Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 55 runs in the 67th match of the Indian Premier League on May 22, 2026.
Despite the loss, Bengaluru secured the top seed for the upcoming playoffs.
Chasing a target of 256 runs, Royal Challengers Bengaluru focused on reaching a critical 166-run threshold to secure their tournament positioning.
They managed 200 for 4 in their 20 overs, with captain Rajat Patidar scoring a sedate fifty and Krunal Pandya remaining 41 not out.
Playoff Matchups Set
The result sets the playoff matchups for both franchises.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 on May 26 in Dharamsala, while Sunrisers Hyderabad will travel to New Chandigarh for the eliminator match on May 27.
According to a statistical note by Sampath on espncricinfo.
com, Bengaluru became the first team in a men's franchise T20 league game to lose by 50 or more runs while retaining six or more wickets in hand.
Kishan Shines with Bat
Sunrisers Hyderabad opening batter Ishan Kishan was named Player of the Match after his decisive innings upfront.
Kishan credited the team's environment and support system for helping maintain a relaxed approach in high-pressure scenarios.
"Just happy about it, taking one match at a time, not making it complicated for myself, just keeping it simple," said Kishan.
"It's just about watching the ball and playing your game."
The opening batsman acknowledged his strong individual track record against the Bengaluru franchise.
"I don't know why but I do feel confident when I'm playing against them," he said.
"Fortune favors the brave and I just try to do my thing and it works in my way."
Kishan explained that his recent development focused on adapting his gameplay to specific situations. "More than maturity, it's about shot selection," he said.
"You need to feel confident in the middle and if you're feeling that way just make sure you play those good shots."
The victory kept Hyderabad in contention for a beneficial playoff path.
"We wanted to finish in the top two because it does give an opportunity for the team to reach the finals easily," Kishan said.
He praised the leadership of Pat Cummins and the support staff for fostering a positive dressing room atmosphere.
Cummins Praises Team Performance
Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins expressed satisfaction with his team's comprehensive batting display. "It's pretty impressive to get the score that we did," he said.
"Everyone's hitting their straps."
Cummins noted that his team executed varied tactical adjustments to counter Bengaluru's deliberate scoring strategy.
"We threw a few different things at him, but it's still a big win," he said.
The Hyderabad captain also lauded his bowling group. "They've been fantastic.
I've actually learned a lot from those guys," he said, mentioning Eshan Malinga and Sakib Hussain. "A captain's dream."
Looking ahead to the eliminator, Cummins emphasized the importance of using the scheduled break to rest and prepare.
Hyderabad bowler Sakib Hussain shared details regarding the team's tactical plan. "The plan was to bowl according to the wicket," he said.
"Virat Kohli's was a dream wicket for me."
Hussain noted that the bowling unit focused on utilizing slower variations after observing how the ball interacted with the surface.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar credited the opposing top-order batsmen for establishing an insurmountable total. "The top five batters played very well and they dominated," he said.
Patidar dismissed suggestions that the pitch conditions shifted drastically, pointing instead to the high-quality execution of defensive bowling by Hyderabad.
"The slower bouncer was gripping. They executed the bouncers and yorkers very well."
The Bengaluru skipper concluded by acknowledging that while the initial target proved too steep, the primary objective of securing the top table seeding was achieved.
"Top priority was to be on the top but the target was a lot," he said.
