Beyond the 229 chase: How Pat Cummins' return times perfectly with the SRH momentum The Bridge Chronicle
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Beyond the 229 chase: How Pat Cummins' return times perfectly with the SRH momentum

SRH secured the win behind a 132-run partnership between Ishan Kishan (74) and Abhishek Sharma, making it the fourth-highest successful chase in IPL history.

TBC Desk

Jaipur’s vibrant Sawai Mansingh Stadium witnessed a masterclass from left-handers on Saturday. In a contest where the boundaries felt tiny and records looked easily breakable, Sunrisers Hyderabad showed that in 2026 no score is beyond reach. Even with a historic 36-ball hundred from 15-year-old prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, SRH successfully chased 229 to claim their sixth straight win against the Rajasthan Royals.

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This pursuit, the fourth-largest in IPL history, was powered by a blistering 132-run stand between Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma. While Sooryavanshi delivered individual brilliance, SRH executed a collective dismantling, sealing victory with five wickets in hand and nine balls remaining.

StatisticRajasthan Royals (RR)Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Final Score228/6 (20 Overs)229/5 (18.3 Overs)
Top BatterV. Sooryavanshi (103 off 37)Ishan Kishan (74 off 31)
Top BowlerJofra Archer (1/X)Pat Cummins (1/27)
PowerPlay ScoreHigh Tempo89/1 (The SRH Charge)
ResultSRH won by 5 wickets

Sooryavanshi's revenge in the first over

The evening opened with a story of redemption. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, previously sent back for a golden duck by Praful Hinge in their last encounter, evened the score this time.

  • Hinge assault: Sooryavanshi walloped Hinge for four consecutive sixes in the opening over, finishing with 12 maximums in total.

  • Record breaker: At only 15 years old, Sooryavanshi scored his century in 36 deliveries, marking the third-fastest hundred in IPL history. He also set a record as the quickest player to reach 1,000 T20 runs based on balls faced.

  • Stand: Along with Dhruv Jurel’s 51 off 35 balls, Sooryavanshi powered RR to a total of 228. The remainder of the Royals’ batting order, however, failed to maintain the momentum, as Riyan Parag was dismissed cheaply by a superb yorker.

Kishan and Abhishek’s Counter-Punch

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s chase began on a sour note when Jofra Archer dismissed Travis Head in the opening over. However, any expectations of a Royals meltdown were swiftly put to rest as Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma entered into a spirited battle to outdo each other.

  • Mayhem: The duo took SRH to 89/1 in the PowerPlay, cutting and slashing at anything wide.

  • Partnership: Their 132-run partnership from only 55 deliveries effectively ended the contest. Kishan controlled the leg side, while Abhishek excelled through the off-side corridor between third man and cover.

  • Finish: Although there was a brief wobble when both openers were dismissed, Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Kumar Reddy comfortably guided the chase, highlighting a below-par RR fielding display marked by seven dropped catches between the two teams.

Captain's return: Pat Cummins shows the way

On a day where most bowlers traveled for double-digit economy rates, Pat Cummins offered a reminder of world-class discipline. Making his first appearance since December 2025, the SRH skipper finished with remarkable figures of 1/27.

His skill in varying pace and length choked RR’s batters after Sooryavanshi was dismissed. The standout moments of his spell were a steep bouncer to Sooryavanshi and a late-swinging yorker that bowled Riyan Parag in the 17th over.

Jaipur record book

  • Triple threat: This match featured three of the most exciting left-handed openers in India: Sooryavanshi, Kishan, and Abhishek.

  • Standards: Sooryavanshi now owns the second and third quickest centuries in IPL history.

  • Chase Record: This was the fourth-highest successful chase in the history of the IPL.

  • Archer: Jofra Archer maintained his habit of inflicting early damage, almost claiming a wicket with his first ball before eventually beating Travis Head with a delivery worthy of a Test match.

Rajasthan Royals had their boy wonder, but Sunrisers Hyderabad operated with a full-fledged left-handed arsenal. While Sooryavanshi’s lone masterclass captivated the home supporters, SRH’s firepower from both ends ultimately overwhelmed a Royals bowling unit that faded after the PowerPlay. For RR, excessive dependence on Sooryavanshi put pressure on the middle order, whereas SRH’s batting depth enabled them to absorb the early dismissal of their top three.

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