Top-two berth, momentum in SRH, RCB's sights

The race for the IPL 2026 playoffs has narrowed to one available spot, and Friday's contest in Hyderabad between SRH and table-toppers RCB carries stakes beyond two points. Both teams know a top-two finish is on the line.

RCB sit atop the points table with 18 points and a best-in-league net run rate of 1.065. On three straight victories, they have momentum as they bid to close out the league stages with a win. Even a loss by under 87 runs (if SRH score 200) ensures they finish in the top two.

A mid-season surge with five consecutive victories put SRH back in the playoffs race, but they've since lost two of their last four. A convincing victory against RCB is their only ticket to the top two.

When: Friday, May 22 at 7:30 PM IST

Where: Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad

What to expect: Light rain possible but not threatening the game. Average first-innings score at the venue has been 192 since IPL 2023, and average first-innings score in victories is 214.

Head to head: SRH lead 14-12, but have won only two and lost three to RCB since 2023. At home, SRH have a 6-3 record.

Injuries: No concerns in SRH camp. Rajat Patidar is back for RCB after being rested. Phil Salt's return status unclear.

Matchups to watch

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has kept Abhishek Sharma in check – Abhishek has managed just 14 runs off 11 balls against him at 127.27 SR (career SR 170.18).

Heinrich Klaasen vs Romario Shepherd: Klaasen has scored 55 runs off 31 balls against Shepherd, striking at 177.41 but losing his wicket twice in five T20 meetings.

Probable XIIs

SRH: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Salil Arora, Smaran Ravichandran, Pat Cummins (c), Shivang Kumar, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge

RCB: Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd/Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Salam Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood

Stats

• RCB across IPL 2025 and 2026 is the only side with a 70+ win percentage in back-to-back editions
• 2026 is the fourth successive 500+ season for Virat Kohli in IPL
• Heinrich Klaasen has 1969 runs at 45.79 – most by an overseas batter in IPL since 2023

Mo Bobat (RCB Director of Cricket) on Rajat Patidar: "Rajat is good to go. We were cautious and didn't take any risks with him… he's here, he's practicing and he's good to go."