Ishan Kishan’s Unbeaten 94 Propels Sunrisers Hyderabad to Comprehensive Win against RCB

It was a high-scoring, thrilling encounter at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) defending with authority, winning the 65th match of the IPL 2025 tournament against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by 42 runs.

The victory was laid largely by a scintillating knock by Ishan Kishan, who was unbeaten on 94 runs from a mere 48 balls, guiding a batting effort that left RCB bowlers bewildered. Kishan displayed his entire palette of strokeplay, mixing timing with brute force as he bashed boundaries all around the park. His innings boasted 9 fours and 5 sixes, providing SRH with the explosive finish they had been seeking.

Kishan was ably supported by Nitish Kumar Reddy, who hit a blistering 45 off 23 deliveries, and Heinrich Klaasen, who contributed 38 off 20. Their effort took SRH to a daunting 231/6 in their 20 overs—their highest score of the season.

Pursuing 232, RCB required a blazing start and received one in the form of Phil Salt, who led a counter-attack with 67 runs from 35 balls. With Rajat Patidar (42 off 27), Salt maintained Bengaluru hope in the initial 10 overs. After the partnership was extinguished, the game swung irretrievably in SRH’s direction.

Captain Pat Cummins headed the attack with the ball, coming back with impressive returns of 3 for 28. His bowling spell, combined with workmanlike performances from the rest of the bowling line-up, kept RCB on their toes. Wickets were falling at regular intervals, and RCB were finally bowled out for 189 in 19.5 overs, losing by 42 runs.

The win was an morale-boosting one for SRH to finish their season, as the same proved disastrous for RCB’s playoff chances, especially their bid for finishing in the top two. While RCB are still in the race for the playoffs, their net run rate and inconsistency might turn against them as the league stage reaches its last few days.

The talking after the match, Cummins complimented Kishan’s winning knock. “That was aggressive cricket by Ishan. We recognized we required something extraordinary tonight and he provided,” stated the captain.

For SRH, the victory was a testament to their capacity, and for RCB, it was a reminder that large scores are intimidating even for power-house lineups.