Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals, IPL, 2026 Apr 13 Full score card

OUT! CAUGHT! The Royals are no longer unbeaten. A night to remember for the Orange Army. SRH hand RR their first defeat of the season with this 57-run win. Eshan Malinga attempts the yorker but it comes out as a full toss, on off and middle. Tushar swings at it. Slices it off the outer half towards extra cover, where Ishan Kishan settles under it and gobbles it up. Deshpande takes a chance as he reviews with the hope of the ball being above his waist. The third umpire is summoned for a check and he does not even need the Ball Tracker as the ball is below the waist to the naked eye. Malinga finishes with a couple of wickets, but the night belonged to the two debutants who got together and took down the league leaders.

Hits the bat hard, does Malinga. On a back of a length, on middle. Nandre pushes it to long on for a single.

In line with the off stump, a yorker. Tushar jams it out and it goes off an inside edge behind square leg for a single.

Off-cutter, into the surface, running across the left-hander. Tushar has a heave across the line but the ball goes under the bat.

Going across off, on a good length, Burger taps it wide of cover and takes a single.

Executes the yorker to perfection, on middle. Nandre Burger digs it out watchfully.

Eshan Malinga to bowl out. 3-0-28-1 so far.

SIX! That has gone back many a mile! Praful Hinge will have to settle for a four-wicket haul on debut. Special effort regardless. Hinge goes wide on the crease on the around-the-wicket angle and bowls the slower, short ball, on middle. Tushar Deshpande waits on the back foot for the ball to arrive and dispatches it way over wide long on for a six. A night Praful will remember for life. 4-0-34-4 on his IPL debut.

Cannons the yorker in, on middle and leg. Tushar jams the bat down and shovels it wide of mid-wicket for a couple of runs. Praful Hinge has one ball left in his spell. Can he clinch the fifth wicket?

Around middle and leg, on a good length. Burger tucks it through mid on for a single.

Pace off and into the surface, outside off. Burger gets on his toes to dab it behind square on the off side but misses.

Nails the yorker, outside off. Tushar hurriedly drops his bat down and squeezes out an inside edge to square leg for a single.

SIX! Dispatched! Hinge bashes the hard length but this sits up to be hit. Tushar Deshpande stands tall and pulls it hard and wide of deep mid-wicket for half a dozen.

Nandre Burger is the last man in for RR. And Praful Hinge is back into the attack. 3-0-18-4. Can he complete the five-for on debut?

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Wicket number 4 for Sakib Hussain. Sakib says to his fellow debutant, if you can do it, I can do it just as well. Hussain's joy knows no bounds. Hussain rolls his fingers over the ball and dishes out the off-cutter, on a length, Ravi Bishnoi has a swing at it but can only sky it high up beside the strip on the off side. Sakib spots Ishan Kishan getting under it after moving to his right from cover and he leaves it for the captain. Kishan does the rest.

Another bites the dust. Ravi Bishnoi is the new batter in at number 10.

OUT! CAUGHT! The two debutants combine, who have had a night to remember. Hussain sticks to the off-cutter, on a good length, on off and middle. Jofra Archer premeditates as he looks to angle the bat face and direct the ramp past short third. He has no pace to work with and he spoons it to short third, where Praful Hinge moves to his left and slides to take a good low catch.

Wide! Brings out the off-cutter and it spins back in sharply. It starts on the leg stump line and keeps going down leg. Archer misses the glance.

Keeps it full and straight, on middle. Tushar lofts it down to long on and crosses over.

Low full toss, pace on, on off. Archer hits it to the left of extra cover and sneaks in a quick single.

Oh, nearly another for Sakib! A well-disguised off-cutter, on a good length, on middle. Archer does not pick the change of pace and is early into the heave across the line. The bounce takes the ball over the stumps.

Nails the yorker, outside off, Archer fails to squeeze it out as the ball goes under his bat.

SIX! Whoa, what a hit. Eshan Malinga attempts the off-cutter but dishes it out right in the slot, on off and middle. Tushar Deshpande holds his shape and just gets under the ball before swinging through the line. Tonks it over long off for a biggie.

