Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) kicked off their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign with a 44-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a high-scoring affair at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. SRH posted a mammoth 286/6 in 20 overs, driven by Ishan Kishan’s scintillating century, while RR fought hard but fell short at 242/6, unable to match the hosts’ firepower.
RR captain Riyan Parag won the toss and opted to field, a decision that unraveled as SRH’s batsmen dominated. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma set the tone with a blazing powerplay of 94 runs. Kishan, the star of the show, smashed an unbeaten 106 off 47 balls, his first IPL ton on SRH debut.
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Dhruv Jurel, Sanju Samson Put a Fight
Chasing 287, RR needed over 14 runs per over, a tall order. Dhruv Jurel and Sanju Samson forged a crucial partnership, providing a glimmer of hope for RR. Jurel scored a 35-ball 70, while Samson smashed 66 runs off 37 deliveries.
However, the early loss of key wickets, including Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag, significantly hampered their chase. Even with some powerful hitting from the lower order, the required run rate proved too steep. RR concluded their innings at 242/6, falling short of the required total.
The mounting pressure of the required run rate began to take its toll. SRH's bowlers, particularly Harshal Patel, executed their plans effectively, disrupting RR's rhythm and picking up crucial wickets of Samson and Shimron Hetmyer.
Kishan’s ton earned him Player of the Match award, a debut to remember for SRH. RR’s bowlers could not contain SRH’s batting might, and their batters, though spirited, could not scale the mountain. SRH’s 44-run win signaled their intent, while RR walked away with lessons from a run-soaked opener in Hyderabad.
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