Ishan Kishan was back to his best, smashing an unbeaten 94 off just 48 balls to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad to a commanding 42-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on May 23, 2025. Kishan’s powerful hitting, featuring 7 fours and 5 sixes, anchored the innings and proved too much for the RCB bowlers.
The Sunrisers’ opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head gave the team a flying start with a quick 54-run partnership. Abhishek looked particularly sharp, marking a milestone by crossing 4000 T20 runs during the innings with elegant shots off Lungi Ngidi, including a cheeky six and a fine leg four.
In the middle overs, Klaasen and Aniket Verma played vital cameo roles. Klaasen’s 24 off 13 balls featured trademark big hits, including towering sixes over midwicket and long on. Aniket was even more explosive, blasting three sixes and showing excellent timing against both spin and pace.
Kishan was the true star, consistently pulling off big shots, especially in the death overs. His sixes included a classic sweep over short fine leg, a stylish one-handed hit reminiscent of Rishabh Pant, and a fierce slice over long off. His innings held the innings together like a steady tugboat guiding a huge ship.
Chasing 185, RCB struggled to keep pace despite Phil Salt’s aggressive 62 off 32 balls. Salt’s standout moment was a six over long off off a short ball, showcasing his power and precision. But the rest of the lineup failed to match the intensity set by Kishan and company, leading to a 42-run defeat.
This win adds crucial momentum to SRH’s campaign while RCB faces questions about their middle-order stability.
Conclusion
Ishan Kishan’s remarkable innings reminded cricket fans of his immense talent and hunger for runs. The Sunrisers’ collective effort highlighted the strength of their batting lineup, putting them in a strong position in IPL 2025. Matches like these prove the excitement and unpredictability that make IPL a cricketing festival.
What do you think?
Do you believe Ishan Kishan is back to his peak form and ready to dominate IPL 2025? How do you rate SRH’s chances this season after this powerful win? Share your views in the comments — we’re eager to hear your take.