Low full toss at the sticks, Deshpande gets low and picks it up to the left of long on for a couple of runs.

Around leg, on a length. Deshpande is beaten for pace on the flick and gets hit on the pads.

And with Jadeja go the hopes of RR, fully. Tushar Deshpande is the new batter in at number 9.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! SRH get the review right and Eshan Malinga has his first wicket of the night. Pushed across off, on a hard length. Jadeja arches back and looks to run it down to deep third but misses. The ball passes close to the toe end of the bat before going through to the keeper, Salil Arora. Arora is pretty confident and Ishan Kishan sends it upstairs. The UltraEdge comes up with a big spike when the ball is near the toe of the blade and the on-field decision is reversed.

Very full, at the toes. Archer jams it out through wide mid on for a single.

Angled across on a shorter length, Ravindra Jadeja punches it wide of cover, to his right for a single.

STRATEGIC BREAK! It has been the night of debutants for SRH. One did most of the early damage, and the other has just snuffed out any real threat of the Royals pulling off a heist with the wicket of Donovan Ferreira. The Sunrisers should close it out from here. As for the Royals, how Jadeja goes about the remainder of the game is now more about ensuring the net run rate does not take a big hit. Jofra Archer joins Jadeja out in the middle.

OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! Number two for Sakib on his debut and he has his arms aloft, looking at the heavens in relief. A nicely masked slower ball, on a back of a length and just outside off, with a slight nip back in. Ferreira has absolutely no read on it and throws his bat across the line in an ungainly swipe. Misses it by a mile and the ball goes under his bat to rattle the furniture behind. End of a valiant knock from Donovan Ferreira. Rajasthan Royals are 127/6.

IN THE AIR... FALLS JUST SAFELY! Length ball at 114.4 kph, in the channel outside off. Ferreira is into the shot very early and swipes across the line, but catches it high on the bat. The ball spoons towards mid on and Sakib sets off running back, then dives full length forward, but it lands just beyond his reach. Two runs taken.

FOUR! Struck ferociously! Slightly fuller and on off. Donovan Ferreira stays put, and absolutely belts it wide of long off for a cracking four.

BEATEN AGAIN! Nails the yorker outside off. Donovan Ferreira fails to dig it out as his bat arrives after the ball whistles behind.

JAFFA! Rolls his fingers to take pace off, and lands it on a length, nipping in. Donovan Ferreira is months early in the shot. Swings for the pull but misses and the ball just passes over the off pole.

A wide yorker, around off, Jadeja shovels it back past the bowler, down the ground for a single.

Low full toss, on the pads, Jadeja flicks it to deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! Crashed through the gap! Just 111.7 kph, short and outside off. Jadeja has to generate his own power here because of pace off. Stands tall and absolutely bludgeons it through the covers for four.

WIDE! Over-the-head bumper, dug into the pitch, outside off. A little too high and Jadeja lets it be.

Low full toss on the stumps, Jadeja clips it wide of long on and they come back for the second run.

Slowish length ball, outside off. Donovan Ferreira tries to muscle that through cover, but toe ends it to long off for a single.

Full and outside off, slower too. Jadeja bunts it to the cover region for a single.

Some hint of reverse on this one! Speared full and swinging in on leg, Ferreira has a big swing and misses completely. Takes it on the back leg and picks up a leg bye through square leg. There is a loud appeal for LBW, but the umpire shakes his head. Probably doing a bit too much to miss the leg pole. And confirmed by the Ball Tracking.

Eshan Malinga (1-0-8-0) has been brought back into the attack.

12 runs off the over! Reddy takes pace off, on a length, around off. Donovan Ferreira has a swipe across the line, and it goes off the inner half to deep mid-wicket for just a single. The 100-run stand comes up!

OVERTHROWS! And more worryingly, a misfield while backing up the throw in the deep. Low full toss outside off, pushed straight to Ishan Kishan at extra cover, who spots Jadeja wandering and has a shy at the bowler's end. The backing up on the leg side is not ideal as the deep square leg fielder sprints and slides across to his left, but lets it through to the ropes.

