Indian Premier League 2025, IPL season 18: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals in Hyderabad on March 23, 2025

Outfitted with a balanced squad that contains a formidable batting line-up and skilled bowlers, final version’s runners-up Sunrisers Hyderabad will begin as favourites of their opening Indian Premier League (IPL) match in opposition to Rajasthan Royals in Hyderabad on Sunday (March 23, 2025).

Sunrisers have among the most explosive batters of their line-up in Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen, and with a belter of a observe more likely to provide on the Rajiv Gandhi Worldwide Stadium, they’d fancy an enormous complete within the afternoon match of the double-header day.

In truth, if any group can get to the a lot talked about 300-run complete after batting first, it’s Sunrisers that’s anticipated to attain the feat with the firepower they’ve.

The return of India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy after an harm can be anticipated so as to add to the arsenal of the Sunrisers. With the type of kind Abhishek and Head have been having lately, the Sunrisers supporters can count on to see spectacular strokes.

Within the final T20I he performed, Abhishek scored 135 off simply 54 balls with a strike fee of 250 in opposition to England throughout the house collection in February.

With few established names within the bowling division of the Royals, besides England pacer Jofra Archer, there may be each chance that the Sunrisers can eye one other 250-plus complete in the event that they bat first on Sunday.

Sunrisers posted 250-plus totals 3 times final season, together with 287 in opposition to Royal Challengers Bangaluru in an away match and 277 in opposition to Mumbai Indians at house. The explosive duo of Abhishek and Head scored the very best IPL powerplay complete of 125 in opposition to Delhi Capitals within the third occasion once they posted 266.

The skilled tempo duo of captain Pat Cummins and Mohammed Shami will man the bowling division together with spinner Adam Zampa — one other seasoned campaigner.

The 2016 winners Sunrisers look far batter positioned than Royals, who’re will miss skipper Sanju Samson because of his finger harm. Samson can’t preserve wickets and area and might solely bat with safety on his finger. It will not be a shock if he comes as an Affect Participant.

Batter Riyan Parag would be the interim captain for the 2008 champions Royals of their first three IPL matches.

With the discharge of Englishman Jos Buttler, the Royals’ batting line-up has dwindled although they nonetheless have the likes of Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Rana and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Sunrisers and Royals performed two video games in opposition to one another final season. Sunrisers received each the video games and might be assured of sustaining their supremacy over the Rajasthan-based outfit.

The primary assembly was within the league stage when the Sunrisers prevailed by only one run.

Sunrisers and Royals completed on the second and third positions respectively after the league stage and so they confronted in opposition to one another as soon as once more within the qualifier 2.

Sunrisers received that sport with ease, beating the Royals by 36 runs to qualify for the ultimate which they misplaced to Kolkata Knight Riders.

The Groups (From):

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Abhishek Sharma, Sachin Child, Mohammed Shami, Adam Zampa, Aniket Verma, Abhinav Manohar, Rahul Chahar, Eshan Malinga, Harshal Patel, Kamindu Mendis, Wiaan Mulder, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Atharva Taide, Brydon Carse, Simarjeet Singh, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari.

Rajasthan Royals: Riyan Parag (c), Sanju Samson, Shubham Dubey, Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Rana, Kunal Singh Rathore, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Ashok Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Kwena Maphaka, Sandeep Sharma, Maheesh Theekshana, Yudhvir Singh.

Match Begins at 3:30pm IST.