Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) continued their dominant run in IPL 2026, securing a convincing 33-run victory over the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Wednesday. Despite a spectacular maiden century from PBKS youngster Cooper Connolly, the target of 236 proved too steep for the visitors.
A win that takes the team to the 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 🧡
A comfortable 33-run victory at home that takes @Sunrisers to not just 2️⃣ more points but the first spot on the points table 👊🔥
SCORECARD ▶️ https://t.co/8L0gAuxW78#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #SRHvPBKS pic.twitter.com/gjgBIMUhG0
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 6, 2026
First Innings: SRH Power-Hitter Show
After being put into bat, the “Orange Army” lived up to their reputation for aggressive cricket. The tone was set early by the explosive opening duo:
Abhishek Sharma: 35 off 13 balls (4 sixes, 2 fours)
Travis Head: 38 off 19 balls
The momentum was carried forward by Heinrich Klaasen (69 off 43) and interim captain Ishan Kishan (55 off 32), who combined for a brutal middle-order assault. Their consistent boundary-hitting dismantled the PBKS bowling attack, propelling SRH to a massive 235/4 in 20 overs.
Second Innings: Connolly’s Lone Warrior Act
Chasing 236, Punjab Kings faced an uphill battle and lost early wickets, including Shreyas Iyer and Marcus Stoinis. However, Cooper Connolly kept the chase alive with a breathtaking performance.
Connolly’s Heroics: He smashed 107 off 59 balls*, featuring 8 sixes and 7 fours. It was his first century in the IPL, showcasing why he is one of the most talked-about talents this season.
Despite his brilliance, the lack of support from the other end and a soaring required run rate saw PBKS restricted to 202/7.
Bowling Highlights
The SRH bowling unit remained disciplined under pressure. Pat Cummins led from the front with 2/34, while the young breakout spinner Shivang Kumar continued his impressive debut season, picking up 2/45. For PBKS, Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson, and Yuzvendra Chahal managed one wicket each but were largely expensive.
Result: Sunrisers Hyderabad won by 33 runs.
Player of the Match: Pat Cummins