Deceives the batter by a pace off ball, outside off, on a length. It doesn't rise much and beats Donovan Ferreira on an ambitious pull shot as it goes underground.

Oh, nearly a run out! Good length outside off at 116.1 kph, this is chopped in front of backward point. Jadeja is keen for a quick single but is sent back by his partner. The throw hits the stumps directly but Jadeja has just got his bat down in time. The ball deflects away to deep square leg and they scamper through for one.

FOUR! PUNISHED! Short and at a gentle pace, on the body. But doesn't trouble Jadeja as he stands tall and pulls it to the right of deep mid-wicket. Sakib Hussain rushes across, dives to his right, but the ball stays out of his reach.

Slower and fuller, outside off, Jadeja laces it wide of long off for a couple of runs.

Full and quick, on off, drilled straight back to the bowler.

Quicker through the air, outside off, Donovan Ferreira is rushed on the back foot to cut, but gets beaten all ends up.

SIX! God, he has picked the bones out of it! Very short again, on off. Donovan Ferreira camps back and launches it handsomely over the wide long on fence for a mammoth 102-meter six.

FOUR! Misfield from Abhishek and that takes FERREIRA TO HIS MAIDEN IPL FIFTY! Another half-tracker outside off from Dubey, and Ferreira is onto it in a flash. Gets right on top of the bounce and slaps it hard through cover-point. The deep cover fielder dives to his left but cannot cut it off. A fine knock from the Proteas all-rounder so far, but the job is far from being done, and he knows it too. Keeps the celebration calm and collected.

FOUR! Bisects the fielders to perfection! A bit too short, on middle. Donovan Ferreira is quick to jump on the back foot and pulls it to the leg side, beating the long on and deep mid-wicket fielders for a boundary.

Serves a round-arm delivery, full and outside off. Donovan Ferreira presses back to smash it past cover, but the ball turns, grips and bounces to beat the bat.

Flat and slightly fuller than the previous ball, outside off. Donovan Ferreira drags it down to long on for a run. A productive over for the Rajasthan Royals. 13 runs from it. They need 134 more runs from 54 balls.

FOUR! SMASHED! Drops a short googly, on off. Donovan Ferreira rushes on the back foot and pulls it between long on and deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Much fuller and outside off, at 89.9 kph. Jadeja carves it down to long off for one more.

Very full, on off, Donovan smashes it back past the bowler's left for a single to long off's right.

SIX! BANG! Slightly fuller and on off, Donovan Ferreira gets under the ball, ends up slicing it a bit, but the sheer muscle power is enough to sail the ball over long off for a six.

BEATEN! Completely misses it. Full and a deceptive googly, around off. Donovan Ferreira fails to pick the wrong'un and swooshes hard at it to smash downtown, but misses as the ball spins past the outside edge. Salil Arora failed to gather the ball, and it popped out of his gloves. Well, well, there was a sound, and the UltraEdge confirms the outside edge.

Halfway crossed. RR's 70/5 meets SRH's 89/2 after 10 overs. Shivang Kumar to continue. An interesting battle awaits us. Shivang vs Ferreira.

Slower now, on a length, outside off. Ferreira cuts it to deep point and retains the strike with a single.

Full and fired in again, on middle. Jadeja whips it off the pads to deep mid-wicket. The fielder in the deep swoops in and cuts down the possibility of the second run.

Very full, at the toes. Jadeja squeezes it out to the right of deep square leg and comes back for the second run.

Wide! Flirting with the tramline on a good length. Ravindra Jadeja makes the leave. The bowler and the keeper are not happy with the wide call but with only one review left and given the match situation, SRH do not take the review.

Oh, that could have so easily gone back onto the stumps. Pushed through, on the fuller side. Jadeja stays back to a full ball and looks to cut it away. Ends up chopping it down beside him on the off side.

Speared in, short and on off. Ferreira slaps it to deep cover and turns the strike over.

Spins back in a bit, on a good length. This is knocked to long off for a single.

Wide! Short and wide, drifting beyond the tramline on off. Jadeja throws his hands at the ball but misses.

Spin from both ends now as Harsh Dubey replaces Nitish Kumar Reddy.

