Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will start their IPL 2025 campaign as strong contenders against Rajasthan Royals (RR). Their powerful batting line-up and experienced bowlers make them the favorites. With big hitters like Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Heinrich Klaasen, SRH can post huge totals, especially on the batting-friendly Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium pitch. The return of all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy from injury further strengthens their squad. Last season, SRH crossed the 250-run mark three times, including a record 287 against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Their bowling attack, led by Pat Cummins, Mohammed Shami, and Adam Zampa, gives them a strong edge.
RR Faces Challenges
On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals enter the match with setbacks. Captain Sanju Samson is out with a finger injury, and Riyan Parag will lead in his absence. The absence of Jos Buttler weakens their batting, though Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Rana, and Yashasvi Jaiswal remain key players. Last season, SRH dominated RR, winning both matches, including a crucial Qualifier 2 clash. Given their form and squad depth, SRH aims to continue their dominance in this encounter.
SRH vs RR Head-to-Head Record
- Total Matches: 20 (SRH Wins: 11, RR Wins: 9)
- At Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium: Total Matches: 5 (SRH Wins: 4, RR Wins: 1)
- Since 2021:Total Matches: 7 (SRH Wins: 4, RR Wins: 3)
Top Performers in SRH vs RR Matches
Sanju Samson holds the record for most runs in this fixture with 698 runs. David Warner delivered the best individual performance, scoring 126 for SRH in 2017. Among bowlers, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has taken the most wickets (15). Alzarri Joseph holds the best bowling figures with 6/12 for MI against SRH in 2019.
Previous Encounter: IPL 2024 Qualifier 2
SRH last faced RR in IPL 2024’s Qualifier 2, where they secured a 36-run victory. Batting first, SRH posted 175/9. Abhishek Sharma fell for just 1 in the first over. Rahul Tripathi’s explosive 37 off 15 provided momentum, but Trent Boult’s double strike in the fifth over left SRH at 57/3. Heinrich Klaasen anchored the innings with 50 off 34, while Shahbaz Ahmed (18 off 18) and Pat Cummins (5* off 5) added crucial runs at the end. Boult took 3/30, while Avesh Khan claimed 3/27.
Chasing 176, RR struggled to gain momentum. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s quick 42 off 21 gave them hope, but his dismissal triggered a collapse. Dhruv Jurel fought with an unbeaten 56 off 35, but lacked support. Shahbaz Ahmed took 3/23, while Abhishek Sharma added 2/24. SRH’s disciplined bowling restricted RR to 139/7, sealing a dominant win.
