SRH Smash Their Way Into IPL 2025 With Record Scores
If you wanted fireworks, the IPL's second match in Hyderabad delivered with a bang. IPL 2025 exploded into life as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pummeled Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 44 runs, setting the season tempo high as ever. The real headline? A staggering 528 runs smashed in just 40 overs, the kind of run fest that leaves bowlers questioning their career choices.
SRH opened their season in style, rattling up a monstrous 286 for the loss of five wickets—the second-highest team total in IPL history. All eyes were on Ishan Kishan, who bulldozed his way to an unbeaten 106. His century wasn’t just about brute power; it came at a strike rate most players would dream of, mixed with clever shot selection and ruthless intent.
Kishan didn’t do it alone. SRH’s top order backed him with a flurry of boundaries, and the middle order piled on even more pressure. The crowd at Hyderabad couldn't get enough, especially after remembering this was the same squad that smashed the most sixes (178) last season. It's clear SRH have no plans of slowing down under coach Daniel Vettori. "Keep playing positive cricket," he has repeated. From what we saw, the message is ringing loud and clear.
RR’s Early Hurdles: Inexperienced Attack, Young Leadership, and Lessons to Learn
Chasing 287 in any T20 game is a tall order, but RR gave it a shot. They reached a respectable 242, but SRH’s attack kept things just out of reach. Rajasthan Royals’ new bowling line-up looked raw, especially as boundaries rained in Hyderabad. The bowlers struggled to find the right line and length, and their inexperience was on show with loose deliveries under pressure.
This was also a testing night for Rajasthan's new-look leadership. With Sanju Samson’s regular spot handed to young Riyan Parag, IPL history was made—the 23-year-old is now the fifth-youngest captain the league has ever seen. Taking charge in a pressure-filled arena like this one is never easy. Parag and Samson know it's a steep learning curve, especially when your bowlers are leaking runs at both ends and the opposition keeps the scoreboard spinning at breakneck speed.
Despite the loss, Rajasthan's batting had some fight. A couple of their top-order batters dug in with aggressive cameos, but the target always felt just a notch too high as wickets tumbled every time they looked to accelerate. With the new ball, even their biggest names found little purchase on what was clearly a batsman’s paradise.
After the match, Samson was honest: “The team is young, and we need to learn quickly. We expect the guys to step up and show what they’re made of.” He wasn’t wrong. The Royals have shown sparks of promise but have immediate work to do on bowling plans and settling nerves when big scores are on the board.
SRH fans are already buzzing, convinced their team’s fearless approach—at the crease and in the field—can go the distance. With this start, you’d struggle to argue otherwise.
