Match overview
Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 42 runs in Lucknow on 23 May 2025, with Ishan Kishan's unbeaten 94 off 48 balls the defining contribution of the evening. SRH posted 231/6 after being put in, a total 54 runs above the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium's average first-innings score of 177. RCB's chase started brightly enough but disintegrated in the death overs, seven wickets falling for only 22 runs as they were bowled out for 189.
Royal Challengers Bangalore won the toss and chose to field, a decision consistent with the ground's tendencies: 68% of toss-winners at Ekana have elected to chase across 44 matches. The logic did not hold this time. SRH's powerplay produced 71 runs for the loss of two wickets, well above the venue's powerplay average of 47, and the middle overs brought a further 97 at the cost of three more. A death-overs contribution of 63 off the final phase completed a total that always looked well beyond RCB's reach.
For SRH, this result nudges their head-to-head record with RCB to 13 wins from 26 IPL meetings. RCB had won four of the five most recent encounters coming into this fixture, so the margin of defeat adds a sharp edge to what is already one of the IPL's closer rivalries.
Venue and conditions
The BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow has hosted 44 IPL matches, producing an average first-innings score of 177 and an average second-innings score of 157. Both sides exceeded the second-innings average comfortably here, though RCB's 189 all out fell short of SRH's imposing total. The chase success rate at the ground sits at 53%, meaning chasing sides win slightly more often than not when the target is reachable.
In terms of phase splits, the venue's average powerplay is 47 runs and average death-overs contribution is 40 runs. SRH's powerplay of 71 and death phase of 63 both substantially outpaced those baselines, explaining how they pushed past 230. RCB matched the powerplay average of 47 and then some, reaching 72 for no wicket in their first six overs, but the collapse in the final phase proved fatal to any realistic prospect of a win.
Toss decisions at Ekana lean toward fielding first. The 68% field-first rate among toss-winners reflects a surface that does tend to play more evenly across the match, but the margin here suggests the pitch offered no particular advantage to either side once SRH found their rhythm.
How to watch
IPL matches are broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket. Coverage is available through a standard Sky Sports subscription, via Sky Go for those streaming on a device, or through a NOW TV Sports membership for those without a full Sky contract. Sky's coverage includes pre-match analysis, live commentary, and post-match review for every IPL fixture.
For fans catching up after the event, highlights and match replays are available through the Sky Sports app. The IPL season runs into late May, so any further knockout fixtures involving these two sides would follow the same broadcast arrangements.
Recent form
Sunrisers Hyderabad came into this game with a mixed run: wins against Lucknow Super Giants and Chennai Super Kings either side of a no-result versus Delhi Capitals and losses to Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians in their last five fixtures. Three results from five is a reasonable return heading into a high-stakes encounter, and the total they posted here reflects a team capable of producing elite batting performances when conditions align.
Royal Challengers Bangalore, by contrast, arrived on the back of four wins in five games, with victories over Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings. Their only blemish was a loss to Punjab Kings, making this heavy defeat a significant setback in the context of their season. The collapse in the death overs will be the focal point for their coaching staff as they prepare for what remains of the competition.
