The second match of IPL 2025 will be played between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. Both teams will take the field with the intention of registering their first win of this season. Keeping in mind the new rules of IPL and the performance of the previous season, this match is expected to be very exciting.
Match Details:
Match: SRH vs RR, Match 2, IPL 2025Date: 23 March 2025Time: 03:30 PM ISTVenue: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad
Pitch and Weather Report:
The Hyderabad pitch is considered to be favorable for the batsmen, where it is easy to score runs. Many high-scoring matches were held here last season. However, the Indian Meteorological Department-Hyderabad has issued a warning that light rain with thunderstorms and strong winds is likely in the city from Saturday to Monday. There is no chance of rain during the match, but the outfield may be affected due to the weather.
Head-to-head record:
So far, a total of 20 matches have been played between SRH and RR in the IPL, in which Sunrisers have won 11 times, while Rajasthan has been victorious 9 times. RR have a poor record in Hyderabad, where they have won only one match out of five. Last year they lost here by just one run in a thrilling match.
Team Updates:
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Injury/Availability:
All the key players of 2024 finalist SRH are fit. Captain Pat Cummins and Nitish Reddy are both available.
Strategy and match-up:
SRH batsmen have a great strike rate against spinners, which could make this match tough for Sri Lankan bowler Wanindu Hasaranga. SRH scored at a strike rate of 161.43 against spinners in the 2024 season, which is a record.
- Abhishek Sharma has been batting at a strike rate of around 200 against spin in the last two seasons.
- Travis Head has also been impressive against both spin and fast bowling.
- Middle-order batsmen Nitish Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen are scoring at a strike rate of 180+ against spin.
- SRH’s bowling unit has experienced fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Hardik Patel, who are adept at taking wickets in the opening overs.
Probable Playing XI:
Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Abhinav Manohar, Sachin Baby/Aniket Verma, Pat Cummins (captain), Harshal Patel, Adam Zampa, Mohammed Shami, Rahul Chahar/Jaydev Unadkat.
Rajasthan Royals (RR)
Injury/Availability:
The team’s regular captain Sanju Samson has not fully recovered from a finger injury and will not captain the team in the first three matches. Riyan Parag will lead the team in his place. Samson can play as a batsman and can be replaced as an impact player.
Strategy and match-up:
- RR have the option of playing five Indian batsmen in the top six, allowing them to diversify their bowling.
- Hasaranga’s googly can play a key role against SRH’s left-arm heavy top-order.
- Fazalhaq Farooqi has taken the most wickets in the powerplay since 2024 (45 wickets), making him RR’s leading bowler in the powerplay.
- Rajasthan has the pair of Jofra Archer and Tushar Deshpande, who can bowl at a fast pace.
Probable Playing XI:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag (captain), Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Shubham Dubey, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Sandeep Sharma, Fazalhaq Farooqui.
Special look at the players:
Sanju Samson has a tremendous record on the Hyderabad ground. He has scored 527 runs in 12 innings here at an average of 52.70 and a strike rate of 162.65, including two centuries and two half-centuries.
Mohammed Shami took 28 wickets in 33 matches in the powerplay in the 2022 and 2023 seasons and conceded runs at an economy of just 7.08.
Fazalhaq Farooqui has taken the most 45 wickets in the powerplay since 2024, so he can be RR’s main weapon in this match.
What did the captains say?
SRH head coach Daniel Vettori:”Our strategy is very simple – just don’t concede 300 runs.”
Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson:”After the IPL 2022 final, I started thinking that I will not always be the captain of Rajasthan Royals. We have developed many leaders in the team, and for the first three matches, we decided that Riyan Parag is ready to lead.”
Conclusion:
Both SRH and RR are coming with strong batting orders. While SRH have batsmen with a great strike rate against spin, RR’s fast bowling unit is capable of taking wickets in the powerplay. This match will see a tough contest between the two teams. If the weather does not play a hindrance, it could be a high-scoring encounter. source cricbuzz
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