Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) face off against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the second match of the 2025 Indian Premier League at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday, March 23.
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Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals: Preview
In a video shared by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Friday, Heinrich Klaasen showcased his destructive form in the nets, launching every delivery out of sight. His power-hitting partner, Travis Head, kept swiveling his head, tracking the disappearing balls. As IPL 2025 approaches, the clip was a reminder of the six-hitting carnage orchestrated by Klaasen, Head, and Abhishek Sharma last season. The trio hammered 112 of SRH’s record-breaking 178 sixes in 2024, the highest ever in a single IPL campaign.
Without hesitation, SRH locked in the explosive trio for another season, along with skipper Pat Cummins and rising allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. Their first challenge? A face-off against the same team they eliminated in last year’s Qualifier 2.
Like their opponents, Rajasthan Royals (RR) have held onto their core, including Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Riyan Parag, alongside key players Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, and Sandeep Sharma. Samson, RR’s most reliable batter with 300+ runs in each of the past seven seasons, will begin as an Impact Player while recovering from a finger injury, ceding his wicketkeeping and captaincy duties. In a clear signal of his growing influence, 23-year-old Parag will lead the team for the first three matches.
With Hetmyer as their lone overseas batter, RR’s top order is expected to be an all-Indian lineup featuring Jaiswal, Samson, Parag, Nitish Rana, and Jurel. Hetmyer’s presence adds muscle, but the squad’s limited Indian bowling depth is a concern. They will count on Jofra Archer, returning to RR after five years, along with new recruits Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, and Sandeep to counter SRH’s relentless attacking style.
Three hundred. A number. An expectation. A looming benchmark. Despite bowlers lamenting the Impact Player rule’s adverse effects, the regulation remains intact, forcing teams to adjust to the tournament’s evolving dynamics. The upcoming clash in Hyderabad is no exception.
On the eve of the game, at a venue notorious for favoring batters, SRH head coach Daniel Vettori emphasized that Cummins has placed the responsibility squarely on his team. The runners-up from last season dished out batting carnage yet received an equal dose in return, only to fall short in the final. Cummins once again relies on his batters to dominate while the bowlers navigate an unforgiving landscape.
Sanju Samson summed up the imbalance between bat and ball by pointing out how the PowerPlay has transformed. SRH topped the charts last season by racking up two 100-plus scores in this phase. With their core retained and Ishan Kishan added to the mix, they now seem poised to chase down any total, no matter how staggering. RR, meanwhile, must cope with a revamped bowling attack that lacks the experience of their 2024 lineup.
Last season, both Wanindu Hasaranga and Fazalhaq Farooqi were part of SRH, but neither made an impact—Hasaranga withdrew due to injury, while Farooqi remained unused. Now at RR, both have been in exceptional form since the last IPL. Hasaranga has picked up 64 wickets at an average of 16.15 in T20s, while Farooqi boasts 62 scalps at 15.17, including finishing as the joint-highest wicket-taker at the 2024 T20 World Cup. This time, SRH might finally witness what they let slip away.
Meanwhile, Adam Zampa, who pulled out of IPL 2024 despite being retained by RR, has switched to SRH. Since then, he has claimed 62 wickets in 39 T20 matches, offering SRH some consolation for their previous misses.
Two pacers with past injury concerns will take the field in Hyderabad on Sunday.
Pat Cummins is back in action after skipping the Sri Lanka Tests and the Champions Trophy, balancing the birth of his second child with an ongoing ankle issue. He will captain SRH for a second consecutive season.
Jofra Archer, meanwhile, enjoyed an injury-free 2024 for England after prolonged battles with elbow and back problems. However, with crucial Test series against India and Australia on the horizon, managing his workload could be a priority.
While Sunday’s showdown might not carry the legacy, intensity, or anticipation of the high-voltage CSK vs MI clash later in the evening, both teams—each with a title to their name—have the firepower to produce a spectacle of their own.
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals: Head-to-Head
SRH hold the advantage in head-to-head encounters, having won 11 of the 20 clashes. RR, meanwhile, have managed just one victory in five attempts at Hyderabad’s home ground. They nearly doubled that tally last season but fell agonizingly short by a single run in a last-ball thriller.
- Total Matches Played: 20
- Wins by Sunrisers Hyderabad: 11
- Wins by Rajasthan Royals: 9
- Tied Matches: 0
- No Result Matches: 0
- First-Ever Fixture: April 24, 2013
- Most-Recent Fixture: May 24, 2024
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals: Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
Runs and storm warnings. The Indian Meteorological Department-Hyderabad has issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) across several parts of Telangana, including Hyderabad, from Saturday to Monday. However, no rainfall is expected on match day.
Last season, Hyderabad had an average run rate of 10.54, the second-highest among the 13 venues. SRH’s relentless attacking approach—exemplified by their ten-over chase of 166 against LSG—made pitch conditions almost irrelevant.
Sunday afternoon is set to be hot, with minimal rain risk. Expect another high-scoring contest, with the ball soaring all around the stadium.
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals: Team News and Predicted XII
Sunrisers Hyderabad – Team News
SRH’s batting firepower gets an added boost with the arrival of Abhinav Manohar. The explosive batter finished as the second-highest run-scorer in last year’s Maharaja T20 Trophy, hammering 52 sixes—22 more than anyone else.
For their fourth overseas player, SRH have multiple choices: Adam Zampa, Kamindu Mendis, Wiaan Mulder, or Eshan Malinga. If they prioritize batting depth, Mendis could get the nod, while Zampa might be preferred for an additional frontline spin option alongside Rahul Chahar. Fortunately for the 2024 finalists, both Pat Cummins and Nitish Reddy are fit and ready for the season opener.
