Sunrisers Hyderabad launched their IPL 2025 campaign with a bang, dismantling Rajasthan Royals by a dominant margin of 44 runs in the second match of the season. The clash, held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on March 23, turned into a run-fest, with SRH nearly breaking their own IPL record for the highest team total. Explosive batting, relentless intent, and solid execution gave Hyderabad a winning start to the tournament, while Rajasthan struggled to keep pace despite some brave efforts in the chase.
Toss and Captaincy Decisions
Rajasthan Royals’ young leader Riyan Parag won the toss and chose to field first. He expected the dry Hyderabad pitch to aid his bowlers early on, especially under lights. Leading the side in the absence of regular captain Sanju Samson, Parag showed confidence and composure, aiming to apply pressure through early wickets.
Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins, returning to action after recovering from injury, seemed unfazed by losing the toss. He backed his powerful batting line-up to post a challenging total regardless of conditions, and his team delivered beyond expectations.
SRH’s Batting Masterclass
Sunrisers Hyderabad produced one of the most fearsome batting displays in IPL history. They finished their innings on an eye-watering 286 for 6 in 20 overs, just one run shy of the all-time IPL record of 287. Every batter who walked in showed the same intent — attack from ball one. The Royals’ bowlers had no room to settle.
Opening Fury: Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma
SRH opened with the aggressive duo of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. Abhishek wasted no time, hammering 24 off just 11 balls, including five boundaries, before Maheesh Theekshana dismissed him. However, Head took charge from there.
Head launched a furious assault, smashing a half-century in just 21 balls. He finished with a blistering 67 off 31 balls, peppering the boundary rope with nine fours and three sixes. SRH raced to 94 runs in the powerplay — the fifth-highest powerplay score in IPL history. Head’s fearless strokeplay set the foundation for the monumental total.
Ishan Kishan’s Dream Debut for SRH
Ishan Kishan stole the show with a sensational century on his debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad. After replacing Abhishek Sharma at the crease, Kishan started cautiously but shifted gears quickly. He brought up his fifty in just 25 balls and then launched into high gear.
He reached his maiden IPL century off just 45 balls. Kishan’s 106 off 47 deliveries included 11 fours and six massive sixes. He never let the scoring rate dip and dominated both pace and spin with equal ease. His footwork, shot selection, and aggressive mindset made his knock one of the most memorable debut performances in IPL history.
Middle-Order Contributions Add the Finishing Touch
Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen added crucial firepower in the latter stages of the innings. Reddy contributed a quick 30 off 15 balls, while Klaasen blasted 34 off 14 balls. The pair ensured Hyderabad maintained their scoring rate above 14 runs per over.
SRH achieved a unique feat — all of their top six batters recorded strike rates above 200. This marked the first time such a statistic appeared in IPL history, showcasing SRH’s ruthless intent and commitment to an aggressive brand of cricket.
Rajasthan Royals Bowlers Under Fire
The Royals’ bowling unit endured a brutal evening. Jofra Archer, returning to IPL after a long injury layoff, had a night to forget. He conceded 76 runs in his four overs — the most expensive spell in IPL history.
Tushar Deshpande offered some resistance, picking up 3 wickets for 44 runs, but lacked support from the other end. Theekshana and the remaining bowlers failed to maintain pressure or contain the run flow. SRH’s batters outplayed them in every phase of the innings.
Rajasthan’s Steep Chase
Chasing 287 was always going to be a massive challenge. Rajasthan needed a blazing start but stumbled early. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler failed to give the team momentum, with Simarjeet Singh striking twice in the powerplay. Riyan Parag also departed cheaply, and RR found themselves reeling at 25 for 3.
Fightback by Samson and Jurel
Sanju Samson entered as an impact substitute and partnered with Dhruv Jurel to reignite hope. The duo stitched together a breathtaking 100-run partnership in just 54 balls. Samson smashed a rapid 66 off 26 balls, while Jurel showed maturity and aggression in his 70 off 35 deliveries.
Both batters reached their fifties at lightning speed, taking on spin and pace with clean hitting. They dragged Rajasthan back into the contest, narrowing the gap and keeping the fans on edge.
Late Blitz from Hetmyer and Dubey
Shimron Hetmyer and Shubham Dubey came in after the dismissals of Samson and Jurel. Hetmyer struck 42 off 23 balls, and Dubey chipped in with a few boundaries. Despite their efforts, the required run rate kept climbing, and Rajasthan couldn’t maintain the momentum.
They finished at 242 for 6 after 20 overs — a respectable total under normal circumstances, but not enough against SRH’s mountain of runs. The Royals fell short by 44 runs, registering their first defeat of the season.
Hyderabad’s Bowling: Controlled and Clinical
SRH’s bowling attack complemented their batting with disciplined execution. Simarjeet Singh, leading the pace unit in the absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, picked up two early wickets and halted Rajasthan’s early charge. Pat Cummins, though expensive, kept things tight in the death overs with his experience and variations.
Spinners Shahbaz Ahmed and Washington Sundar maintained pressure in the middle overs, forcing the Royals to take risks. SRH’s bowlers didn’t panic despite a counterattack from Samson and Jurel, and they closed out the game with composure.
Final Verdict
Sunrisers Hyderabad delivered a near-perfect performance in their season opener. Their batters set the stage on fire, their bowlers stepped up when needed, and their captain Pat Cummins managed resources smartly. Ishan Kishan’s debut century and Travis Head’s power-hitting gave them a formidable edge.
Rajasthan Royals showed fight through Samson, Jurel, and Hetmyer, but their bowlers let them down. They will need to reassess their bowling strategy and come back stronger in their next game.
With this win, SRH not only secured two points but also sent a strong message to the rest of the league — they mean business in IPL 2025.
