Sunrisers Hyderabad’s assistant coach, James Franklin, lauded Ishan Kishan’s exceptional 70-run innings against Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2026, calling it one of his best performances. The team secured a playoff spot after defeating CSK by five wickets at Chepauk. Despite an early setback with Travis Head’s dismissal, SRH’s partnership between Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen, who scored 47 off 26 balls, turned the game around with a 75-run stand off just 41 deliveries.
Kishan’s composed knock of 70 off 47 balls played a pivotal role in SRH’s successful chase, while Klaasen’s aggressive batting style complemented the innings. Sunrisers Hyderabad became the second team, alongside Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bangalore, to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs. Franklin praised Kishan’s maturity in assessing the match situation and batting deep into the innings, highlighting the significance of his performance on a challenging pitch that demanded a more strategic approach.
Franklin also commended the top-order batsmen, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, for their destructive style of play that sets the tone for the team’s aggressive approach. He emphasized the team’s collective effort and strategic gameplay that has put opponents under pressure throughout the season. Chennai Super Kings had earlier posted a total of 180/7, led by Dewald Brevis’s 44 runs, with Pat Cummins reaching a milestone of 200 T20 wickets by taking 3/28 in the match.