SRH’s top-order is a nightmare for spinners, making Wanindu Hasaranga’s return to the IPL a tough challenge. Coincidentally, SRH had picked him last season, but an injury ruled him out. The team posted the highest-ever strike rate against spin in a single IPL edition—161.43 in 2024. Abhishek Sharma has been striking at nearly 200 against spin since IPL 2023, while Travis Head has gone at 164.51, excelling even more against pace. Adding to the threat, Nitish Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen both maintain a strike rate above 180 against spin in this period.
Hasaranga, however, is no stranger to high-pressure matchups. With the joint-most T20 wickets since 2024, his experience and skill could help him counter SRH’s relentless aggression and restore some balance in an otherwise lopsided contest.
Sunrisers Hyderabad – Predicted XII
- Travis Head
- Abhishek Sharma
- Ishan Kishan (wk)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Heinrich Klaasen
- Aniket Verma
- Abhinav Manohar
- Pat Cummins (capt)
- Harshal Patel
- Rahul Chahar
- Mohammed Shami
- Adam Zampa
Rajasthan Royals – Team News
With Samson unavailable on the field, Jurel is expected to take over wicketkeeping duties. RR might have to decide between Theekshana and Farooqi, depending on pitch conditions. Their squad is largely made up of specialist batters and bowlers, with Hasaranga being the only allrounder in the mix.
Samson has confirmed that his finger injury hasn’t fully healed, ruling him out of leadership duties for the first three matches. Riyan Parag will step in as captain, while Samson will play purely as a batter. Given the nature of his injury, RR could utilize him as an impact substitute when required.
With the ability to field five Indian batters in the top six, RR has the flexibility to experiment with their overseas bowling combinations. Considering Hyderabad’s spin-unfriendly conditions last season, they may opt for just one of their Sri Lankan spinners, likely Hasaranga. Despite SRH’s left-heavy top-order, Hasaranga’s well-disguised googly makes him a viable threat in the match-up.
RR had the most effective PowerPlay bowling attack in 2024, boasting the best average (27.48) and economy rate (8.24). Fazalhaq Farooqi is expected to play a key role in maintaining that dominance, especially with a revamped bowling lineup. Since 2024, he has claimed 45 wickets in the PowerPlay—the highest for that phase in T20 cricket.
Rajasthan Royals – Predicted XII
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Sanju Samson
- Nitish Rana
- Riyan Parag (capt)
- Dhruv Jurel (wk)
- Shimron Hetmyer
- Wanindu Hasaranga
- Shubham Dubey/Akash Madhwal
- Jofra Archer
- Maheesh Theekshana/Fazalhaq Farooqi
- Sandeep Sharma
- Tushar Deshpande
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals: Players To Watch Out For
Nitish Kumar Reddy (Sunrisers Hyderabad)
Nitish Kumar Reddy was one of IPL 2024’s breakout stars. His skipper, Pat Cummins, praised him as “awesome,” and his performances as a rare pace-bowling allrounder in India caught the attention of the national selectors.
This earned him a T20I debut later in the year, followed by a call-up for the Test series in Australia. His century in Melbourne was an emotional moment, bringing tears to his father’s eyes. As the new IPL season begins, Reddy will be eager to continue making his family proud.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (Rajasthan Royals)
Yashasvi Jaiswal lit up IPL 2023, smashing the tournament’s fastest fifty in just 13 balls and amassing 625 runs at a strike rate of 163.61, including a century. However, his 435-run tally the following year felt underwhelming in comparison.
Despite being part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad, he didn’t get a game and has since hovered on the fringes of the national T20I setup. With stiff competition from Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, Jaiswal will need a standout IPL season to strengthen his case for a regular spot.
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals: Prediction
Scenario 1
- Toss: Sunrisers Hyderabad win the toss and bowl
- Powerplay Score: 55-65
- Rajasthan Royals Total: 200-210
- Match Result: Sunrisers Hyderabad win the match
Scenario 2
- Toss: Rajasthan Royals win the toss and bowl
- Powerplay Score: 60–70
- Sunrisers Hyderabad Total: 210 – 220
- Match Result: Rajasthan Royals win the match
When and Where To Watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The Indian Premier League 2025 clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals is set to begin at 3:30 PM IST on Sunday, March 23, at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Read More: IPL 2025: Krunal, Kohli, and Salt Dominate as RCB Crush KKR in IPL 2025 Opener
FAQs
What is the head-to-head record between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals?
SRH leads the head-to-head battle, winning 11 out of 20 matches against RR. The Royals have only one victory in Hyderabad from five attempts.
What is the weather forecast for SRH vs RR in Hyderabad?
The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for thunderstorms, but no rain is expected on match day, ensuring ideal conditions for a high-scoring encounter.
Who are the key players to watch out for in SRH vs RR?
SRH’s explosive top-order, including Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen, poses a serious threat, while RR’s Wanindu Hasaranga and Fazalhaq Farooqi are in top bowling form.
How has Yashasvi Jaiswal performed in recent IPL seasons?
Jaiswal dominated IPL 2023 with 625 runs and a record-breaking 13-ball fifty but had a relatively quieter 2024 season with 435 runs. He will aim for a strong comeback in IPL 2025.
Will Sanju Samson play in SRH vs RR?
Samson is recovering from a finger injury and will not lead RR for the first three matches. Riyan Parag will captain, while Samson will play as a specialist batter.
