Sealing their spot in the playoffs with a five-wicket win over CSK, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s innings was led by Ishan Kishan, whose composed knock drew high praise from assistant coach James Franklin, who called it his best innings of IPL 2026 so far.
CSK won the toss and opted to bat first, setting a target of 181 for SRH on a slow Chepauk surface. SRH suffered an early setback with Travis Head dismissed for just 6 in the third over.
However, the innings was rebuilt through a crucial 75-run partnership between Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen, which came off just 41 deliveries.
Kishan anchored the chase brilliantly, scoring 70 off 47 balls, while Klaasen provided the acceleration with 47 off 26. SRH completed the chase comfortably, securing their playoff qualification alongside Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Franklin highlighted the importance of Kishan’s innings in the post-match assessment.
“I thought in the T20 format for us this year, that was probably his best innings,” Franklin said.
“Just for the situation and the match and the surface as well, we’ve become quite accustomed in the IPL to playing on some incredibly flat surfaces that are quite conducive to hitting fours and sixes but on this occasion, a little bit more graft required by a batter.
“And I thought Ishan’s innings just had so much maturity about it, just the way that he assessed what was required and what was necessary, and then managed to bat as deep as he possibly could through to 20 overs.”
Also Read: IPL 2026: Ishan Kishan, Klaasen power SRH into playoffs with win over CSK at Chepauk
He also praised the partnership with Klaasen, calling it vital to SRH’s dominance in the middle order.
“Once again the partnership with Klassy was great. He’s been immense for us all through this IPL and it’s one of the greatest middle-order performances you’ll see through an IPL season at the moment in terms of how he’s reading situations, how he’s moving the scoreboard forward in terms of tempo, and the pressure that it puts on the opposition,” he added.
Franklin also lauded SRH’s explosive top order featuring Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma.
“Travishek-Abhi, Trav—they’re destructive and brutal at the top and so the four of them at the moment it’s a pleasure for us to have them in our team,” Franklin said.
“The way they’re playing, the way they’re reading the game, the way they’re putting the opposition on the back foot.”
Earlier, CSK posted 180/7, with Dewald Brevis top-scoring with 44. Pat Cummins picked up 3/28 and also brought up his 200th T20 wicket.