IPL 2025: Best XI that can defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) started their Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL) campaign with a 44-run win against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, on Sunday, March 23. The Pat Cummins-led side amassed 286/6 in their 20 overs before restricting their opponents to 242/6.

Last season, the Sunrisers finished as runners-up after losing to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the final. However, what stood out for the Orange Army throughout the season was their ultra-aggressive approach. The batting department took the best bowling sides in the league to the cleaners, with the likes of Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen doing the bulk of the damage. They retained the trio ahead of the mega-auction and bolstered their bowling department by adding experienced Indian pacers such as Mohammed Shami and Harshal Patel.

In the first match, one of their new recruits, Ishan Kishan, smashed a belligerent century off just 45 balls. Stopping the Sunrisers is not going to be easy in IPL 2025. Let's take a look at a team that could beat the 2016 winners.

Best IPL XI which can beat SRH in 2025:

Top Order - Phil Salt, Sunil Narine, and Sanju Samson

Phil Salt and Sunil Narine opened together in IPL 2024 for KKR and scored at a rapid rate in several games. They amassed 559 runs from 12 innings at an average of 46.58 and a strike rate of 207.81. They notched up one century stand and five half-century stands in IPL 2024. This duo could be ideal for putting the Hyderabad bowlers under pressure from the outset.

Salt started IPL 2025 by scoring a 31-ball 56 against KKR. Meanwhile, Narine smashed 44 off 26 balls in the same game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Sanju Samson could bat at No. 3 for this team. He has an excellent record against the Sunrisers. In 24 innings, he has amassed 867 runs at an average of 45.63 and a strike rate of 139.16. He has five fifties and one century against the Hyderabad-based franchise.

Middle Order - Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK)

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has played some fine knocks against Sunrisers Hyderabad, including the unbeaten 98 he scored in IPL 2024 at Chepauk. He has managed 394 runs from seven innings at an average of 56.30 and a strike rate of 153.30.

Suryakumar Yadav also enjoys batting against SRH. The Indian T20 captain has scored 434 runs from 17 innings against SRH at an average of 36.20 and a strike rate of 150.70. He has a half-century and one century to his name against the former champions.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant's only IPL century came against Sunrisers Hyderabad when he slammed an unbeaten 128 off 63 balls in 2018. The wicketkeeper-batter has aggregated 536 runs in 16 innings versus SRH at an average of 44.70 and a strike rate of 146.40.

Also Read: IPL 2025, Match 7: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants Match Preview

All-rounders: Andre Russell, Hardik Pandya (C)

Andre Russell has some fine all-round numbers against Sunrisers Hyderabad. With the bat, he has scored runs at an average of 27.70 and a strike rate of 172.30. Meanwhile, with the ball, he has taken 23 wickets from 18 matches. He is the second-highest wicket-taker against SRH.

Hardik Pandya's all-round skills will add a lot of depth to this team. He will also serve as the captain of this side. The Baroda cricketer has the experience of leading the Gujarat Titans to the title. He has also led India in the shortest format and is currently in charge of the Mumbai Indians. An in-form Hardik can give SRH a tough time with both bat and ball.

Bowlers: Varun Chakravarthy, Mitchell Starc, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal (Impact)

Varun Chakravarthy is in the form of his life, and he could hold the key against the flamboyant SRH batters. He can bamboozle the best of batters with his mystery bowling. Mitchell Starc won the Player of the Match award in IPL 2024's Qualifier 1 and the final against SRH when he played for KKR. His ability to swing the new ball at pace and bowl deadly yorkers at the back end makes him lethal.

Jasprit Bumrah, who is recovering from a back injury, could form a formidable new-ball pairing with Starc. There will be relentless pressure on the SRH batters with these two stalwarts bowling in tandem with the new ball. Bumrah has taken 17 wickets from 15 innings against SRH at an average of 24.40.

Yuzvendra Chahal can come in as the Impact Player for this unit. He is the leading wicket-taker against SRH and also in IPL history. Chahal has 28 wickets in 21 meetings versus SRH at an average of 22.35.

Best IPL XI that can defeat SRH in 2025:

Phil Salt, Sunil Narine, Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya (C), Andre Russell, Mitchell Starc, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

Impact Sustitute: Yuzvendra Chahal.