Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals Match Scorecard

Hey there, cricket fans! Let’s dive into the electrifying clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals Match Scorecard in the second match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, played on March 23 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. This game was a proper run-fest, with bats flying high, bowlers sweating buckets, and fans on the edge of their seats. By the end, SRH walked away with a 44-run victory, but RR gave them a real fight. Let’s break it all down in a way that’s easy to follow, whether you’re a seasoned cricket lover or just here for the thrill.

The Stage is Set

Picture this: a sunny afternoon in Hyderabad, a packed stadium buzzing with excitement, and two teams ready to kick off their IPL 2025 campaigns in style. SRH, coming off a stellar 2024 season where they smashed batting records left and right, were the favorites at home. With a line-up boasting big hitters like Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and their new star, Ishan Kishan, they were gunning for a massive total—maybe even that magical 300-run mark everyone was whispering about.

On the other side, RR, led by the young and dynamic Riyan Parag (standing in for Sanju Samson, who was recovering from finger surgery), had their own plans. With a revamped bowling attack featuring Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, and Tushar Deshpande, they were hoping to tame SRH’s explosive batting. Parag won the toss and chose to bowl first, thinking the flat Hyderabad pitch would favor chasing. Spoiler alert: that decision didn’t quite go as planned.

SRH’s Batting Blitz: A Firework Display

From the moment SRH’s openers, Travis Head and Абhishek Sharma, walked out, it was clear they meant business. The pitch was a batter’s paradise—flat, true, and begging for boundaries. After a couple of quiet deliveries from RR’s Fazalhaq Farooqi, Abhishek Sharma lit the fuse. He whipped a ball past mid-on for four and followed it with another crisp cover drive. The tone was set.

Travis Head, SRH’s Aussie dynamite, joined the party, smashing a six off Farooqi that soared over point. By the end of the powerplay (the first six overs), SRH were racing at 94/1, with Abhishek falling for a quickfire 24 (11 balls, 5 fours) to Maheesh Theekshana. Yashasvi Jaiswal took a sharp catch at cover-point to give RR a glimmer of hope, but that hope was short-lived.

Enter Ishan Kishan, SRH’s new No. 3, making his debut for the franchise. And boy, did he make an entrance! Kishan played with the kind of freedom that makes T20 cricket so thrilling. He found gaps with ease, peppered the boundary with fours, and launched sixes that had the crowd roaring. By the time SRH reached 100 runs in just 6.4 overs, RR’s bowlers were already looking frazzled.

Head kept the momentum going, racing to a 21-ball fifty before falling for 67 (31 balls, 9 fours, 3 sixes) to Tushar Deshpande, caught by Shimron Hetmyer. But Kishan was just getting started. He stitched together a 50-run stand with Nitish Kumar Reddy, who chipped in with a brisk 30 (15 balls, 4 fours, 1 six) before Jaiswal grabbed another catch off Theekshana.

Heinrich Klaasen, SRH’s wicketkeeper-batter and six-hitting machine, walked in at No. 5 to a thunderous cheer from the home crowd. He and Kishan put on a show, adding 50 runs in just 22 balls. Klaasen smashed 34 (14 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) before holing out to Riyan Parag off Sandeep Sharma. SRH were now 258/4 in 18.2 overs, and that 300-run dream was looking very real.

The final overs were chaotic. Aniket Verma smashed a six but fell for 7 (3 balls) to Deshpande, and Abhinav Manohar was out for a first-ball duck. Kishan, however, was unstoppable. He brought up his maiden IPL century in just 45 balls, finishing unbeaten on 106 (47 balls, 11 fours, 6 sixes) at a strike rate of 225.53. SRH ended on a mammoth 286/6, just one run shy of their own IPL record from 2024. RR’s bowlers, especially Jofra Archer (0/76 in 4 overs), had a day to forget, with Tushar Deshpande (3/44) being the pick of a struggling attack.

