IPL 2026: RCB secure top two berth despite 55-run crushing defeat to SRH

Sunrisers Hyderabad (ANI Photo) Sunrisers Hyderabad once again unveiled their fearless batting plan in IPL 2026, beating Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 55 runs in Hyderabad on Friday. However, despite the heavy defeat, RCB still managed to finish at the top of the league table and secure the coveted top two spot heading into the playoffs. Explosive knocks from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen saw SRH amass a massive 255 for 4 in the batting paradise at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Abhishek took care of the early destruction with a breathtaking 56 off just 22 balls and raced to another 20-ball half-century as he dismantled former SRH spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the powerplay. Kishan then brilliantly anchored the innings with a classy yet aggressive delivery of 79 off 44, finding boundaries with ease while combining timing and innovation. The innings reached another level as soon as Klaasen entered. The South African powerhouse smashed 51 off just 24 balls and completely dismantled Josh Hazlewood as they collected 27 runs in one over to take Hyderabad past the 250-run mark once again. Nitish Kumar Reddy added the finishing touches with a quick unbeaten 29 off just 12 deliveries as SRH finished with 20 fours and 16 sixes. RCB’s chase was never realistically about a win after a huge target, but the visitors had one crucial objective – to clear 166 runs to guarantee a top-two finish and secure two opportunities to reach the IPL final. Venkatesh Iyer’s aggressive start raised hopes briefly, though Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal did not contribute significantly. Once the equation became clear, captain Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya set their full sights on the qualifying target. The duo put together a vital partnership of 84 runs and calmly guided RCB past the required mark. Patidar’s sixth man Pat Cummins effectively sealed the opening for Bengaluru before departing for a composed 56 off 39 balls. Krunal remained unbeaten on 41 as RCB finished at 200 for 4. The result saw RCB top the IPL 2026 league table with an excellent net rate of +0.783, while Gujarat Titans finished second and SRH third despite all three teams finishing on 18 points. Among the SRH bowlers, Eshan Malinga once again impressed with figures of 2 for 33, while young pacer Sakib Hussain also played a key role in controlling the middle overs.