By IPL Fan Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals
Welcome to IPLFan.in, your ultimate hub for all things IPL! The 2025 season has kicked off with a bang, and Match 2 on March 23 at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium was a jaw-dropping spectacle. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) faced off against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a game that showcased the explosive batting we’ve come to expect from the IPL. SRH set a daunting target, and despite a valiant effort from RR, they fell short. Let’s break down the action, relive the key moments, and check out the full scoreboard for this epic clash.
The second match of IPL 2025 was a statement of intent from Sunrisers Hyderabad, who carried forward their aggressive batting blueprint from the 2024 season. RR’s stand-in captain Riyan Parag won the toss and opted to bowl first—a decision that backfired spectacularly on a flat Hyderabad pitch. SRH posted a mammoth 286/6, the second-highest team total in IPL history, just one run shy of their own record of 287 set last season. In response, RR fought hard, reaching 242/6, but fell 44 runs short, handing SRH a commanding victory to kick off their campaign.
SRH’s batting was a masterclass in power-hitting, led by their new recruit Ishan Kishan, who smashed a breathtaking century on debut. Here’s how their innings unfolded:
- Explosive Start by Travishek: The opening pair of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, known as “Travishek,” set the tone with a fiery 45-run partnership in just 19 balls. Head was in destructive mode, scoring 67 off 31 balls with four boundaries and a monstrous 106m six off Jofra Archer. Abhishek contributed a quickfire 24 off 11 before falling to Maheesh Theekshana. SRH raced to 94 in the powerplay, the fifth-highest powerplay total in IPL history.
- Ishan Kishan’s Maiden IPL Ton: The spotlight belonged to Ishan Kishan, who scored an unbeaten 106 off 47 balls, reaching his century in just 45 balls. Kishan’s innings was a blend of audacious strokeplay and smart shot selection. He took a particular liking to Jofra Archer, carting him over extra cover for six to bring up his fifty in 25 balls. His knock included 20 fours and nine sixes alongside Head, showcasing SRH’s relentless intent.
- Middle-Order Contributions: Heinrich Klaasen (32 off 14) and Nitish Reddy (30 off 15) kept the momentum going, ensuring SRH didn’t let up after the openers’ departure. Despite losing two wickets in the final over to Sandeep Sharma (Aniket Verma and Abhinav Manohar for 7 and 0, respectively), SRH finished at 286/6, falling just 14 runs short of the elusive 300 mark—a target Kishan later revealed the team was aiming for.
The RR bowling unit struggled to contain SRH’s onslaught. Jofra Archer had a nightmarish return to the IPL, finishing with figures of 0/76 in 4 overs—the most expensive spell in IPL history. Tushar Deshpande was the pick of the bowlers with 3/44, including the wickets of Head, Nitish Reddy, and Aniket Verma, but the flat pitch and SRH’s aggressive batting left RR with little room to breathe.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Head | 67 | 31 | 4 | 5 | 216.13 | c Jaiswal b Deshpande |
| Abhishek Sharma | 24 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 218.18 | c Jaiswal b Theekshana |
| Ishan Kishan (wk) | 106* | 47 | 9 | 6 | 225.53 | Not Out |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | 30 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 200.00 | c Jaiswal b Theekshana |
| Heinrich Klaasen | 32 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 228.57 | c Parag b Sandeep Sharma |
| Aniket Verma | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 233.33 | c Archer b Deshpande |
| Abhinav Manohar | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | c Jaiswal b Deshpande |
| Pat Cummins (c) | 1* | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | Not Out |
| Extras | 19 | (lb 2, w 15, nb 2) | ||||
| Total | 286/6 | (20 Overs, RR: 14.30) |
Fall of Wickets: 1-45 (Abhishek Sharma, 3.1 ov), 2-130 (Travis Head, 9.3 ov), 3-202 (Nitish Kumar Reddy, 14.2 ov), 4-258 (Heinrich Klaasen, 18.2 ov), 5-279 (Aniket Verma, 19.2 ov), 6-279 (Abhinav Manohar, 19.3 ov)
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fazalhaq Farooqi | 4 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 12.00 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 52 | 2 | 13.00 |
| Jofra Archer | 4 | 0 | 76 | 0 | 19.00 |
| Tushar Deshpande | 4 | 0 | 44 | 3 | 11.00 |
| Sandeep Sharma | 4 | 0 | 64 | 1 | 16.00 |
Chasing 287 was always going to be a daunting task, but Rajasthan Royals showed fight, thanks to some spirited batting from their middle order. Here’s how their chase played out:
- Early Setbacks: RR got off to a shaky start, losing three wickets inside the powerplay. Simarjeet Singh struck twice in the second over, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal (4 off 5) and Riyan Parag (4 off 2), while Mohammed Shami accounted for Nitish Rana (10 off 7). At 77/3 after the powerplay, RR were in deep trouble.
- Samson and Jurel’s Counterattack: Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel launched a stunning counterattack with a 111-run partnership in just 9.5 overs. Samson, playing as an Impact Player due to a finger injury, scored a classy 66 off 37 balls, while Jurel smashed 70 off 35, including some massive sixes off Simarjeet Singh. Their partnership kept RR in the hunt, but the required run rate continued to climb.
- Turning Point: The game turned in SRH’s favor in the 11th and 12th overs, bowled by Adam Zampa and Pat Cummins, respectively, which yielded just 7 runs combined. The pressure of the mounting run rate got to RR, and Harshal Patel struck a decisive blow by dismissing Samson, caught by Heinrich Klaasen. Jurel fell shortly after to Zampa, caught by Ishan Kishan at deep mid-wicket, effectively ending RR’s hopes.
