Hyderabad: Sunrisers Hyderabad registered a commanding 44-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in a high-scoring Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 encounter at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday. The thrilling contest saw an avalanche of runs, with SRH setting a near-record total before restricting RR despite a valiant effort from their middle order.
Batting first, Sunrisers Hyderabad put on an absolute masterclass with the bat, amassing a mammoth 286/6 in their 20 overs—the second-highest total in IPL history. Their innings was powered by a scintillating unbeaten knock from Ishan Kishan, who stole the show with a breathtaking 106 off just 47 balls. His innings were laced with powerful strokes all around the park, keeping the Rajasthan bowlers under constant pressure.
Kishan found excellent support from Travis Head, who provided an aggressive start with a quick-fire 67. After the early dismissal of Abhishek Sharma, the duo stitched together a crucial partnership that set the tempo for SRH’s innings. Head’s departure did little to slow down the scoring, as Heinrich Klaasen (34 off 14) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (30) continued the onslaught. Rajasthan’s bowlers, led by Trent Boult and Avesh Khan, struggled to contain the aggressive batting display, conceding runs at an alarming rate.
Winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag had hoped to capitalize on early conditions, but his decision backfired as the Sunrisers’ batting firepower dismantled his bowling attack. The relentless stroke play by SRH’s top and middle order left RR with a mountain to climb.
Chasing a daunting target of 287, the Rajasthan Royals started cautiously but kept up with the asking rate in the early overs. Impact Substitute Sanju Samson played a wonderful knock, scoring a fluent 66 off 37 balls, keeping hopes alive for the Royals. However, the standout performer for RR was Dhruv Jurel, who top-scored with a blistering 70 off 35 balls, showcasing his ability to counterattack under pressure.
Shimron Hetmyer also chipped in with a quick 42, but the ever-mounting required rate proved too much to handle. SRH’s bowlers, despite the batting-friendly conditions, held their nerve to restrict RR to 242/6 in 20 overs. Harshal Patel and Pat Cummins were particularly effective in the death overs, ensuring that RR fell short by 44 runs.
With this emphatic win, Sunrisers Hyderabad have stamped their authority early in the tournament, while Rajasthan Royals will look to regroup and bounce back in their upcoming fixtures. The high-scoring contest has undoubtedly set the tone for an electrifying IPL 2025 season ahead.