Quick single! On middle and leg, on a nagging length. Jadeja hops back and drops it beside the strip on the leg side before setting off for the run. The keeper, Salil Arora, moves across to his right, turns around and has a shy at the batting end but his throw is a loopy one and it balloons well over the stumps. Ferreira was in any way.

Drops it short now, on off. Donovan uses the depth of the crease and hits it down to long on. Just a single.

Full and quick, on off. Jadeja goes hard at the drive. Miscues it off the inner half to long on for one.

Around the off stump, on a good length. Jadeja guides it to backward point.

Another googly but this is fuller, outside off. Ferreira flashes it to deep point for a single. The 50-run stand comes up between this pair.

Short and turning away, that is punched off the back foot, but not in the gap as Ishan Kishan makes the stop at extra cover.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Looks like whatever swing was on offer has waned away now as the ball has gotten softer. The Royals will definitely feel the sting of losing too many wickets way early. But you cannot simply take the credit away from the way Praful and Sakib have bowled on their debut. Though Jadeja and Ferreira have somewhat steadied the sinking ship for the tourists, needing 159 from 72 balls, is still a mountainous ask. Also, the fact that this is the last recognised batting pair for RR. The Sunrisers will aim to break this stand as quickly as possible and expose one end to completely boss the game. Shivang Kumar (1-0-11-0) to continue after the break.

Attacking the front pad, on a length. Ferreira brings his bat out in front and clips it to wide long on for a single.

Reddy goes full, outside off. Donovan Ferreira extends his hands and cracks the drive through covers. The ball skips across the turf but Eshan Malinga charges across to his right in the deep and slides to cut it off. Two runs taken.

At 133.4 kph, on a hard length, on middle. It climbs on Donovan Ferreira and he does well to check his shot and fends it down the wicket.

Skidding through, on a good length, just outside the off stump. Ravindra taps it in front of mid off and hurries to the other end.

Serves it on a length, in line with the off stump. Ravindra Jadeja pushes it to cover.

The call is for two and they get it. Reddy hits the top of off, Jadeja gets on top of the bounce and pats it towards the vacant wide mid on region. Jadeja takes the first run hard and comes charging back for the second run. There is a direct hit at the batting end but Jadeja is in by then.

Wide! Reddy sprays it beyond the tramline on off. Jadeja lets it go.

Nitish Kumar Reddy replaces Eshan Malinga.

FOUR! Uppish but in the gap! The 50 is up for RR. From around the wicket, on a good length, turning back in, on off. Donovan Ferreira looks to force it away on the off side but the ball kicks up a bit to catch a thickish outside edge. It flies wide of short third to his right for another four.

FOUR! Hit hard and wide enough! Not all that short, on off. Ferreira picks the length quickly and goes deep in the crease. He hammers the pull all along the ground to the right of long on for a four.

Slows it down but the length stays short. It is another wrong'un, around off. Donovan taps it away, past the diving cover fielder for a couple of runs.

Googly, on the shorter side. Donovan Ferreira presses back and flat bats it back to Kumar.

Flatter and shorter, on off. Jadeja punches it wide of point for a single.

Rapped on the pads! That is going down leg and SRH do not go for the review. Tossed up, full and on middle. Ravindra Jadeja lunges for the block but does not pick the googly and is beaten on the inside edge. Gets hit high on the flap of the front pad before the ball dribbles away on the off side. The Ball Tracking confirms that the ball was sliding down leg.

The Powerplay is done and unarguably, it belongs the Sunrisers Hyderabad. And more so, to the two debutants - Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain. Jadeja and Ferreira have brought in a bit of calm in the middle though, through a budding stand. Shivang Kumar is brought into the attack now, replacing Praful Hinge.

End of action-packed Powerplay! This is on a good length, on middle and leg. RJ makes use of the angle and turns it behind square leg for one more. At the end of 6 overs, RR are 40/5.

Ouch! Low full toss, tailing back in, towards the off stump. Donovan Ferreira swings at it and picks the bones out of it. Drills it back towards the bowler. The ball catches him on the inner part of the right thigh before deflecting wide of mid off. They cross.

