In the upcoming 67th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru both formidable teams will play their final league-stage match of the season on Friday, May 22, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. This contest is expected to be highly crucial and decisive.
For Sunrisers Hyderabad, securing a victory in this match is absolutely essential to cement their spot in the playoffs. While a defeat would not necessarily mean the end of their journey, they would then have to rely on the results of other matches going in their favor; therefore, rather than leaving their fate to chance, they would much prefer to take the direct route to qualification. Consequently, securing a win becomes an absolute imperative for the 'Orange Army.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are playing like true 'defending champions.' They have already secured their place in the playoffs; however, a victory on Friday would ensure that they enter the playoffs as one of the top two teams, thereby granting them a distinct advantage in the decisive stages of the tournament. They have been in tremendous form throughout the 2026 season and will look to deliver their very best performance in Hyderabad as well.
SRH vs RCB: Head-to-Head T20 record
| Matches Played | 27 |
|---|---|
| Won by SRH | 14 |
| Won by RCB | 12 |
| Tied | 0 |
| No Result | 1 |
| First-ever fixture | April 07, 2013 (SRH won) |
| Most recent fixture | March 28, 2026 (RCB won) |
SRH vs RCB: Predicted Playing 11
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Smaran Ravichandran, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins (c), Shivang Kumar, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge
Impact Player: Travis Head
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Venkatesh Iyer, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma
Impact Player: Jacob Duffy
SRH vs RCB Player Stats ipl 2026
- Heinrich Klaasen (SRH): The primary weapon for Hyderabad's middle order, Klaasen leads his squad with 555 runs this season. He is also just 31 runs away from eclipsing the 2,000-run milestone in his IPL career.
- Virat Kohli (RCB): This evergreen legend continues to drive RCB's magnificent campaign forward. He heads into tonight's match with a tally of 542 runs. Kohli shares a special rapport with Hyderabad's bowling attack; in his last five matches against them, he has scored 100, 42, 51, 43, and an unbeaten 69*.
- Abhishek Sharma (SRH): This formidable left-handed opener has scored 507 runs in 13 innings, maintaining a phenomenal strike rate of 201.99. He needs just 11 more sixes to complete 150 sixes in his IPL career.
- Ishan Kishan (SRH) and Devdutt Padikkal (RCB): The battle between these two stalwarts at No. 3 will be crucial. Kishan has scored 490 runs this season (strike rate 179.5) and is just 12 runs shy of reaching 3,500 runs in his IPL career. Meanwhile, Padikkal has so far scored 1,000 runs.
SRH vs RCB Pitch Report
Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium has consistently ranked as one of the finest pitches for batting in the IPL. Over the past few seasons, batting here has felt like a cakewalk for the teams. However, fast bowlers will certainly benefit from bowling at a shorter length, as the pace and bounce on this surface have been excellent—factors that could pose significant trouble for the batsmen. Chasing a target is likely to be the preferred option at this venue.
SRH vs RCB: Probable Best Performers
Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma has undoubtedly been one of SRH's most dangerous weapons in the top order. In 2026, this left-handed batsman played 13 innings, amassing a total of 507 runs—including one century and three half-centuries. As one of the tournament's most formidable batsmen, Abhishek has carved a niche for himself by consistently delivering strong performances through his explosive hitting. His ability to hold his ground at the crease while batting can, in itself, determine the outcome of a match.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has never strayed far from his best form, but in 2026, his magnificent performance has once again been on full display. This veteran fast bowler has undoubtedly been one of the standout bowlers—both for RCB and for the season currently underway—having claimed 24 wickets so far at a remarkable average of 16.37. He currently holds the 'Purple Cap,' and on Friday, he will look to add a few more wickets to his tally.
