Playoff race heats up

Fri, 22 May 2026

18:40

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad will battle for a crucial top-two finish when they meet in their final IPL 2026 league game in Hyderabad on Friday.

RCB currently lead the table with 18 points and the best net run rate in the tournament. A win would seal top spot and hand them two chances to reach the final. SRH, meanwhile, are third with 16 points, level with Gujarat Titans but behind on net run rate, meaning they need a convincing win and favourable results elsewhere to break into the top two.

RCB have impressed throughout the season under skipper Rajat Patidar, with Virat Kohli once again leading the batting charts after scoring 542 runs in 13 matches.

Devdutt Padikkal has also been in fine touch, while bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood have delivered consistently.

SRH possess one of the league's most explosive batting line-ups featuring Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen, but inconsistency has hurt them in recent matches.

Captain Pat Cummins and emerging pacer Eshan Malinga have been key positives for Hyderabad heading into the playoffs.

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