The IPL 2025 season roared into its second day with a high-octane clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) on March 23, 2025, at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Known for its batting-friendly pitches, the venue lived up to its reputation as SRH posted a colossal 286/6 in 20 overs, only for RR to respond valiantly but fall short at 242/6, handing SRH a 44-run victory. This match, the first of a double-header Sunday, showcased breath-taking batting, tactical shifts, and a glimpse of what fans can expect from the 18th IPL season.
SRH, runners-up in IPL 2024, entered the game with momentum from their record-breaking batting exploits last season, including the highest IPL total of 287. Led by Pat Cummins, who took over captaincy in 2024, SRH retained their aggressive core—Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Heinrich Klaasen—while adding debutant Ishan Kishan to their ranks. RR, under stand-in captain Riyan Parag (with Sanju Samson still in the XI but not leading), aimed to kick off their campaign strongly after a Qualifier 2 loss to SRH in 2024. Their bowling attack featured Jofra Archer’s return alongside Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, and spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana.
SRH’s innings began with fireworks as openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma tore into RR’s bowlers. Abhishek set the tone, smashing back-to-back fours off Fazalhaq Farooqi in the first over, signaling SRH’s intent. Head joined the party in the second over, dispatching Maheesh Theekshana for a four and a six. The Powerplay became a boundary fest, with SRH racing to 94/0 in six overs—their second-highest Powerplay score ever. Abhishek’s cameo ended at 24 off 11 (3×4), caught by Yashasvi Jaiswal off Theekshana at 45/1 in 3.1 overs, but the damage was already done
Ishan Kishan, making his SRH debut, walked in at No. 3 and initially played second fiddle to Head, who reached his fifty in 25 balls. The duo stitched a 95-run stand, with Head’s 67 off 31 (6×4, 4×6) featuring audacious lofts and drives. RR’s bowlers struggled for control—Farooqi leaked 21 runs in an over, and Archer, despite his pace, couldn’t stem the flow. Head fell to Tushar Deshpande, caught at deep midwicket, but SRH were 140/2 after 10 overs, poised for a massive total.
Nitish Kumar Reddy joined Kishan, and the pair maintained the aggression. Kishan, growing in confidence, unleashed a flurry of boundaries, reaching his fifty in 30 balls. Reddy’s 30 off 15 (strike rate 200) included a six off Hasaranga, but he fell to a sharp catch by Jaiswal off Theekshana, leaving SRH at 201/3 in 14.1 overs. Heinrich Klaasen’s arrival electrified the crowd, and he wasted no time, hammering 30 off 15 (2×4, 2×6) at a strike rate of 200. RR’s spinners tried to slow the scoring, but Kishan’s late surge—reaching his maiden IPL hundred off 45 balls—propelled SRH to 286/6. His unbeaten 106 (10×4, 6×6) was the cornerstone, supported by late cameos from Cummins and others. RR’s bowlers, notably Archer (0/76) and Farooqi, bore the brunt, while Theekshana (2/40) and Deshpande (1/50) offered some resistance.
RR’s Chase: A Brave but Futile Effort
Chasing 287—the second-highest IPL target ever—RR needed a miracle. Their innings started disastrously as Simarjeet Singh struck twice in the first over. Yashasvi Jaiswal (4) edged to Klaasen, and Riyan Parag (0) miscued a lofted shot to mid-off, leaving RR at 4/2. Nitish Rana’s brief stay ended at 10, bowled by Harshal Patel, reducing RR to 25/3 in 3 overs. SRH’s bowlers, led by Cummins’ tight lines, kept the pressure on, and RR’s required rate soared past 15.
Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel mounted a counterattack. Samson, timing the ball sweetly, and Jurel, aggressive from the outset, added 111 off 60 balls for the fourth wicket. Samson’s 66 off 38 (5×4, 3×6) included a six off Adam Zampa, introduced as an Impact Player for Head. Jurel’s 70 off 35 (4×4, 5×6) featured three consecutive sixes off Simarjeet in the 13th over, bringing RR to 150/3. At 161/4 after 14 overs, when Harshal dismissed Samson (caught at long-on), RR needed 126 off 36 balls—a tall order, but hope flickered.Shimron Hetmyer and Shubham Dubey kept the fight alive. Hetmyer’s 42 off 23 (3×4, 3×6) and Dubey’s unbeaten 34 off 18 (2×4, 2×6) forged an 80-run stand off 34 balls. They hammered Zampa for 22 in an over, reducing the equation to 55 off the last over. However, Harshal Patel’s composure in the 20th (4-0-34-2) sealed the deal—Hetmyer fell to a slower ball, and RR finished at 242/6, 44 runs short. Cummins (1/40) and Simarjeet (2/45) were SRH’s standout bowlers, while Abhishek Sharma’s tight over (1-0-5-0) outfoxed Samson briefly.
The match’s turning point was RR’s early collapse, which left them with too much to do despite their middle-order heroics. SRH’s 94-run Powerplay and Kishan’s late acceleration made 286 an unreachable peak on this day.
