminator clash on May 27
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "IPL 2026 | Sunrisers Hyderabad secure 55-run win over RCB, set for Eliminator clash on May 27")
Eshan Malinga celebrates with teammates Photograph: (AFP)
Despite defeating Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their final league match of IPL 2026 on Friday (May 22), Sunrisers Hyderabad missed out on a top-two finish and will now feature in the Eliminator.
Sunrisers Hyderabad ended their IPL 2026 league stage with a dominant 55-run win over defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday (May 22), but still fell short of a top-two finish due to inferior net run rate. Batting first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, SRH posted a massive 255/4 in 20 overs after skipper Pat Cummins opted to set a target. However, they needed a win by around 90 runs to overtake RCB on net run rate, a target they ultimately fell short of.
Earlier, SRH innings got off to a trademark explosive start as Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head raced to 45 runs inside four overs. Head struck 26 off 16 balls before being dismissed by Rasikh Salam.
Ishan Kishan then joined Abhishek at the crease and the pair stitched together a brisk 52-run stand for the second wicket. Abhishek continued his aggressive approach to bring up a rapid half-century before falling to Suyash Sharma for a brilliant 56 off just 22 deliveries.
Kishan carried the momentum forward alongside Heinrich Klaasen, with the duo adding a destructive 113-run partnership. Both batters crossed the fifty-run mark during the stand before Klaasen was eventually dismissed by Krunal Pandya after hammering 51 from 24 balls.
Kishan remained unbeaten on 79 off 46 deliveries, while Nitish Kumar Reddy provided a late quick contribution with 29 from just 12 balls, guiding SRH to their imposing total.
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In chasing, RCB’s opening pair of Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer started the chase aggressively, putting together a 60-run opening stand. Iyer played the attacking role with a quick 44 before Eshan Malinga struck to break the partnership.
Kohli departed soon after for 15 off 11 balls, dismissed by Shakib Hussain, while Devdutt Padikkal contributed 21 off 14 deliveries before Malinga claimed another wicket.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya attempted to revive the chase with a solid partnership. Patidar brought up a fighting half-century, scoring 56 off 39 balls, while Krunal chipped in with 41.
Patidar’s dismissal at the hands of Travis Head effectively ended RCB’s hopes and despite an unbeaten 15 from Tim David, Bengaluru finished on 200, falling 55 runs short.
Although SRH concluded the league phase level on 18 points with both RCB and Gujarat Titans, their lower net run rate meant they finished third in the standings. As a result, Cummins and his side will now play the Eliminator on Wednesday (May 27) in New Chandigarh, while Qualifier 1 between RCB and Gujarat Titans is scheduled for Tuesday (May 26) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.
