The IPL 2025 action rolls on with Match 2 as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) on March 23, 2025, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. After SRH’s brutal batting lit up 2024, captain Pat Cummins is banking on his top order to dominate again, while RR, led by stand-in skipper Riyan Parag, aim to tame the beast with a revamped bowling attack. Expect fireworks, thunderstorms (maybe literally!), and a thrilling battle—here’s your full SRH vs RR IPL 2025 preview!
Match Details
🏏 Match: SRH vs RR, IPL 2025 Match 2
📅 Date: March 23, 2025
⏰ Time: 3:30 PM IST
🏟️ Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
📺 Watch Live: JioHotstar
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Previous match records bellow:
The Stakes: Power-Hitting vs PowerPlay Precision
SRH, runners-up in 2024, return with their batting juggernaut intact—think Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Heinrich Klaasen—now bolstered by Ishan Kishan’s flair. Coach Daniel Vettori says Cummins expects the bowlers to “navigate the treacherous path,” but it’s the batsmen who’ll do the heavy lifting on a Hyderabad pitch notorious for favoring runs. Last season, SRH smashed two 100+ powerplay scores here—can they repeat the carnage?
RR, with one IPL title to their name, face a tougher task. Sanju Samson’s finger injury hands the captaincy to Riyan Parag for the first three games, with Samson playing as a pure batter (and possible Impact Player). Their 2024 bowling strength has been stripped and rebuilt, adding inexperience to the mix. Can their new-look attack, led by Fazalhaq Farooqi and Wanindu Hasaranga, stop SRH’s batting onslaught? This SRH vs RR IPL 2025 preview promises a clash of styles!
Head-to-Head & Venue Vibes
- H2H Record: SRH lead 11-9 in 20 clashes. At Hyderabad, RR have won just once in five attempts—a near-miss last season (lost by 1 run).
- Pitch Expectation: A batting paradise—flat, fast, and high-scoring. Last year’s Hyderabad games were run-fests, and 200+ could be par.
- Weather Watch: The IMD Hyderabad forecasts thunderstorms and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) from Saturday to Monday, but no rain is predicted for match day. Fingers crossed!
Team Watch: Tactics & Key Matchups
Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Strength: A spin-smashing top order—Abhishek Sharma (SR 200 vs spin since 2023), Travis Head (164.51), Nitish Reddy (180+), and Klaasen (180+). New recruit Ishan Kishan adds firepower.
- Tactic: Maximize the PowerPlay—SRH’s 100+ scores in this phase last year topped the charts. Expect Cummins to unleash Head and Sharma early.
- Key Matchup: Wanindu Hasaranga vs SRH’s top order. The Sri Lankan’s 45 T20 wickets since 2024 face a stern test against SRH’s 161.43 SR vs spin in 2024.
- Probable XII: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Abhinav Manohar, Sachin Baby/Aniket Verma, Pat Cummins, Harshal Patel, Adam Zampa, Mohammed Shami, Rahul Chahar/Jaydev Unadkat.
Rajasthan Royals
- Strength: A flexible batting lineup with five Indian top-six options (Jaiswal, Samson, Rana, Parag, Jurel) and a PowerPlay bowling edge—best average (27.48) and economy (8.24) in 2024.
- Tactic: Lean on Fazalhaq Farooqi’s 45 PowerPlay wickets since 2024 to stifle SRH early. With Hyderabad’s spin struggles, they might limit Hasaranga and load up on pace.
- Key Matchup: Farooqi vs SRH’s left-heavy top order (Head, Sharma, Kishan). His left-arm angle could exploit angles, but Hasaranga’s googly offers a wildcard.
- Probable XII: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Shubham Dubey, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqi.
[Visual Idea]: A graphic pitting Head’s six-hitting vs Farooqi’s swing bowling.
Players to Watch
- Travis Head (SRH): Smashed pace at 164+ last season—RR’s bowlers beware!
- Heinrich Klaasen (SRH): A spin destroyer—180+ SR vs turn since 2023.
- Fazalhaq Farooqi (RR): PowerPlay king with 45 wickets since 2024—SRH’s early test.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR): A big knock could set RR’s tone under Parag’s leadership.
What Could Happen?
SRH’s batting might overwhelm RR’s inexperienced attack, especially if Head and Sharma fire in the PowerPlay—think 100+ in six overs. But RR’s tactical flexibility and Farooqi’s early breakthroughs could keep it tight. Samson (as Impact Player) and Jaiswal might counterattack, but Hyderabad’s history favors SRH. Prediction: Runs, runs, and more runs—200+ chase incoming!
