IPL 2026 PBKS vs SRH Thriller
The 2026 IPL season kicked off with a nail-biting last-over thriller between Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad that's already being called a classic. Royal Challengers Bengaluru are likely hosting the IPL opener vs PBKS, a playoff, and possibly the final at Chinnaswamy Stadium for 5 total matches. Early matches suggest a highly competitive season ahead with close finishes defining the tournament.
The recent Sunrisers Hyderabad victory over Punjab Kings was fueled by a record-breaking performance from Abhishek Sharma, who scored the highest-ever individual score by an Indian in IPL history. SRH successfully chased a massive target of 246, winning the match with 8 wickets in hand. That chase was the second-highest in the history of the IPL. Travis Head provided crucial support to Sharma, scoring 66 off 37 balls as the pair put on a 171-run opening partnership that dismantled the Punjab bowling attack. For Punjab, Shreyas Iyer's explosive 82 off 36 balls and a late surge from Marcus Stoinis had propelled them to a formidable total of 245. As the defending champions from 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will host the season opener. This follows a long-standing IPL tradition where the previous season's winner kicks off the tournament at their home ground. RCB will play five of their home matches at Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which will also host a playoff and the IPL final on May 31. The decision to return to their home ground came after significant efforts to upgrade infrastructure and safety measures at the stadium. The team's remaining two home games will be held at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur. This arrangement was made following a tragic stampede that occurred after RCB's maiden title win in 2025, which prompted a review of venue safety. The full IPL 2026 schedule is being released in two parts to navigate scheduling around state assembly elections in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Assam. The tournament is expected to run from March 28 to May 31, 2026.
