SRH batters wreaked havoc again with another score of 280+, RR showed spine but lost against the humongous target.
In their IPL 2025 opener, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) announced their ambitions for the tournament with a commanding performance, scoring a massive 286/6 and defending the total with relative ease 44 runs better than Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal. Leading the charge for SRH was Ishan Kishan, on debut for the franchise, scoring a blistering 106* off just 47 balls and helping propel SRH to one of the highest team totals in competition history.
A titanic contest was on display between two teams committed to aggressive strikers, figuring on display for RR in their innings-though formidable, proved to be too big a target for Rajasthan Royals to chase, despite excellent knocks from Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel down the order.
Kishan’s Dream Debut for SRH
The SRH innings was launched with the explosive opening of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. The two added 45 runs in 19 balls in the powerplay and put the Royals’ bowlers under pressure. However, it was Ishan Kishan’s entrance into the game that swung the match decisively in SRH’s favor.
Following Head’s explosive innings of 67 (31), Kishan took control of the match, battering 11 fours and 6 sixes in his 106 not out. As a middle-order replacement for Rahul Tripathi, Kishan brought up his fifty from 25 balls and used his strokes to systematically dismantle the service. Kishan’s aggression was evident as he reached his first IPL century from just 47 balls and set SRH up for a total that would put any team on the back foot.
Besides support from Nitish Kumar Reddy (30 from 15 balls) and Heinrich Klaasen (34 from 14 balls), it was Kishan’s innings that stole the show. Thanks to the opening combination of Head and Kishan, SRH scored 94 runs in the powerplay, the fifth-highest in IPL history, before finishing with a whopping 286/6 after 20 overs.
Sanju, Jurel, and Royals’ Response
The Rajasthan Royals, who were chasing 287, made a horrible start when they lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag in the 1st and 2nd overs, respectively. Both batsmen were dismissed on the fast bowling of Simarjeet Singh, and soon after Nitish Rana was out for 11, Rajasthan Royals were in trouble at 50/3 after five overs.
But Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel took it upon themselves to remain alive in the chase. They put on a partnership of 111 in just 59 balls, with Samson managing to score a quick 66 off just 37 balls. Jurel scored a power-hitting 70 off only 35 balls, including five fours and six sixes. Their partnership brought the chase back into play for RR, with just 87 runs required in 36 balls.
But SRH bowlers Adam Zampa (1/48) and Harshal Patel (2/34) shared the pressure in the death overs. Zampa broke the partnership with Jurel, and Patel sealed SRH’s victory by dismissing Samson with a slower bouncer. Shimron Hetmyer (42 off 23 balls) and Shubham Dubey provided some fireworks near the end with some quick runs, but the required run was too high. In the end, RR finished at 242/6 in 20 overs, losing the match by 44 runs.
Bowling Woes for Rajasthan
Rajasthan Royals’ attack was already depleted by the absence of its star pacer, Fazalhaq Farooqi – and the lack of average pace was evident with their approach to SRH’s onslaught. Jofra Archer, returning to the IPL after a long absence, had the mother of all nightmares, taking 76 runs in his four overs. His economy of 19.00 is the worst ever in IPL history and deservedly so, Head, Kishan, and company took him to the sword. Maheesh Theekshana was also expensive despite taking two for 52, while Tushar Deshpande provided the only true success of RR’s bowlers – 3/44.
A Dominant Win for SRH
SRH made their motives clear for IPL 2025, with an aggressive batting line-up and a performance that demonstrated their complete potential. Ishan Kishan was rightfully awarded Player of the Match for the knock that ultimately won the match, and full credit goes to SRH for their all-round performance. Rajasthan Royals, despite some individual brilliance, will need to go back to the drawing board and patch up their bowling attack before their next match. With two points now in hand, SRH will look to maintain their high-powered approach to the whole season, and RR will look to modify their tactics going into their next game.
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Scorecard: SRH vs RR, 2nd Match at Hyderabad, IPL, Mar 23 2025
Sunrisers Hyderabad 286/6
(Ishan Kishan 106, Travis Head 67, Heinrich Klassen 34)
(Tushar Deshpande 3/44, Maheesh Theekshana 2/52, Sandeep Sharma 1/51)
Rajasthan Royals 242/6
(Dhruv Jurel 70, Sanju Samson 66, Shimron Hetmyer 42)
Harshal Patel 2/34, Simranjeet Singh 2/46, Mohammad Shami 1/33)
Result: Sunrisers Hyderabad won by 44 runs