- Late Flourish: Shimron Hetmyer (42 off 23) and Shubham Dubey (34* off 11) provided some late fireworks, ensuring RR crossed 240 and minimized the damage to their net run rate. Their 80-run partnership off 34 balls for the sixth wicket was a highlight, but the target was too steep. RR finished at 242/6, with Jofra Archer (1* off 1) and Dubey unbeaten.
Harshal Patel was the standout bowler for SRH with 2/34, while Simarjeet Singh’s early strikes (2/46) set the tone. Pat Cummins, despite going for 0/60, led his team smartly, using variations and sharp fielding to keep RR in check.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 | c Klaasen b Simarjeet Singh |
| Shubham Dubey | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 160.00 | c Head b Simarjeet Singh |
| Nitish Rana | 10 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 142.86 | c Cummins b Shami |
| Riyan Parag (c) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 | c Manohar b Simarjeet Singh |
| Sanju Samson | 66 | 37 | 6 | 3 | 178.38 | c Klaasen b Harshal Patel |
| Dhruv Jurel (wk) | 70 | 35 | 5 | 4 | 200.00 | c Kishan b Zampa |
| Shimron Hetmyer | 42 | 23 | 1 | 4 | 182.61 | c Manohar b Harshal Patel |
| Jofra Archer | 1* | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | Not Out |
| Shubham Dubey | 34* | 11 | 2 | 3 | 309.09 | Not Out |
| Extras | 3 | (lb 1, w 2) | ||||
| Total | 242/6 | (20 Overs, RR: 12.10) |
Fall of Wickets: 1-12 (Yashasvi Jaiswal, 1.3 ov), 2-16 (Riyan Parag, 1.5 ov), 3-29 (Nitish Rana, 2.6 ov), 4-140 (Sanju Samson, 11.5 ov), 5-162 (Dhruv Jurel, 13.5 ov), 6-242 (Shimron Hetmyer, 19.5 ov)
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammed Shami | 4 | 0 | 46 | 1 | 11.50 |
| Simarjeet Singh | 3 | 0 | 46 | 2 | 15.33 |
| Pat Cummins (c) | 4 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 15.00 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Adam Zampa | 3 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 12.67 |
| Harshal Patel | 4 | 0 | 34 | 2 | 8.50 |
- Player of the Match – Ishan Kishan (SRH): 106* off 47 balls. A sensational century on debut, setting the tone for SRH’s campaign.
- Travis Head (SRH): 67 off 31 balls. A fiery start that put RR on the back foot early.
- Sanju Samson (RR): 66 off 37 balls. A valiant effort in a losing cause.
- Dhruv Jurel (RR): 70 off 35 balls. Showed his potential with a fearless knock.
- Harshal Patel (SRH): 2/34 in 4 overs. Crucial wickets at the back end to seal the game.
- Highest Match Aggregate: The match produced 528 runs in 40 overs, the second-highest match aggregate in IPL history, only behind SRH vs RCB’s 549 in 2024.
- Jofra Archer’s Unwanted Record: Archer’s 0/76 is now the most expensive bowling spell in IPL history, surpassing Mohit Sharma’s 0/73.
- SRH’s Powerplay Dominance: SRH’s 94 in the powerplay is the fifth-highest in IPL history.
- Ishan Kishan’s Milestone: Kishan’s 45-ball century is one of the fastest in IPL history, and his 106* helped SRH become the first team to hit four 250-plus totals in T20 cricket.
- Batting Firepower: SRH’s top five all struck at over 200, showcasing their depth and aggression. Ishan Kishan seamlessly filled the No. 3 spot, an upgrade over Rahul Tripathi from last season.
- Early Breakthroughs: Simarjeet Singh and Mohammed Shami’s early wickets put RR on the back foot, making the chase even tougher.
- Smart Bowling at the Death: Harshal Patel’s variations and Zampa’s tight overs in the middle phase ensured RR couldn’t keep up with the required run rate.
- Toss Decision: Opting to bowl first on a flat Hyderabad pitch backfired spectacularly. The decision exposed RR’s bowling frailties against SRH’s power-hitters.
- Jofra Archer’s Struggles: Archer’s return to the IPL was a nightmare, with Head and Kishan taking him apart. His 0/76 highlighted RR’s lack of control with the ball.
- Top-Order Collapse: Losing three wickets in the powerplay put RR on the back foot early, and despite Samson and Jurel’s efforts, the early damage was too much to overcome.
For SRH, this win sets the tone for their IPL 2025 campaign. Their batting looks as formidable as ever, and with Ishan Kishan finding his groove, they’ll be a tough team to stop. Their next match is against Lucknow Super Giants on March 27 in Hyderabad, where they’ll look to continue their winning streak.
Rajasthan Royals, despite the loss, can take heart from the performances of Samson, Jurel, and their lower order. However, their bowling needs serious work, especially with Archer looking rusty. They’ll face Kolkata Knight Riders next on March 26 in Guwahati, hoping to bounce back quickly.
What a way to kick off IPL 2025 for Sunrisers Hyderabad! Did you enjoy the run-fest as much as we did? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to spread the IPL fever on social media. Use the buttons below to share this match recap on Instagram, X, or Facebook, and let’s keep the #IPL2025 excitement going!
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Stay tuned to IPLFan.in for more live scores, latest news, and updates from the IPL 2025 season. The next match on March 26 between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders promises to be another thriller—don’t miss it!