Malinga switches to around the wicket and slants it into the left-hander, on a nagging length. Jadeja drops it with soft hands in the vacant mid-wicket region. He is keen for the second run but Donovan is not interested and rightly so, as a couple of fielders had gotten to the ball quickly.

FOUR! Stand and deliver! On the fuller side, scrambled seam ball, across off. Jadeja extends his hands into the lofted drive and goes through the line of the ball. Hits it well away from the man at mid off to his left for a boundary.

Fractionally short, over middle. Donovan Ferreira pulls it down to deep backward square leg for a single.

SRH burn a review! Angled in, on a back of a length, on off and middle. Donovan gets on his toes and tries to work it away on the leg side with a closed bat face. He is beaten on the inside edge and wears it high on the back thigh. No bat involved but the Ball Tracking shows that the ball goes over the stumps. It was the adrenaline rush that perhaps prompted the review.

LBW review. Not given on-field. That looked high but Eshan Malinga is pretty convinced and Ishan Kishan takes the review before the timer runs out.

Attacks the stumps this time around on middle. Donovan Ferreira gets a bit across and nudges it wide of mid-wicket for a single. Something Praful Hinge has never experienced in the IPL. A wicketless over.

FOUR! Up and over the inner circle! Full and outside off, straighter line. Donovan Ferreira hits it through the line and slams it over the mid off fielder to pick up another boundary.

Hits the hard length, on off, Ferreira heaves it off the toe end to mid on.

SIX! Flayed away! Probably the first loose ball from Hinge in his spell so far. Wide outside off, on a length. Donovan Ferreira gets on the front foot and whacks it flatly over extra cover for a cracking six.

A touch on a good length, outside off, scuffed to mid off.

Full and straight, on off, Donovan Ferreira presses in front and taps it to point.

WIDE! Short and angled down leg, Donovan lets it be. Wide given.

FOUR! Timed and placed nicely! Good length but too straight, sliding down leg. Jadeja stays back and flicks it behind square on the leg side, finding the gap to the right of short fine leg for a four.

Back of a length, around the fourth pole. Jadeja hangs back and stabs it back to the bowler.

WIDE! Short and outside the off stump. Jadeja allows it to fly over his head. Wided.

FOUR! Hit with real authority! On a hard length, across off. Jadeja stands tall on his toes and gets on top of the bounce. He rolls his wrists over the ball to control the pull and hits it past the diving mid-wicket fielder for his first boundary.

Chipped over the bowler! It's all happening out there. Full and angled into middle and off, Ferreira is looking to flick, but the leading edge is found instead and the ball lobs over the bowler and lands safely. A single taken to the right of mid off.

Back of a length, into the channel of off. Ferreira defends into the off side.

Oh, a risky run! A massive miscommunication, but no harm done. Back of a length on middle and leg, this is nudged off the hip straight to mid-wicket. Jadeja sets off for the single, but Ferreira is slow to react. There is a shy at the batting end but the fielder misses and they scramble through somehow. It would have been interesting had the throw hit.

My word! Who writes these scripts? Donovan Ferreira walks in at number 6. The crowd is right behind Sakib Hussain as he steams in.

OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN AT SLIP! And the debut night just keeps getting better for Hinge. The Rajasthan Royals are left shellshocked with half their side down on just 9 runs. Full and wide, inviting the drive. Parag cannot resist the temptation and throws his hands at it, only to get a thick outside edge that flies straight to slip, where Abhishek Sharma takes it with a reverse cup just over his left shoulder.

FOUR! Finds the gap! Back of a length, angled on the middle pole. Riyan Parag plays the short-arm jab a bit uppishly, but to the right of the mid on fielder to find the fence.

Similar line and length, Parag presses forward and blocks it watchfully to the cover region.

Attacks the stumps, on a fullish length, Parag leans on the ball and smothers it back to the bowler.

Zips through the deck, on a good length, outside off. Parag opts to offer no shot at it. Good pace and carry for Praful Hinge so far.

WIDE! Digs it way too short and over the head as well, outside off. Parag lets it fly back to the keeper. Called a wide.

