Sunrisers Hyderabad are set to take on Gujarat Titans in Match 19 of IPL 2025 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday, April 6.
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Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans: Preview
At first glance, it’s surprising to note that Gujarat Titans (GT) have outshone Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in terms of explosiveness in IPL 2025. GT have benefited from consistent performances by B Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler, with the latter settling in effortlessly at the No. 3 spot. Meanwhile, SRH have faltered during the powerplay – a stark contrast to last season when they were setting the benchmark in the opening overs.
Sunrisers Hyderabad have struggled to recreate the firepower that propelled them to last season’s IPL final. While they kicked off IPL 2025 on a strong note, the momentum has fizzled out with three consecutive defeats — two of which came away from home. They now return to familiar territory, hoping to bounce back, but will be up against a Gujarat Titans side that seems to have adopted SRH’s own explosive blueprint.
Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma haven’t replicated their previous impact, and despite a sensational century on debut, Ishan Kishan has failed to carry that momentum forward with his new team. This inconsistency has placed added pressure on the middle order, comprising Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, and youngster Aniket Verma. Abhishek, in particular, has struggled to rediscover the explosive form that earned him an India T20I call-up. While SRH have managed five 50-plus stands this season, their average partnership is just 21.68 — the lowest among all teams.
The bowling department hasn’t fared any better for SRH. Statistically, they’ve been the worst-performing attack in IPL 2025, sitting at the bottom in terms of both economy rate (10.83) and bowling average (41.15). Their struggles were laid bare in the recent loss to KKR, where, despite bowling on a surface that offered grip and turn, the SRH bowlers failed to adapt and allowed the opposition to post a daunting 200 — including a staggering 78 runs conceded in the death overs alone. With a death-overs economy rate of 15.04 — the highest among all teams — SRH’s leaky bowling continues to heap pressure on an already underperforming batting lineup.
Mohammed Shami and Pat Cummins have lacked penetration, each picking up only three wickets while leaking runs at expensive economy rates of 10 and 12.30 respectively. Overseas recruits Adam Zampa and Wiaan Mulder have also failed to make a mark. SRH average fewer than five wickets per match and have the worst overall economy rate this season, conceding over 10 runs per over across all phases. Their death bowling has been particularly poor, giving away nearly 17 runs per over in the final four.
The numbers further highlight SRH’s struggles. They’ve lost 10 wickets in the powerplay — the most by any team in IPL 2025 — and their death-overs economy rate of 16.89 is the worst in the tournament so far. Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s woes aren’t limited to poor numbers with bat and ball. They top the charts for most misfields this season with 17, a worrying stat that reflects their sloppiness in the field.
There’s an intriguing subplot to Sunday’s clash as several players will be facing their former franchises. Mohammed Shami, who clinched the Purple Cap while playing for Gujarat Titans in 2023, now leads Sunrisers Hyderabad’s pace attack. Alongside him is Abhinav Manohar, another ex-GT player who was a part of their lower-middle order. On the flip side, Gujarat’s bench features two former SRH players — Glenn Phillips and Washington Sundar — both yet to make an appearance this season.
Under the leadership of Shubman Gill, the Titans’ top-order trio — Gill himself, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler — have been in prolific form, amassing a combined 437 runs across three games. Only Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have fared better with 482. In stark contrast, SRH’s top three — Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan — have managed just 284 runs in four games. Removing Kishan’s century from the equation further highlights the alarming inconsistency at the top for the 2024 runners-up.
Gujarat Titans’ top order has laid solid foundations, sparing their relatively untested middle order from high-pressure situations. Their recent form has been impressive, with two consecutive wins — the latest being a dominant batting performance against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Even in their season opener, they came agonizingly close to chasing down a mammoth 244 and followed it up by posting 196 on a sluggish surface at home against Mumbai Indians.
While their death bowling hasn’t been flawless — reflected in a last-five overs economy rate of 12.73 — their powerful batting lineup has masked those shortcomings so far. Even in their 11-run loss to Punjab Kings, GT pushed the game deep while chasing a daunting target, showcasing their batting depth. Since then, they’ve defended 196 successfully in Ahmedabad and pulled off a clinical eight-wicket win over RCB in Bengaluru while chasing 170.
With Hyderabad’s conditions expected to favor the batters, GT’s explosive top order could prove to be the decisive factor come Sunday.
Hyderabad has firmly established itself as a batter’s paradise in recent times, with nine 200-plus totals scored in just eight IPL matches at the venue since 2024. Remarkably, four of those games have witnessed both teams breaching the 200-run mark, underlining just how punishing the conditions can be for bowlers.
In such a run-fest-friendly environment, Gujarat Titans’ opener Sai Sudharsan has been a picture of consistency. Across his last seven IPL innings, he has recorded only one single-digit score, with his lowest in the remaining six being a solid 49 — a testament to his reliability at the top of the order.
In comparison, GT have been far sharper in the field, with just six misfields to their name — a significant difference that could prove crucial in a high-scoring encounter.
