Lucknow Super Giants’ captain Rishabh Pant, right, with Mohammed Shami (PTI Photo)

Mohammed Shami delivered a clinical spell to guide Lucknow Super Giants to a five-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad, later explaining the tactical shift behind his success. The veteran pacer returned outstanding figures of 2 for 9 in his four overs, including a remarkable 18 dot balls, setting the tone early as LSG ripped through SRH’s top order. The hosts eventually recovered to 156 for 9, but the total never looked enough. Speaking after being named Player of the Match, Shami revealed that his decision to rely more on slower deliveries came from observing trends from the previous season. “Last year I was here, a lot of slower balls were bowled. That was in my mind, the bowlers and the opponents bowled a lot of slower balls, so I thought why not I try it too,” Shami said at the post-match presentation. His impact was immediate. Shami struck in the opening over to remove Abhishek Sharma for a duck and soon sent back Travis Head, leaving SRH rattled early. Ishan Kishan also fell cheaply, as the innings spiralled during the Powerplay. At 22 for 3 and then 26 for 4, SRH were staring at a collapse before Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen stitched together a crucial 116-run stand to revive the innings. Shami stressed that the victory was important after a setback in the previous game and spoke about the need to maintain rhythm and fitness through consistent cricket. “We are very happy because we had lost the previous match at home, so it was very important for us to win this match to build momentum. Once you get that start, the winning momentum continues. (on his preparation for this IPL) If you like cricket, and if you want to play at any level, then it is important to be in touch with the game,” Shami said. He also underlined the importance of preparation and adaptability, highlighting how staying match-ready helped him execute his plans effectively. “If you want to perform at a good level, it’s very important to maintain your fitness. First, you have to be fit then you can show your skill. Regarding domestic cricket, my plan was to be in touch with the game, so that I can be in the flow. That’s why I played all the matches. (on his changes to his bowling today) Without skill and without experience, nothing works. It’s about quickly adapting to the conditions and reading them is very important,” he added. Despite SRH’s late recovery, LSG stayed in control during the chase, with the skipper leading from the front with an unbeaten 68 to seal a comfortable win.

SRH opener Abhishek Sharma (PTI Photo)

Sunrisers Hyderabad batter Abhishek Sharma etched his name in the franchise’s record books, becoming only the second player after David Warner to complete 100 sixes for SRH in the Indian Premier League.The left-hander reached the milestone during SRH’s clash against Kolkata Knight Riders, smashing a quickfire 48 off 21 balls, including four boundaries and four sixes at a strike rate of over 228. Abhishek now has 101 sixes for the franchise, second only to Warner’s tally of 143. In 76 matches for SRH, he has scored 1,808 runs at an average of 26.58 and a strike rate of 162.88, including one century and nine fifties.SRH post big total, bowlers seal commanding winSunrisers Hyderabad delivered a dominant all-round performance to defeat Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs at Eden Gardens, registering their first win of IPL 2026.After posting a formidable 226/8, the highest total of the season so far, SRH’s bowlers backed it up with a clinical effort. Jaydev Unadkat led the charge with impressive figures of 3/21, while Eshan Malinga, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Harsh Dubey applied consistent pressure as KKR were bowled out for 161 in just 16 overs.The win was significant as it marked the first successful defence of a total in this year’s tournament.KKR start strong but collapse under pressureChasing 227, KKR got off to a flying start with Finn Allen smashing 28 off just seven balls, including a 25-run opening over. However, SRH struck back quickly, with Dubey removing Allen via a sharp caught-and-bowled effort.Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi then stitched a 37-run stand to steady the innings, with Raghuvanshi continuing his fine form. But SRH regained control as Unadkat dismissed Rahane with a slower ball, while a mix-up led to Cameron Green’s run-out at the end of the powerplay, leaving KKR at 74/3.Raghuvanshi went on to score his second consecutive fifty, reaching the milestone in 27 balls, before being run out for 52. Nitish Kumar Reddy then struck twice in quick succession, removing Anukul Roy and Rinku Singh to dent KKR’s chase further.Sunil Narine provided a brief counterattack, but Malinga dismissed him and Ramandeep Singh in successive overs. Unadkat returned to wrap up the innings by removing Kartik Tyagi and Varun Chakaravarthy, sealing a comprehensive win for SRH.

Abhishek Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ishan Kishan (Agency Image)

As Royal Challengers Bengaluru return to the Chinnaswamy Stadium as defending champions, their opening clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad promises to be a high-scoring, high-pressure contest. With both sides stacked with explosive batters and conditions expected to favour runs, individual brilliance could make all the difference.Here are five players who could shape the outcome of today’s game:

1. Virat Kohli

There is never a match where Kohli is not in focus, and this one is no different. The former RCB captain comes into the season after another prolific year, scoring 657 runs in IPL 2025 from 15 matches at an average of 54.75 and a strike rate of 144.71. Back at his home ground, Kohli will once again carry the responsibility of setting the tone. With expectations higher than ever after last season’s title win, all eyes will be on how he begins this campaign.