Rajat Patidar Reflects on RCB’s 55-Run Defeat After SRH Post 255 in IPL 2026 Clash
Rajat Patidar acknowledged the massive challenge Royal Challengers Bengaluru faced after Sunrisers Hyderabad posted 255/4 in their Indian Premier League 2026 league-stage encounter on Friday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Record-Breaking Batting Display by Sunrisers Hyderabad
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s imposing total was built on aggressive half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Heinrich Klaasen after captain Pat Cummins elected to bat first. The commanding batting performance secured a 55-run victory for SRH, restricting RCB to 200/4 in their allotted 20 overs.
Points Table and Net Run Rate Implications
Despite the loss, RCB successfully achieved their secondary match objective. The Bengaluru franchise needed to score at least 166 runs to maintain a superior Net Run Rate over SRH. By reaching 200, RCB secured the top position on the IPL points table. Both teams, along with Gujarat Titans, concluded the league stage with 18 points.
| Team | Points | Net Run Rate (NRR) | Final League Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 18 | +0.783 | 1st |
| Gujarat Titans | 18 | +0.695 | 2nd |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | 18 | +0.650 (Approx.) | 3rd |
RCB’s Chase and Tactical Bowling
RCB’s pursuit began with high intensity. The newly formed opening partnership of Venkatesh Iyer and Virat Kohli constructed a rapid 60-run stand off just 27 deliveries. Following both dismissals within a narrow 14-run window, Devdutt Padikkal stabilized the innings before being caught in the deep off the bowling of Eshan Malinga.
Patidar’s Post-Match Analysis
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Patidar highlighted the effectiveness of the SRH bowling attack, specifically their execution on a gripping surface. He detailed the specific challenges faced during the second innings:
- First Innings Dominance: “Their top five batsmen played really well, and they purely dominated in the first innings.”
- Target Assessment: “The top priority was to be on the top, but there were a lot of runs in the first inning. 255 is a good score on this wicket.”
- Bowling Execution: “The slow bouncer was gripping a bit. Their strength is slow bouncers and yorkers, and they executed pretty well. When you start bowling slow bouncers, slow into the wicket, it is really tough for the batsman to score runs.”
The strategic use of pace-off deliveries by the BCCI-sanctioned tournament’s premier bowlers ultimately derailed the RCB chase. While Bengaluru fell 55 runs short on the night, their calculated approach to protecting their run rate ensures they carry the top seed advantage into the playoffs.