For GT, individual milestones could be on the horizon. Mohammed Siraj is just two wickets away from reaching 100 IPL scalps, while Jaydev Unadkat is only one shy of the same landmark.
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans: Head-to-head
GT hold a 3-1 advantage over SRH in four completed encounters. The Titans secured a 7-wicket victory at home last season, while the return leg in Hyderabad was washed out.
- Matches Played: 04
- Won by Sunrisers Hyderabad: 01
- Won by Gujarat Titans: 03
- Tied: 00
- No Result: 00
- First-ever Fixture: April 11, 2022
- Most Recent Fixture: March 31, 2024
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans: Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
Hyderabad has consistently produced batting-friendly surfaces since IPL 2024, with an average first-innings score of 213. This will be only the third match at the venue this season, meaning the pitches remain relatively fresh. SRH will be eager to return to their home ground, where they racked up a massive 286 in their opening game. So far in IPL 2025, teams have chosen to bowl first in 16 out of 18 matches, including Rajasthan Royals during their visit to Hyderabad last month.
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans: Team News and Predicted XI
Sunrisers Hyderabad – Team News
There are no injury concerns in either camp. Simarjeet Singh has been on the expensive side, conceding at an economy rate of 13.44 across nine overs in three matches. This could pave the way for Jaydev Unadkat to make his first appearance of the season. Meanwhile, Zeeshan Ansari’s consistent impact off the bench might see him retain the Impact Player role.
An intriguing individual battle to watch will be between Shubman Gill and Mohammed Shami. The veteran pacer, who led GT’s attack until last season, has dismissed Gill twice in five T20 innings. The GT skipper averages just 20.5 and strikes at 113.88 against Shami, hinting at a potential edge for the bowler.
Sunrisers Hyderabad – Predicted XI
- Travis Head
- Abhishek Sharma
- Ishan Kishan (wk)
- Nitish Reddy
- Kamindu Mendis
- Heinrich Klaasen
- Aniket Verma
- Pat Cummins (capt)
- Harshal Patel
- Jaydev Unadkat/Simarjeet Singh
- Mohammed Shami
- Zeeshan Ansari
Gujarat Titans – Team News
Kagiso Rabada has returned home for personal reasons and will remain unavailable, having also missed GT’s last game. His absence could open the door for a debut for Glenn Phillips, although the Titans opted to play only three overseas players in their previous outing.
R Sai Kishore has been a standout performer for GT in IPL 2025, picking up six wickets in three games at an economy rate of 7.42. He’ll play a key role in containing SRH’s spin-hitters, particularly Heinrich Klaasen (strike rate 185.08) and Abhishek Sharma (strike rate 197.31) — two of the most dangerous batters against spin since IPL 2023.
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans: Players To Watch Out For
Abhishek Sharma (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Abhishek Sharma made a seamless leap from IPL to international cricket following a stellar 2024 season, where he consistently set the tone up top with Travis Head.
But this year has been a different story — with three single-digit scores in four outings, his form has hit a rough patch. The big question now is whether this rocky start will prompt a shift in his approach as he looks to rediscover his rhythm.
Shubman Gill (Gujarat Titans)
Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma’s closest friend, has seen his standing in India’s T20I setup dip recently. In contrast to Abhishek’s struggles, Gill has looked in fine touch this season, though he’s yet to turn his promising starts into substantial scores.
Hyderabad, however, could bring out his best — it’s the venue where he smashed a memorable ODI double-century against New Zealand.
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans: Prediction
Scenario 1
- Toss: Sunrisers Hyderabad win the toss and bowl
- Powerplay Score: 60-70
- Gujarat Titans Total: 220-240
- Match Result: Sunrisers Hyderabad win the match
Scenario 2
- Toss: Gujarat Titans win the toss and bowl
- Powerplay Score: 70-80
- Sunrisers Hyderabad Total: 240-260
- Match Result: Gujarat Titans win the match
When and Where To Watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Gujarat Titans LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The Indian Premier League 2025 clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans is set to begin at 7:30 PM IST on Sunday, April 6, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad. The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports network and will also be available for live streaming on JioHotstar for FREE.
Read More: IPL 2025: Archer, Sandeep and RR Batters Fire to Hand PBKS First Loss
FAQs
What is the head-to-head record between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans in the IPL?
Gujarat Titans lead 3-1 in four completed matches against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.
Why are Hyderabad pitches considered high-scoring in IPL 2025?
Hyderabad pitches have produced an average first-innings score of 213, with SRH even scoring 286 in their season opener.
Who are the key performers for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025?
Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler, and Shubman Gill have led GT’s top order, combining for 437 runs in three games.
What are Sunrisers Hyderabad’s main concerns this IPL season?
SRH have struggled with powerplay batting, leaky death bowling (economy 16.89), and the highest number of misfields (17) in IPL 2025.
Are there any player availability updates for the GT vs SRH match?
Kagiso Rabada is unavailable due to personal reasons; Jaydev Unadkat and Glenn Phillips could come in for GT. Zeeshan Ansari may continue as Impact Player.