RR’s Chase: A Brave Fight

Chasing 287 was always going to be a mountain to climb, but RR came out swinging. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag fell early to Simarjeet Singh, and Mohammed Shami got rid of Nitish Rana, leaving RR wobbling at 50/3 in 4.1 overs. That’s when Sanju Samson, RR’s impact substitute, and Dhruv Jurel decided to take the fight to SRH.

Samson and Jurel put on a brilliant 100-run partnership, both playing with aggression and flair. Samson, batting purely as a batter due to his injury, smashed 66 (37 balls, 4 fours, 5 sixes), while Jurel blazed away for 70 (35 balls, with a mix of boundaries and sixes). Their stand kept RR in the hunt, reaching 161/3 by the 13th over. But just when it looked like they might pull off a miracle, both fell in quick succession—Samson caught by Klaasen off Harshal Patel, and Jurel finding Kishan at deep mid-wicket off Adam Zampa.

Shimron Hetmyer and Shubham Dubey kept the scoreboard ticking with some massive hits. Hetmyer’s 42 (23 balls, 1 four, 4 sixes) included a flat-batted six off Harshal Patel, but he was caught by Abhinav Manohar in the 19th over. Dubey, unbeaten on 34 (11 balls, 1 four, 4 sixes), smashed a 50-run partnership with Hetmyer in just 22 balls, but it wasn’t enough. RR finished on 242/6, 44 runs short, with Jofra Archer (1 not out) at the crease.

Harshal Patel (2/34) and Simarjeet Singh (2/46) were SRH’s standout bowlers, while Pat Cummins (0/60) and Adam Zampa (1/48) had mixed days. The match aggregate of 528 runs was the second-highest in IPL history, only behind SRH’s 549 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2024.

Key Moments That Defined the Game

• Ishan Kishan’s Century: Kishan’s 106* off 47 balls was the heartbeat of SRH’s innings. His ability to keep the run rate soaring while losing partners showed why SRH snapped him up.
• Travishek’s Opening Salvo: Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma’s 45-run stand in 3.1 overs set the tone for SRH’s massive total.
• Samson-Jurel Fightback: RR’s 100-run partnership gave them hope, showing their batting depth even without a fully fit Samson.
• Jofra Archer’s Tough Day: Archer’s 0/76 was the most expensive spell in IPL history, a reminder of how brutal T20 batting can be.
• Harshal Patel’s Death Bowling: Patel’s 2/34, including the key wickets of Samson and Hetmyer, sealed the deal for SRH.

Player of the Match: Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan was the undisputed star, earning the Player of the Match award for his blistering 106*. Speaking after the game, he said, “I was nervous at the start, but the confidence from the skipper and the team helped me settle in. Travis and Abhishek set it up so well, I could just play my shots.” His century was a statement of intent, proving he’s the perfect fit for SRH’s aggressive batting philosophy.

The Scorecard: A Closer Look

Here’s the full scorecard, laid out clearly so you can see exactly how the runs flowed and wickets fell.

Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals Match Scorecard – IPL 2025 Match 2 

What Made This Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals Match Scorecard Special?

This game wasn’t just about the runs—it was about the sheer entertainment. SRH’s batting was like watching a fireworks show, with Kishan, Head, and Klaasen lighting up the sky. RR, to their credit, didn’t back down. Samson and Jurel’s fightback, followed by Hetmyer and Dubey’s late fireworks, made it a contest worth watching till the last ball.

The match also highlighted the evolution of T20 cricket. With totals pushing 300 and bowlers struggling to contain batters, teams like SRH are redefining what’s possible in 20 overs. For RR, it was a tough lesson, but their spirited chase showed they’ve got the firepower to compete.

Looking Ahead

For SRH, this win sets the tone for IPL 2025. With Kishan fitting in like a glove and their batting unit firing, they’re a team to watch. RR, meanwhile, will take heart from their batting effort but need to tighten their bowling. Jofra Archer’s return to form will be key, and they’ll hope Sanju Samson is back to full fitness soon.