SRH Crush RR by 57 Runs as Ishan Kishan Shines and Praful Hinge Makes History

Hyderabad, April 2026 : Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) produced a dominant all-round performance to register a commanding 57-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 21st match of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Batting first after RR opted to bowl, SRH posted an imposing 216/6 in 20 overs, riding on a sensational knock from captain Ishan Kishan. The left-hander played a blistering innings of 91 off just 44 balls, smashing 8 fours and 6 sixes at a remarkable strike rate above 200. His aggressive stroke play set the tone for SRH’s innings after an early setback.

SRH’s innings got off to a shaky start when Abhishek Sharma fell for a golden duck to Jofra Archer on the very first ball. However, Kishan steadied the innings and soon shifted gears, taking on both pace and spin with confidence. He stitched together a crucial 88-run partnership with Heinrich Klaasen, who contributed a solid 40 off 26 deliveries.

The middle and lower order ensured SRH maintained the momentum. Nitish Kumar Reddy added a quickfire 28 off 13 balls, while Salil Arora provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 24 off 13 deliveries. Despite Archer picking up two wickets, RR’s bowling unit struggled overall, conceding runs at a high rate.

In response, RR’s chase never got going as they suffered a dramatic collapse early in the innings. The turning point came in the very first over, when young pacer Praful Hinge scripted history by claiming three wickets in the opening over — a first in IPL history. His fiery spell dismantled the RR top order, leaving them reeling at 9/5.

Hinge finished with impressive figures of 4/34, while Sakib Hussain provided excellent support with 4/24, ensuring RR never recovered from the early blows. Eshan Malinga chipped in with two wickets to wrap up the innings.

Amid the collapse, Donovan Ferreira showed resilience with a fighting 69 off 44 balls, and Ravindra Jadeja added 45 runs. However, their efforts were not enough as RR were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs.

Hinge’s remarkable debut performance stood out not just for the wickets but for the timing and impact. The 24-year-old Vidarbha pacer, who was picked at his base price in the auction, showcased his potential on the big stage. Having trained at the MRF Pace Foundation under Varun Aaron, Hinge’s rise reflects a steady development through domestic cricket.

This emphatic victory boosts SRH’s campaign significantly, underlining their batting depth and bowling strength. For RR, it marks a setback despite a strong start to the season, exposing vulnerabilities in both their batting and bowling departments.

With this win, SRH have reinforced their dominance at home, while also sending a strong message to other teams in the tournament about their title credentials.

Team Maverick