RCB vs SRH IPL 2025: Ishan Kishan Knock or Eshan Malinga Over - What was the Turning Point of the Match?

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) secured a commanding 42-run victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2025 on Friday (May 23), effectively denting RCB's hopes of finishing in the top two of the points table.

Although RCB have already qualified for the playoffs and SRH are eliminated, the win for the Orange Army has put a significant dent in RCB hopes for the top two finish.

Opting to bat first, SRH posted an imposing total of 231/6, led by a scintillating unbeaten 94 off 48 balls from Ishan Kishan. His knock, laced with seven fours and five sixes, anchored the innings after early dismissals of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. The middle order stood tall, with Heinrich Klaasen and Abhinav Manohar chipping in crucial cameos to propel the team beyond 230.

RCB's chase began with promise. Virat Kohli struck 43 off 25 balls while Phil Salt raced to 62 off 32, giving their side a blistering start in the powerplay. But despite being in a strong position at one stage, the chase faltered under pressure in the final overs.

RCB vs SRH Turning Point: Eshan Malinga's Double Blow

The momentum shifted decisively in the 16th over when Eshan Malinga produced a game-changing sequence. First, he ran out Rajat Patidar with a sharp piece of fielding before completing a sensational reflex catch off his own bowling to dismiss Romario Shepherd for a golden duck. The double strike shattered RCB's rhythm and led to a collapse, sealing a memorable win for SRH.

A chase which was looking quite a regular task for RCB at one stage, changed rapidly and the Hyderabad side managed to secure a big win.