In a blistering display of T20 power-hitting, Sunrisers Hyderabad posted a mammoth 255/4 in 20 overs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Match 67 of the TATA IPL 2026 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Friday.
The home side, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, turned the batting-friendly Hyderabad pitch into a launching pad, setting RCB a target of 256 in what has become one of the most high-scoring games of the season.
The innings was a masterclass in aggressive intent from the word go. Opener Travis Head gave a fiery start with 26 off 16, but it was the middle-order carnage that left the crowd roaring. Abhishek Sharma exploded for a rapid 56 off just 22 balls, smashing 4 fours and 5 sixes, including a monstrous 77-metre six in the very first over. His departure in the 8th over only paved the way for more fireworks.
Ishan Kishan then took centre stage, anchoring the innings with a classy yet destructive 79 off 46 balls (8 fours, 3 sixes). He found the perfect ally in Heinrich Klaasen, who bludgeoned 51 off 24 deliveries (2 fours, 5 sixes). The duo kept the scoreboard ticking at a frantic pace through the middle overs. Nitish Kumar Reddy provided the perfect finishing touch with an unbeaten 29 off 12, including three towering sixes.RCB’s bowlers endured a nightmare on a pitch offering little assistance.
Rasikh Dar was the most successful with 2/52, picking up Head and Kishan, while Suyash Sharma (1/36) and Krunal Pandya (1/24) claimed one wicket each. However, the economy rates told the real story — every bowler leaked over 12 runs per over, with Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar bearing the brunt in the death overs.
With playoffs on the horizon, this result adds massive pressure on both sides. SRH have once again shown why they remain one of the most dangerous batting units in the league, while RCB now face a herculean task on a surface that has favoured batters all season. The question on everyone’s lips: can RCB’s star-studded lineup pull off a record chase under the Hyderabad lights?
