Yes, Chennai Super Kings don’t exactly have a glowing reputation in big chases as they haven’t chased down anything above 180 since 2018.
But then again, this is Hyderabad, a ground that has twice been among the top four highest-scoring teams in IPL history. A place where Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen have repeatedly turned bowling attacks into cautionary tales. So, when CSK left on Saturday, logic still favored them slightly despite their poor record in the chase.
SRH vs CSK, IPL 2026: Highlights | Scorecard
And yet, on this night, the script was torn apart.
Sunrisers Hyderabad pulled off the improbable to seal a 10-run win over CSK. The same bowling unit that got away in the IPL opener against RCB, the same side that once conceded a chase of 202 in less than 16 overs, suddenly found discipline, control and engagement when it mattered most.
Even as SRH posted 194 earlier, they felt slightly below par in this batting paradise. But cricket rarely respects expectations. The home team tightened the screws, strangling CSK’s chase at crucial moments and turning a comfortable conclusion to the narrative into a slow, enthralling collapse.
STRONG BACK
As the Super Kings tumbled to 66 for one in just 4.3 overs, with Ayush Mhatre batting like the ball was a football, the night seemed to be slipping away fast for Sunrisers. And why not? A required rate of 8.32, nine wickets in hand and a Hyderabad surface where 10 overs are almost routine, CSK looked set to cruise.
But T20 games have a way of turning stories when you least expect it.
From this position of control, CSK managed just 118 runs in the remaining 15.3 overs, crawling at 7.61 as the chase unraveled in slow motion. While Chennai lost their way, it was SRH who forced the script to change.
Nitish Kumar Reddy struck early to break the momentum before Eshan Malinga tore through the middle overs and turned the pressure into panic. In his debut IPL season, Shivang Kumar struck a remarkable blow by removing the dangerous Dewald Brevis.
And then came the squeeze.
Sakib Hussain was relentless, offering nothing to hit and stifling the chase. Shivam Dube, Matthew Short and Jamie Overton were all kept at bay as boundaries dried up at the worst possible time. Sakib conceded just one boundary in his entire spell, including two overs, the 15th and 17th, without a single, even as the required rate approached 10 and CSK still believed.
Even Praful Hinge, who had an expensive night overall after conceding 60 runs, found redemption when it mattered most, saving 18 and conceding just seven in the final over to ensure a remarkable turnaround.
This Sunrisers attack may lack experience, but they threw themselves on heart, discipline and belief on this night, offering a glimpse of a unit that refuses to go quietly even when the odds say otherwise.
PLAN
Knowing that the power play would set the platform for them, Sunrisers chose discipline over drama. The brief was simple: hit the top, no unnecessary experiments, no deviation from the plan.
Because at times like these, taste can be a trap. One thoughtful variation, one deviation in line or length and the game can slip away. SRH stayed true to their method, resisting the urge to fantasize while taking wickets consistently even as the Super Kings continued to score at an alarming rate.
“It was just a message from outside – stick to the maximum length and don’t try to do too much. We did that and you can see we got a couple of wickets in the powerplay,” said Nitish Reddy after the match.
Sunrisers may not boast a star-studded bowling attack, with Pat Cummins yet to feature this season, but cricket has rarely been about names or price tags. What it requires above all is impact – and SRH delivered that in abundance on Saturday.
A bowling unit might not look scary on paper, but it doesn’t have to. All it needs is execution and SRH have shown that performance trumps reputation every time.
A win over the Super Kings will do wonders for their confidence. It has lifted them into the top four, but the real test starts now – hang on to this spot as the competition intensifies.
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– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
19 Apr 2026 08:04 IST
