Hyderabad, March 25, 2025 — Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) started their campaign in style with a commanding 44-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a thrilling encounter at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. A jaw-dropping century from Ishan Kishan anchored SRH’s aggressive total of 286/6, setting up the second-highest team total in IPL history.
Kishan’s explosive 106 off 47 balls* was the standout performance, but it was the combined brilliance of the entire SRH top order that overwhelmed RR’s bowlers. Key contributions came from Travis Head (67 off 37), Heinrich Klaasen (32 off 14), Nitish Reddy (30 off 15), and Abhishek Sharma (24 off 11), all of whom relentlessly attacked, ensuring that SRH’s momentum never slowed down.
SRH’s Relentless Batting Onslaught
After being asked to bat first, SRH wasted no time in making their intentions clear. Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head began the innings with flair, with Sharma’s aggressive 24 off 11 including three consecutive boundaries off Fazalhaq Farooqi. Head then took center stage, launching an assault on RR’s bowling attack, including a monstrous 105m six off Jofra Archer during the powerplay. By the end of the powerplay, SRH was already in cruise mode, posting 94/1.
As the innings progressed, Ishan Kishan joined Head in the carnage. Head’s 67 off 31 set the foundation for the fireworks, and Kishan did not disappoint. He brought up his fifty in just 25 balls with a towering six over deep cover, seamlessly embracing SRH’s aggressive mindset. The left-hander’s confidence grew, and he soon hammered his maiden IPL century, finishing on an unbeaten 106 off 47 balls*, featuring 11 fours and 6 sixes.
Late fireworks from Nitish Reddy (30 off 15) and Heinrich Klaasen (32 off 14) ensured SRH reached a colossal 286/6, marking a total only second to Royal Challengers Bangalore’s 2016 record of 263/5.
Rajasthan Royals Fight Back, But Fall Short
Chasing a daunting target of 288, Rajasthan Royals faced early setbacks. Simarjeet Singh made quick inroads, removing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag early, leaving RR reeling at 14/2. The pressure mounted further as Nitish Rana fell, leaving RR at 28/3.
However, Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel revived the chase with a spirited 111-run partnership. Samson, in particular, was sublime, timing the ball beautifully, and Jurel’s fearless hitting kept RR’s hopes alive. By the end of the powerplay, RR had recovered to 77/3, still very much in the hunt.
Despite Samson’s imperious 66 off 37, and Jurel’s explosive 70 off 35, the chase fell apart when Harshal Patel dismissed Samson, and Adam Zampa accounted for Jurel. But the Royals refused to give up. The lower order rallied, with Shubham Dubey (34 off 11)* and Shimron Hetmyer (42 off 23) launching a late charge. Their clean hitting brought RR closer, but they ultimately fell short, finishing at 242/6—a valiant effort that could not overshadow SRH’s dominant total.
Conclusion
Sunrisers Hyderabad have announced their intent for IPL 2025 with a breathtaking batting performance. Despite a courageous fightback from Rajasthan Royals, SRH’s massive total proved too much to overcome, and they secured a 44-run victory in what will go down as one of the season’s most memorable encounters.
With Ishan Kishan’s explosive century and contributions from the entire batting lineup, SRH have sent a strong message to the rest of the competition, while RR will rue their early collapse despite strong individual performances.
