The playoff-eliminated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) delivered a resounding defeat to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), not only marking their exit with a spectacular performance but also significantly damaging RCB's hopes of securing a top-2 finish.
RCB vs SRH: The Indian Premier League 2025 witnessed another thrilling encounter where the playoff-eliminated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) comprehensively defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by a massive 42 runs. This impressive victory not only showcased SRH's prowess but also dealt a significant blow to RCB's aspirations of reaching the top two. The match was a treat for the spectators, with both bat and ball dominating the proceedings.
Sunrisers' Explosive Start
RCB, after winning the toss and opting to bowl first, didn't have the best start. Sunrisers' opening pair, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, propelled the innings with a whirlwind start, taking the score past 50 in the first six overs. Abhishek smashed 34 runs off 17 balls, including three fours and three sixes. Lungi Ngidi provided the first breakthrough, dismissing Abhishek, but by then, the team had already established a b rhythm.
Head (17 runs, 10 balls) didn't last long, but Ishan Kishan then took charge and anchored one end. He formed a 48-run partnership with Heinrich Klaasen (24 runs) and later accelerated the innings with Aniket Varma.
Ishan Kishan's Masterclass
Ishan Kishan mesmerized everyone with his batting prowess. He remained unbeaten on 94 runs off just 48 balls, smashing seven fours and five sixes. Kishan's innings was a beautiful blend of technique and aggression, as he dominated every bowler. In the final overs, Aniket Varma (26 runs, 9 balls) and Pat Cummins (13 runs, 6 balls) added quick runs, propelling the team to a b total of 231/6. For RCB, Romario Shepherd took two wickets, while Ngidi, Bhuvneshwar, Suyash Sharma, and Krunal Pandya each claimed one.
RCB's Hopes – Limited to Salt and Kohli
Chasing a challenging 232 runs, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli provided a b start. They partnered for an 80-run opening stand, putting RCB in a commanding position. Kohli scored a quick-fire 43 (7 fours, 1 six) off 25 balls, while Salt played a brilliant knock of 62 (4 fours, 5 sixes) off 32 balls.
However, RCB's batting crumbled after Kohli's dismissal. Salt held the innings together for a while, but his departure triggered a collapse. No other batsman could offer significant resistance. Apart from Rajat Patidar (18 runs) and Jitesh Sharma (24 runs), all other batsmen failed to make a substantial contribution. The lower order's performance was particularly poor, with four batsmen failing to reach double figures and two failing to score at all.
Sunrisers' Bowlers' Impressive Performance
Sunrisers' bowlers played a crucial role in their victory. Pat Cummins, leading the attack, took three crucial wickets and broke the backbone of RCB's innings. Ishan Malinga claimed two important wickets, dismissing explosive batsmen like Romario Shepherd and Tim David cheaply. Additionally, Jaydev Unadkat, Harshal Patel, Harsh Dubey, and Nitish Reddy each picked up a wicket, bundling out RCB for 189 runs in 19.5 overs.
