The second match of IPL 2025 brings an exciting contest between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR). The game will be played in Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, and fans are eagerly awaiting what promises to be a competitive and high-scoring encounter.
The IPL 2025 season opener on March 23, 2025, featured a thrilling encounter between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. This match, starting at 3:30 PM IST, saw SRH batting first after RR won the toss and elected to field, setting the stage for a high-scoring affair. Below, we provide a detailed analysis, integrating the match preview with the first inning performance, maintaining the style of a professional sports article.
Match Details and Update
- Updated: March 23, 2025, 05:11 AM PDT
- Match Date/Time: March 23, 2025, 3:30 PM IST
- Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad
The update reflects the completion of SRH’s first inning, with RR now preparing for a daunting chase. The match preview, originally published earlier on the same day, provides context for team strategies and expectations.
First Inning Report: SRH’s Explosive Batting Display
SRH’s innings was nothing short of spectacular, posting 286/6 in 20 overs, marking the second-highest total in IPL history. This performance was highlighted by several key contributions and set new benchmarks for the tournament.
Batting Breakdown:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | How Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | 24 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 218.18 | c Jaiswal b Theekshana |
| Travis Head | 67 | 31 | 9 | 3 | 216.12 | c Hetmyer b Deshpande |
| Ishan Kishan (not out) | 106 | 45 | – | – | >200 | not out |
| Nitish Kumar Reddy | 30 | 15 | – | – | – | c Jaiswal b Theekshana |
| Heinrich Klaasen | 34 | 14 | – | – | – | c Parag b Sandeep Sharma |
| Aniket Verma | 7 | 3 | – | – | – | c Archer b Deshpande |
| Abhinav Manohar | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | c Parag b Deshpande |
| Extras (nb 2, w 6) | 8 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 286/6 | 20 ov | – | – | – | – |
Ishan Kishan’s maiden IPL century (106* off 45 balls) was the standout performance, marking a significant debut for SRH. Travis Head’s 67 off 31 provided a blistering start, while Klaasen and Reddy’s contributions ensured a strong finish. The innings saw SRH reaching 202/3 by the 14th over, showcasing their dominance.
Bowling Analysis for RR:
| Bowler | Wickets | Key Dismissals |
|---|---|---|
| Tushar Deshpande | 3 | Head, Verma, Manohar |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 2 | Sharma, Reddy |
| Sandeep Sharma | 1 | Klaasen |
RR’s bowling struggled, with Jofra Archer having the most expensive spell in IPL history, conceding 75 runs in 4 overs without a wicket. Deshpande’s three wickets provided some resistance, but the pitch’s batting-friendly nature overwhelmed RR’s attack.
Records and Highlights:
- SRH’s 286/6 is the second-highest IPL total, behind only RCB’s 287/3 in 2013.
- Jofra Archer’s spell (75 runs in 4 overs) set a new record for the most expensive bowling performance in IPL history.
- SRH recorded the fifth-highest PowerPlay total, underscoring their aggressive start.
This performance not only set a challenging target but also highlighted SRH’s potential as title contenders, with unexpected records like Archer’s expensive spell adding drama to the match.
Team News and Playing XI
Given the match has started, we update the predicted playing XI from the preview to the actual lineups confirmed during the game.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH):
- Captain: Pat Cummins
- Key Players: Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen
- Actual Playing XI:
- Travis Head
- Abhishek Sharma
- Ishan Kishan
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Heinrich Klaasen (WK)
- Aniket Verma
- Abhinav Manohar
- Pat Cummins (C)
- Simarjeet Singh
- Harshal Patel
- Mohammed Shami
Rajasthan Royals (RR):
- Captain: Riyan Parag
- Key Players: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Jofra Archer
- Actual Playing XI:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Shubham Dubey
- Nitish Rana
- Riyan Parag (C)
- Dhruv Jurel (WK)
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Jofra Archer
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Tushar Deshpande
- Sandeep Sharma
- Fazalhaq Farooqi
The team news from the preview indicated SRH replacing an injured fast bowler with Wiaan Mulder and RR’s flexible batting strategy, which aligns with the actual XI seen in action.
Head-to-Head and Historical Context
Historically, SRH and RR have had closely contested matches, with a competitive balance in past encounters. This match, with SRH setting a record-breaking total, adds to the rivalry, promising an exciting chase for RR.
Pitch Report and Conditions
The Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium’s pitch is known for being batting-friendly, with an average first-inning score of 216. Today’s match saw SRH exploit these conditions, scoring significantly higher, suggesting the pitch remained true throughout the first inning. Weather conditions were not reported as impacting play, maintaining ideal conditions for cricket.
Dream11/Fantasy Tips
Given the first inning performance, fantasy team picks should now consider SRH’s top performers: Ishan Kishan (106*), Travis Head (67), and Heinrich Klaasen (34) as must-picks. For RR, batsmen like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag will be crucial for the chase, while bowlers like Tushar Deshpande (3 wickets) could offer points. This update reflects the live performance, adjusting from the preview’s recommendations.
Additional Resources
For more IPL news, previews, and live updates, visit the TopicsTalk IPL Section.
This comprehensive article integrates the match preview with the first inning details, providing a full picture for fans and analysts, reflecting the dynamic nature of IPL cricket in 2025.