SRH vs RCB, IPL 2026 preview: Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru look to finish in top two spots

HYDERABAD: Having already made it to the playoffs, former champions Sunrisers Hyderabad and defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru vie for the top-two finish when they clash at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on Friday.The hosts are currently placed third with 16 points from 13 games, while the Royal Challengers Bengaluru top the table with 18 points. A win here will confirm the top spot for the visitors and give an extra shot at the title.Both teams clashed in the season’s opener at the M Chinnaswamy stadium which the hosts won comfortably. However, Hyderabad gained momentum as the tournament progressed and would be keen to avenge their loss and finish the league phase on a high.

SRH’s explosive top-order has been delivering the goods with Abhishek Sharma (507 runs) and Ishan Kishan (490) taking on the opposition despite Travis Head (367) not at his fluent best. However, it was the consistency of their middle-order batter Heinrich Klaasen (555) that determined their fortunes so far. Their bowling is well served by the return of captain Pat Cummins while Eshaan Malinga (17), Sakib Hussain (14) and Praful Hinge (11) are contributing well for the team’s cause.

However, the hosts will have a tough task at hand against the marauding RCB, who are working like a welloiled machine. All the three departments are clicking for the defending champions, making them one of the consistent teams of the tournament.A peerless Virat Kohli (542) has been lording the shortest format despite quitting it at the international level. He has been doing the bulk of the scoring while Devdutt Padikkal (412), captain

Rajat Patidar

(337) are lending the master a good hand. The presence of big-hitting Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Romario Shepherd in the lineup makes it more lethal.