Brief Scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad (216/6 in 20 overs) beat Rajasthan Royals (159/10 in 19 overs) by 57 runs in Hyderabad on Monday. highlighted | Achievement:
Sunrisers Hyderabad finally get the spark they were looking for IPL 2026, and this came through a bold change in approach. Moving away from established names and favoring youth, Hyderabad’s gamble paid off strongly as they defeated Rajasthan Royals by 57 runs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal on Monday, April 13.
For a team that had struggled to find rhythm at the beginning of the season, this performance felt like a reset. The biggest concern in the match was SRH’s bowling. The experienced pair of Jaydev Unadkat and Harshal Patel failed to make a consistent impact, forcing the management to turn to uncapped options Prafulla Hinge and Saqib Hussain.
It was a call that defined the game.
Hinge ignites SRH surge
The rhythm was set in the first over itself. Prafulla Hinge, making his IPL debut, created such magic that the match immediately tilted in favor of Hyderabad.
Rajasthan never recovered from the initial loss. Vaibhav Suryavanshi learned that with great power comes great responsibility, but that night he forgot it and had to pay the price. The opening wicket opened the door and the hinges came right off.
Soon after, Dhruv Jurel was out, followed by Luan Dray Pretorius as Hinge dismantled the top order in his very first over. Rajasthan was stunned at 1 run for 3 wickets and did not even have time to recover.
Hinge’s influence did not end here. He later returned to dismiss captain Riyan Parag, caught in the deep off a loose shot, and took 4 for 34. It was a performance based on discipline, clarity and composure rather than temperament, and one that immediately vindicated SRH’s decision to rely on youth.
Saqib Hussain sealed the deal
If Hinge broke the backbone of the innings, Saqib Hussain ensured there was no recovery.
He struck early to dismiss Yashasvi Jaiswal and then made a comeback at crucial moments to put Rajasthan under pressure. His ability to vary the pace and hit the right length proved effective on a surface that provided ample support.
There was a brief fightback from Donovan Ferreira, who responded with 69 off 44 balls to try and drag Rajasthan back into the contest. However, Shakib reduced that resistance with a well-executed off cutter that troubled the stumps at a crucial moment.
Once Ferreira fell, the innings quickly unraveled. Shakib cleaned up the lower order, which also included the wickets of Jofra Archer and Ravi Bishnoi, finishing with impressive figures of 4 for 24.
Rajasthan were eventually all out for 159 in 19 overs, reflecting an early collapse as well as an inability to build a sustained partnership.
Ishan Kishan is leading
Earlier, it was Ishan Kishan who laid the foundation of SRH’s victory by playing a brilliant innings at the top.
Kishan took charge of the innings after early setbacks with the cheap dismissals of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head. He balanced caution with aggression, ensuring stability before accelerating once set.
His innings of 91 off 44 balls, which included eight fours and six sixes, set the tone for SRH’s total. He was supported by Heinrich Klaasen, who added 40 runs, while Nitish Reddy and Salil Arora contributed 28 and 24 not out off 13 balls respectively.
SRH eventually scored 216 for 6 in 20 overs, which proved to be more than enough considering the way their bowlers responded.
Kishan’s influence extended beyond his batting. He remained actively involved as a leader, handing over the responsibility of wicketkeeping to Salil Arora and staying close to his bowlers throughout the innings. His approach helped create a positive environment that allowed the young attack to perform with confidence.
What’s next for both teams?
This victory can prove to be a turning point for Sunrisers Hyderabad. After a slow start, they now have a blueprint to rely on and support the youth with intent. They would like to maintain this momentum in their next match against Chennai Super Kings.
For Rajasthan Royals, it was a rare off day in an otherwise strong campaign. They will look to regroup quickly and overcome shortcomings as they prepare to face Kolkata Knight Riders in their next encounter.
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published by:
Amar Panikkar
Published on:
April 13, 2026 23:42 IST
