Ishan Kishan, Eshan Malinga dent RCB's top-two hopes

A masterful unbeaten 94 from Ishan Kishan and a game-changing over from Eshan Malinga helped SRH dent RCB's hopes of finishing in the top two in IPL 2025. RCB can still go on to secure a spot that can give them extra cushion in the playoffs but will now have to rely on other results after squandering an excellent opportunity in Lucknow on Friday (May 23).

Where the game was won

Right at the death. Until that point, the match was evenly poised and could have swung any way. RCB had momentum and they knew what they needed to do in the final five overs. Yet, they faltered as Eshan Malinga orchestrated their downfall with a run out, followed by two wickets.

The death overs difference

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Powerplay - Boundaries galore

Phase score - 71/2 [RR: 11.83, 4s/6s: 7/4]

While the returning Travis Head kickstarted his innings with a boundary in the first over, it was Abhishek Sharma who caused damage early in the powerplay. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal and Lungi Ngidi bore the brunt of his little cameo as he hit three fours and cleared the ropes thrice as well. Ngidi managed to remove the dangerman as Abhishek's well timed flick found the fielder at the deep. But by the time he departed, SRH had 54 on the board in just four overs. Against the run of play though, SRH lost another wicket with Head mistiming one off Bhuvneshwar in the very next over. Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen then added a boundary each in the sixth over to ensure it was still SRH's powerplay despite the setbacks.

Middle overs - The famed SRH blueprint

Phase score - 97/3 [RR: 10.77, 4s/6s: 7/6]

The phase after the powerplay got off to a banger as Klaasen welcomed Suyash Sharma into the attack with a four and a six to signal his intentions. While Krunal Pandya delivered a quiet over, SRH were on the rampage again when Suyash returned as the boundaries continued to flow to take the total past 100. But once again against the run of play, a wicket fell as Klaasen failed to clear the man at the long-on boundary. It had no effect on SRH's approach though as Aniket Verma walked in and smashed sixes at will to keep RCB on the back foot. Aniket's 9-ball 26 meant SRH had no reason to worry about their scoring rate as they were on course to post a massive total again - something that was a regular feature in IPL 2024. Nitish Reddy had another dull outing but Kishan, who had gone past fifty by this time, was the key for SRH heading into the slog overs.

Death overs - Kishan guides SRH past 230

Phase score - 63/1 [RR: 12.6, 4s/6s: 2/5]

Kishan did his job to perfection at the death as he propelled SRH to an imposing total. Romario Shepherd did bowl an impressive spell, adding the wicket of Abhinav Manohar as well at a crucial phase but Kishan kept going at the other end. After executing a perfect scoop for a six, the left-hander took on Bhuvneshwar for a four and a big one as SRH breached 200. Pat Cummins collected crucial runs in the penultimate over before Kishan took charge again in the final over to finish unbeaten on 94.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Powerplay - Kohli on the charge

Phase score - 72/0 [RR: 12, 4s/6s: 9/2]

It was all Virat Kohli in the powerplay as RCB matched SRH's efforts without losing wickets. Kohli fetched three boundaries off Cummins and added two more off Harshal Patel after the pacer had initially appeared to have dismissed Phil Salt in that over, only for the third umpire to rule the full toss as a no-ball. Salt, batting on 5 off 9 at this point, finally broke free with a boundary off Jaydev Unadkat before unleashing on Eshan Malinga in the final over of the powerplay. If SRH made 71, RCB's efforts saw them score a run more without losing Kohli or Salt.

Middle overs - RCB go toe-to-toe

Phase score - 95/3 [RR: 10.55, 4s/6s: 5/6]

The much-needed wicket came immediately after the powerplay as Harsh Dubey staged a good comeback after conceding a six earlier as Kohli departed for 43. But that forced Salt to take charge and he put the SRH bowling attack under the pump with a few brutal shots, regularly clearing the fence as well. He got to a fifty off just 27 balls and at the halfway mark, RCB were actually ahead of SRH. But finally, SRH managed to pull things back in a matter of five deliveries when Mayank Agarawal and Salt fell in consecutive overs. Even though Jitesh Sharma walked out all guns blazing, racing to 20 off just 8 at one point, Nitsh Reddy delivered the first boundaryless over of the innings in the 15th over as the equation came down to 65 from 30.

Death overs - SRH dent RCB's surge

Phase score - 22/7 [RR: 4.55, 4s/6s: 2/0]

The final phase of this game began in terrific fashion from SRH's perspective as Eshan Malinga turned the game on its head. His inch-perfect yorker resulted in Rajat Patidar risking a single and Malinga managed to effect a direct-hit to run out the batter. If that wasn't enough, a superb slower delivery caught Shepherd off-guard as he went through the drive early, only to hit it back to the bowler. RCB then found themselves well and truly in trouble as they also lost the big wicket of Jitesh in the very next over when he mistimed one to get caught near the boundary. In a desperate last-ditch attempt at reviving the chase, RCB sent out a limping Tim David who had hurt himself right at the end of SRH's innings. Hampered severely, David could only rely on his big-hitting and was unable to take those quick singles. Malinga made use of that to deliver three successive dot balls to bring the equation down to 53 off 15 and eventually also dismissed the Australian as he found the fielder at the deep off the fourth ball. That was easily the final nail in the coffin as the wheels came off spectacularly for RCB to fall well short of the target.

Brief scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad 231/6 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 94*, Abhishek Sharma 34; Romario Shepherd 2/14) beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru 189 in 19.5 overs (Phil Salt 62, Virat Kohli 43; Pat Cummins 3/28, Eshan Malinga 2/37) by 42 runs.

What's next?

With a very good victory behind them, SRH will travel to Delhi for their final fixture in IPL 2025 when they take on Kolkata Knight Riders. RCB on Tuesday (May 27) will play the final league game of the season, at the same venue against Lucknow Super Giants. If there is an opportunity for RCB to still secure a top two spot by that time, they will know exactly what they need to do.