Sunrisers aim to continue with a dream run in Hyderabad   

Betting Odds

Our Predictions 

• Travis Head has odds of 3.10 to be Sunrisers Hyderabad's best batter  
• Yashasvi Jaiswal  has odds of 2.85 to be Rajasthan Royals' best batter 
• Mohammed Shami has odds of 3.40 to be Sunrisers Hyderabad's best bowler 
• Wanindu Hasaranga has odds of 3.40 to be Rajasthan Royals' best bowler 

MATCH PREVIEW     

It is the 2nd game in the Indian Premier League 2025. IPL 2024 runner-up Sunrisers Hyderabad will be up against the Rajasthan Royals as both teams look to make a good start in the season. The Sunrisers Hyderabad will look to overcome last season's upset in the final and take full advantage of the home conditions. They won both games against the Rajasthan Royals last season and shall start this game with odds in their favor. The Rajasthan Royals lost in the 2nd Qualifier last season, but the side has a solid group of players and firepower in the batting department. It is the first game for both teams, and we expect to see a cracker in the contest.  

Sunrisers Hyderabad Preview     

Pat Cummins and his men did well last season but lost in the final against the Kolkata Knight Riders. The batting lineup demolished bowling attacks last year, and Cummins expects them to repeat the same magic. They have an excellent record at this venue and lost just once last season. They will start favorites on cricket betting sites, and Cummins would expect a strong show from his bowlers to set the tone for the rest of the season.  

Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma were brilliant last year at the top. The team expects an electrifying start from this pair. Ishan Kishan's entry adds a new dimension to the middle order, and he will look to add runs in the middle order with Sachin Baby and Nitish Reddy. Heinrich Klaasen and Wiaan Mulder can strike the ball cleanly, and the team expects a strong show from them in the lower middle order.  

Bowling was the weak area for the team last season, and they have strengthened their bowling this year. Mohammed Shami and Pat Cummins have vast experience and will look to strike early in this game. Harshal Patel and Rahul Chahar must check the scoring rate in the middle overs, as the Rajasthan Royals have an explosive batting lineup. Abhishek Sharma and Mulder add variety to the attack and must do well in the supporting role.  

Expected Starting XI for Sunrisers Hyderabad     

Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Abhinav Manohar, Wiaan Mulder, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami, Rahul Chahar, Sachin Baby (Impact Player)  

Rajasthan Royals Preview      

Riyan Parag will lead the team in the first three games with Sanju Samson yet to recover from his injury. The team has done well in the last few seasons and knocked down stronger teams with their batting firepower. However, bowling has been one of the team's weaknesses, and they must get things right this season. Cricket betting apps favour their opponents, and Parag would like to beat those odds. They have lost the last three games against the Sunrisers, and the Royals' skipper would look to end that.  

The team will need a good start from the new opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson, who will play as a specialist batter in the game. Riyan Parag, Nitish Rana, and Dhruv Jurel must do well in the middle order, as SRH bowlers will test them in these conditions. Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi strengthen the lower middle order.  

The bowling attack faces a big challenge in this game as they are up against a batting powerhouse. Jofra Archer is the spearhead of the attack, and he must get early breakthroughs with Sandeep Sharma. Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana must use the conditions well and strike in the middle overs. The team expects Tushar Deshpande and Riyan Parag to do well in the supporting roles.  

Expected Starting XI for Rajasthan Royals      

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

TOSS: To Bowl First      

The team chasing the score has won the last four out of six games. The wicket is good to bat on and stays the same throughout the game. The side winning the toss would look to bowl first and dismiss the opposition for a small total.  

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS      

We expect slightly overcast skies over Hyderabad. It is a flat batting surface where the batsmen can easily play their strokes. There isn't much on this track for the fast bowlers; they must use their variations. Spinners do well on this track as the ball stops on the batsmen. The side batting first will need 200 runs, as we had seen several run feasts last season.  

OUR PREDICTION      

The Rajasthan Royals have lost the last three games against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. It will be on their minds, and the team must find its form in this game. The bowling attack looks unsettled, and the team needs a good show from the bowlers to win. The Sunrisers Hyderabad have been holding their home ground like a strong fort. They have more firepower in the batting department, making them favorites.   

Our prediction is for Sunrisers Hyderabad to win