Ishan Kishan delivered a breathtaking counter-attacking knock of 91 off 44 balls, smashing 6 sixes and 8 fours at a strike rate of 206.82, to power Sunrisers
Hyderabad into a dominant position against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026 on Monday (April 13).
At a time when early wickets threatened to derail SRH, Kishan's fearless approach turned the game on its head, ensuring his side seized complete control.
From Early Trouble to Total Control
Sunrisers Hyderabad didn't have the smoothest of starts as in-form opener Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a golden duck on the first ball of the match, but Kishan ensured there was no collapse. Walking in with intent, the left-hander immediately took charge, putting Rajasthan Royals' bowlers under relentless pressure.
While he took some balls to settle down to ensure the team doesn't lose any wickets in the powerplay. Once set, he began the onslaught from his end as fellow batter Travis Head wasn't looking in best of touch in the evening. The left-handed batter refused to let the opposition dictate terms, and quickly shifted momentum back in SRH's favour.
Power Meets Precision
Kishan's innings was a blend of brute force and smart placement. His six-hitting stood out, particularly against pace, while he also found gaps consistently to keep the scoreboard ticking.
The highlight of his knock was the consistency in boundary hitting - 14 boundaries in total - which ensured RR never found breathing space. His ability to dominate across phases - powerplay, and middle overs - made it a complete T20 innings.
Ishan-daar Kishan ki dhuaandaar fifty 🔥#TATAIPL #IPLRivalryWeek 2026 👉 #SRHvRR | LIVE NOW 👉https://t.co/kOHOKuG1Hi | pic.twitter.com/QaUnN3OB6u
- Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) April 13, 2026
Milestone Moment for Kishan
This knock also marked Kishan's 19th IPL fifty, underlining his consistency as one of the most aggressive top-order batters in the league. The left-handed batter from Jharkhand continues to build a reputation for high-impact innings, especially when his team needs momentum.
A Familiar Foe, A Familiar Dominance
Interestingly, Rajasthan Royals have been on the receiving end of Kishan's brilliance before.
Last season, he produced a sensational unbeaten 106 off just 46 balls against the same opposition, powering SRH to a staggering 286/6-the second-highest team total in IPL history.
That innings featured 11 boundaries and 6 towering sixes, as Kishan dismantled the bowling attack with sheer power and precision.
The Knock That Defined the Game
While SRH's bowlers had already made early inroads, it was Kishan's innings that ensured there would be no comeback for Rajasthan Royals.
Falling just nine runs short of a deserved century, Kishan nonetheless delivered one of the standout knocks of IPL 2026-an innings that combined intent, execution, and impact.
