New Delhi: Sunrisers Hyderabad outsmarted Rajasthan Royals in their first match of IPL 2025 in a contest that witnessed over 500 runs being scored at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday. Despite finishing as the runners-up last season, the Pat Cummins-led team continued to play with their bold batting approach, the one that took the world of cricket by surprise.
Once again it was Australian batter Travis Head, who led the charge with his fireworks in the powerplay. Head went after the bowlers, finding the gaps and clearing the ropes overs after overs as the team posted 94 runs in the mandatory powerplay overs after losing opener Abhishek Sharma in the fourth over. Head did provide a rollicking start with 67 runs off 31 balls involving nine boundaries and three sixes.
There was another addition to SRH’s brand of aggressive cricket. At No.3, they had the services of out-of-reckoning Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, who played his first match for the Hyderabad outfit in the T20 league. He made a subtle influence to the team with his power-hitting ability. He made a three-figure score, a century to be precise, which he couldn’t achieve in his previous 104 IPL matches even though he had stints with Mumbai Indians as an opener.
Samson, Jurel fifties in vain as Kishan ton prevails for SRH
Kishan, batting at No.3 for SRH, pummelled 11 fours and six sixes at a strike rate of 225.53 to hit his maiden IPL century. He revolved around the likes of Head (85 run-stand for second wicket), Nitish Reddy (72-run stand for third wicket), and Heinrich Klassen (52-run stand for fourth wicket). The Jharkhand batter took 45 balls to reach the ton, which propelled SRH to their second highest total in IPL – 286 for 6. He remained unbeaten on 106 after facing 47 balls.
Although Rajasthan Royals opener Sanju Samson (66 runs off 37 balls) and keeper-batter Dhruv Jurel (70 runs off 35 balls) notched brisk fifties, the chase could never come to any point of culmination. SRH pacers Harshal Patel (2 for 34) and Simarjeet Singh (2 for 46) bowled decently to help the team defend the humungous total.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a thrilling IPL 2025 match, scoring a massive 286 runs. Travis Head and Ishan Kishan led the charge, with Kishan smashing his maiden IPL century (106 runs). Despite fifties from Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel, RR’s chase fell short, highlighting SRH’s dominant performance. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
