SRH vs RCB Highlights: Sunrisers Hyderabad register dominant 55-run victory, but Bengaluru make it to Qualifier 1

With one playoff spot still remaining, four teams are still mathematically in contention for the final Eliminator berth in IPL 2026.

The qualification scenario is currently the simplest for Rajasthan Royals. If RR defeat Mumbai Indians in their final league-stage clash on Sunday, they will directly qualify for the playoffs and seal the Eliminator spot without depending on any other result.

However, if Rajasthan Royals lose against Mumbai Indians, the race will open up for Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. In that situation, both PBKS and KKR will remain alive, and victories in their respective final matches would bring net run rate into the equation for the final qualification spot.

Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals remain in the race on paper but face an extremely difficult path. DC, currently on 12 points, need Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, and Kolkata Knight Riders all to lose their remaining matches. Alongside that, Delhi Capitals would also need a massive victory in their final game to significantly improve their net run rate and go past Rajasthan Royals in the standings.

A clinical all-round performance from Sunrisers Hyderabad sees them crush Royal Challengers Bengaluru by a staggering 55 runs in their final league-stage clash. Powered by explosive knocks from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen, SRH completely dominated the contest and finished the league phase on a high.

However, the massive win still was not enough for Sunrisers Hyderabad to secure a place in Qualifier 1, as RCB managed to sneak through on net run rate despite the heavy defeat. Royal Challengers Bengaluru will now face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 on May 26, while SRH are firmly placed in the Eliminator, with their opponents to be decided later.

OUT! Rajat Patidar’s crucial knock comes to an end as Travis Head picks up a big wicket for Sunrisers Hyderabad. It is a long hop from Head, but Patidar fails to middle the pull shot and ends up finding Smaran Ravichandran at deep midwicket after a fighting half-century.

RCB: 178/4 in (18.2) overs

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have done a smart job in the chase despite losing wickets at regular intervals. While the required rate is climbing quickly in pursuit of 256, RCB are still well on course for the 165-run mark needed to secure their place in Qualifier 1.

RCB: 139/3 in (14) overs
Rajat Patidar: 26 (23)
Krunal Pandya: 28 (18)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru need 117 runs in 36 balls.

That. Was. Some. Shot. 🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/Weq2XqNSfC

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 22, 2026

OUT! Eshan Malinga continues his brilliant spell and picks up his second wicket of the night as Devdutt Padikkal holes out at deep midwicket. Padikkal looks to whip the full delivery away but fails to keep it down, with Abhishek Sharma taking a comfortable catch in the deep.

RCB: 94/3 in (9) overs

OUT! A massive breakthrough for Sunrisers Hyderabad as Sakib Hussain dismisses Virat Kohli with another clever slower delivery. Kohli goes for the full-blooded drive but ends up hitting it straight to Smaran Ravichandran at covers.

RCB: 75/2 in (6) overs

OUT! Sunrisers Hyderabad get the early breakthrough as Eshan Malinga dismisses Venkatesh Iyer with a sharp short-ball plan. The delivery rushes onto the batter, who mistimes the pull shot badly, and Abhishek Sharma completes a safe catch at wide long-on.

The chase is now underway as Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer walk out to open the innings for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Meanwhile, SRH skipper Pat Cummins will take the new ball

Sunrisers Hyderabad have given themselves a strong chance with a massive total on the board. However, Pat Cummins’ side now need to beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by at least 90 runs to secure a place in Qualifier 1.

Sunrisers Hyderabad finish with a massive total of 255/3 in 20 overs, powered by a fiery start from Abhishek Sharma and then a sensational partnership between Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen in the middle overs.

Heinrich Klaasen - 606 runs (SRH, 2026)*
Rishabh Pant - 579 runs (DD, 2018)
Riyan Parag - 573 runs (RR, 2024)
Rohit Sharma - 538 runs (MI, 2013)
Glenn Maxwell - 513 runs (RCB, 2021)

OUT! Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally get a massive breakthrough as Krunal Pandya dismisses Heinrich Klaasen with a clever variation. Klaasen looks for another big hit but fails to get the distance this time, with Venkatesh Iyer completing a safe catch at long-on. A huge wicket for RCB just when SRH were threatening to completely run away with the game.

SRH: 210/3 in (16.2) overs

Heinrich Klaasen brings up a sensational half-century in just 23 deliveries as the SRH batter continues his outstanding IPL 2026 campaign. It is his sixth fifty of the season, and once again Klaasen has stepped up as the backbone of Hyderabad’s batting order with a brutal counterattack

Ishan Kishan completes another impressive half-century, bringing up his sixth fifty of IPL 2026 in just 31 balls.