Discover how Ishan Kishan’s explosive IPL debut led SRH to a stunning 44-run victory over RR. Read the highlights and key moments of the match.
SRH Maintain Their Explosive Batting Form
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) began their IPL 2025 campaign emphatically, defeating Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 44 runs in a run-fest at home. Under the afternoon sun on the first double-header Sunday of the season, RR’s stand-in captain Riyan Parag won the toss and opted to bowl first. However, his decision backfired as SRH came out all guns blazing and posted a mammoth 299/4—just one run short of their record for the highest-ever IPL total. See also: Salt’s Storm and Kohli’s Classic – RCB’s Dream Start to IPL
Ishan Kishan’s Dream Debut: A Century in 45 Balls
SRH’s recruit, Ishan Kishan, had a debut to remember as he smashed his first IPL century off just 45 balls. The wicketkeeper-batter was brought in as an upgrade over Rahul Tripathi, and he delivered spectacularly, accelerating through the innings with clean hitting. Kishan’s innings consisted of explosive stroke play, featuring relentless boundaries that kept RR’s bowlers on the back foot. See also: Noor Ahmad’s Magic 4 Wickets Leads CSK to Victory
Powerplay Carnage: SRH’s Blazing Start
Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma set the stage with a rapid 45-run opening stand in just 19 balls. Abhishek’s fiery start ended when he was caught at point for 24 off 11 balls, trying to take on Maheesh Theekshana. However, the dismissal didn’t slow SRH down. They reached 94/1 in the powerplay, marking the fifth-highest six-over total in IPL history.
Travis Head and Kishan carried the assault forward, stitching together an 85-run stand off just 38 deliveries. Head seemed set for a hundred of his own, but his innings ended at 67 off 31 balls when Tushar Deshpande dismissed him.
Archer’s Nightmare Return to the IPL
Jofra Archer, returning to IPL action after missing the 2024 season, endured a horror outing, conceding 76 runs in his four overs—the most expensive spell in IPL history. SRH batters treated Archer’s deliveries with disdain, hammering him for boundaries at will.
Middle-Order Fireworks: No Respite for RR
Following Head’s departure, Nitish Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen continued the boundary barrage, ensuring that SRH’s run rate never dipped. Every SRH top-six batter, including IPL debutant Aniket Verma, had a strike rate of over 200.
SRH looked set to breach the 300-run mark, but RR managed to pull things back slightly in the final overs, restricting them to 299/4.
Early Wickets Derail Rajasthan Royals
Chasing a daunting target of 300, RR’s innings got off to the worst possible start. Simarjeet Singh, making his SRH debut, struck twice in the second over, dismissing both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag in quick succession. At 25/2, RR’s hopes of a successful chase already looked bleak.
Sanju Samson, RR’s regular captain, came in as the Impact Player, joining Dhruv Jurel in the middle. Despite an aggressive counterattack, RR never truly looked in control of the chase.
Samson and Jurel’s Resistance
RR ended the powerplay at 77/3, which was still 17 runs behind SRH’s blistering start. Samson and Jurel kept the scoreboard ticking, targeting Adam Zampa and Abhishek Sharma’s spin. Samson reached his fifty off just 26 balls, while Jurel played some breathtaking shots, including a stunning extra-cover six off Abhishek.
Jurel took on Simarjeet Singh, smashing him for three consecutive sixes in an over, briefly igniting hopes of an unlikely comeback. However, just as RR seemed to gather momentum, SRH struck back.
Harshal and Zampa Seal the Win
Harshal Patel removed Samson with a well-disguised slower bouncer, while Zampa had Jurel caught at long-on. Their wickets sealed RR’s fate, with the equation climbing beyond 17 runs per over. The lower order struggled to keep up, eventually folding for 255, handing SRH a convincing 44-run victory.
Key Takeaways from the Match
1. SRH’s Power-Hitting Line-Up Looks Unstoppable
From the very first over, SRH’s intent was clear. They continued their aggressive brand of cricket, a carryover from their approach in recent seasons. Kishan’s addition to the squad further bolsters their batting depth.
2. Jofra Archer’s Concerning Return
Archer’s expensive spell raises serious concerns for RR. While he remains a world-class pacer, he will need time to rediscover his rhythm after his injury layoff.
3. RR’s All-Indian Top Six Lacked Firepower
With just one overseas batter in their squad—Shimron Hetmyer—RR’s reliance on an all-Indian top six didn’t pay off. The absence of a proven overseas batter left them lacking the firepower needed to chase down such a massive total.
4. Hawk-Eye Technology for Wides Debuts in IPL 2025
This match also marked the introduction of Hawk-Eye technology for off-side wides, which aims to remove the subjective element from umpiring decisions. While the implementation went largely unnoticed, it is expected to play a crucial role in future games.
What’s Next?
SRH’s dominant performance sends a strong message to the rest of the league. With a solid top order and a balanced squad, they look like early contenders for the IPL 2025 title. RR, on the other hand, will need to rethink their strategy and hope for a stronger performance in their upcoming games.