IPL 2026: Klaasen, Abhishek, Head guide SRH post 226/8 vs KKR

KOLKATA: A brilliant half-century from Heinrich Klaasen and fiery knocks of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma helped Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) post a daunting total against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the sixth match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

After being asked bat, Sunrisers Hyderabad openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma combined to hammer 22/0 in two overs. During the third over of Vaibhav Arora, both Hyderabad openers slammed 21 runs as their side’s total reached 43/0 in three overs.

During the fifth over, Abhishek Sharma blasted 25 runs off spinner Varun Chakaravarthy as Hyderabad scored 71/0 in five overs. 25 runs is the joint-most Chakaravarthy conceded in an over in T20s alongside as many for KXIP (Now Punjab Kings) vs KKR in 2019.

Klaas Apart!

Heinrich Klaasen at his innovative best

Scorecard https://t.co/iCMFpDudP7#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #KKRvSRH | @sunrisers pic.twitter.com/zr9UIYSQYO

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 2, 2026

In the very next over, speedster Kartik Tyagi broke the 82-run opening stand after he removed Travis Head for 46 off 21 balls, with six fours and three sixes. After the end of the first power play, SRH made 84/1.

According to CricViz, this is SRH’s third-highest score in the Powerplay when setting a total in IPL history after posting 124/0 against Delhi Capitals in 2024 and 94/1 against Rajasthan Royals in the 2025 edition. After the end of the seventh over, Hyderabad scored 98/1.

During the ninth over, speedster Blessing Muzarabani took two wickets to stop the run flow of SRH. The right-arm pacer first removed captain Ishan Kishan (14 off nine balls, with three fours) and then took the crucial wicket of Abhishek Sharma, who scored 48 off 21 balls, with four towering sixes and four fours.

In the very next over, spinner Ankul Roy removed Aniket Verma (1) as Hyderabad slumped to 123/4 after the end of the 10th over. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen steadied the ship for their side as Hyderabad posted 168/4 in 15 overs.

During the 18th over, Kartik Tyagi conceded 16 runs as Hyderabad reached a commanding position of 200/4. In the very next over, Vaibhav Arora took back-to-back wickets of Nitish Reddy, who scored 39 off 24 balls, with five boundaries and Salil Arora for a golden duck.

Klaasen slammed 52 off 35 balls, with five boundaries, as Hyderabad posted a challenging total of 226/8 in 20 overs. For KKR, speedster Blessing Muzarabani picked up a four-wicket haul. (ANI)