IPL 2025, Match 2: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals Match Preview

Match No.2 of the ongoing Indian Premier League 2025 sees the clash between last season’s finalists Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and 2008 winners, Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Sunday, March 23, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Notable, this match will be the first afternoon game of this season and will begin at 3:30 PM (IST).

The last time these two met each other was in IPL 2024, where SRH ended RR’s journey in the tournament with a 36-run victory in Qualifier 2. While SRH went on to lose the final to Kolkata Knight Riders, their strong performance last season made them one of the favourites to lift the trophy.

Both teams have undergone some changes to their squad following the mega auction. SRH will be led by Australian pacer Pat Cummins. Their batting unit consists of immense firepower with players like Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Heinrich Klaasen. Abhishek’s recent T20I heroics, including a 135 off 54 balls for India against England, make him a player to watch out for.

With a history of putting up massive scores, Hyderabad's batting line-up is one of the strongest one's in this season. Their bowling unit will be led by Cummins, and also features Mohammed Shami, Harshal Patel, and Adam Zampa, making them a well-balanced side.

On the other hand, Riyan Parag will captain Royals in the first three matches, as regular skipper Sanju Samson is still recovering from a finger injury. However, Samson is expected to play purely as a batter, providing the much-needed stability to their batting unit.

Meanwhile, the absence of Jos Buttler puts RR’s batting line up looking slightly vulnerable, with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, and Nitish Rana having the responsibility to fire with the bat. Jofra Archer, for whom the team went all out in the mega-auction, will have to prove his worth. The side has put together a strong Indian core, which could make a difference for them as the tournament progresses.

Match Details

Also Check: SRH vs RR Live Score, Match 2

Pitch Report

The Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad is known for being a batting-friendly track, often producing high-scoring games. The average first-innings total is 220, making it a paradise for batters. However, the wicket slows as the game progresses, bringing spinners into play. Chasing teams have historically succeeded here, with a 1.235 W/L ratio in the IPL. 

Sunrisers Hyderabad has a brilliant record at this venue, winning 35 of 57 matches. In IPL 2024, SRH won five out of six home games and registered the stadium’s highest IPL total of 277/4 against Mumbai Indians. It is expected to be a clear evening with temperatures around 32-33°C, though a brief shower may be possible during the match.

Head-To-Head Record

Predicted 11s:

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH):

Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Reddy, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Abhinav Manohar, Wiaan Mulder, Pat Cummins, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Mohammad Shami

Impact Player: Jaydev Unadkat

Rajasthan Royals (RR):

Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag (c), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, Tushar Deshpande

Impact Player: Akash Madhwal