Bangs it short and just outside off, Riyan Parag moves to the off pole, arches back to ramp it behind, but the ball bounces above his angled bat. Nearly had another one, did Praful.

Good-length delivery on the pads. Jadeja flicks it through square leg, calling for the second right away. Deep fine leg chases it down to his right, but the batters cross each other twice by then.

Angled across and full, outside off. Jadeja reaches at it and drives it straight to cover.

Nothing short of a dream start for SRH. Who would have seen this coming? Ravindra Jadeja comes out to the centre with RR in all sorts of bother.

OUT! CAUGHT! The debutants are stealing the spotlight here in Hyderabad as Sakib claims his first IPL wicket now. Short and wide outside off, Jaiswal gets on the toes, for an upper cut. Gets it high in the air but not in the gap. Reddy at deep third takes it without any fuss. Jaiswal makes a long walk back to the dugout, and Rajasthan Royals are 2/4.

Bashes the hard length, around off, Jaiswal lets the ball curve away and then square cuts it late, but finds the fielder at backward point.

WIDE! Curves dramatically beyond the tramline, on the off side. Jaiswal swings and misses.

Outside off, on a good length, slashed hard off the back foot, but straight to point.

Swings back in and around off, on a length, hurries Jaiswal who punches it to mid off.

Sakib Hussain will share the new ball with the fellow debutant. Riyan Parag walks in next with his side in early strife. According to Murali Kartik, Praful Hinge becomes the first bowler in IPL's history to take 3 wickets in the first over of an inning.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Goodness gracious, where was this kid? Hinge marks his arrival in a fine, fine fashion. Full and swinging away from middle and leg, Pretorius gets forward and flicks it but can only send it high rather than far. Nitish Kumar Reddy at deep backward square leg settles under it and takes it comfortably. Rajasthan Royals are rocked early with three down on just 1 run.

BEATEN! Serious heat on this one. Shapes away, on a good length, Lhuan-dre Pretorius stays put, and loosely wafts at it, but the ball keeps leaving and zips past the outside edge.

Wow! Praful Hinge is on a roll. Lhuan-dre Pretorius makes his way out to the middle.

OUT! CHOPPED ON! Double strike for Praful on his IPL debut as the off pole is flattened. Back of a length outside off, Jurel prods half-forward to play at it, but the ball nips back in to catch the inside edge and it deflects onto the stumps behind. Hinge is off in celebration as the Sunrisers are on top. Rajasthan Royals are 1/2, needing 216 more runs.

Pitched slightly up, outside off, Jurel bumps it to cover off the front foot.

A perfect start for the home side. Dhruv Jurel walks in at number 3.

OUT! STRAIGHT UP AND GONE! A dream start for Praful Hinge. He hits the hard length, on top of off with a good bit of lift. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is seemingly beaten for pace as he shapes to pull it over square leg. But only manages a massive top edge which flies up the chimney. Salil Arora, the keeper, settles under it and takes a good catch. And like Abhishek, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also departs on a golden duck. RR are 1/1, chasing 217.

Praful starts with a hard length ball, shaping away from outside off. Jaiswal uses the pace and bounce and taps it behind, on the bounce to the left of deep third for a single to get RR underway.

SIX! MUSCLED INTO THE STANDS! Deshpande misses his length and serves up a juicy full toss outside off. Arora needs no second invitation, sets his base nicely and launches it over deep mid-wicket for six. 14 runs from the final over. SRH FINISH AT 216/6!

Zips through the pitch, full and outside off. Salil again swings hard, only to meet a bit of thin air.

WIDE! A full toss beyond the tramline, Arora fails to scythe it over point. Wide called.

Harsh Dubey walks in next, but he will be at the non-striker's end.

OUT! ANIKET VERMA IS RUN OUT! Fired wide and well outside the tramline, Aniket swings and misses and the umpire calls it wide. Aniket is looking to get off strike, but Jurel collects and lobs it to Deshpande at the bowler's end, who turns around and hits the stumps with a clean underarm throw. Aniket is miles out of his crease, which is confirmed by the replay, and SRH lose their sixth wicket.

Pace on now, outside off, full in length, near the tramline. Aniket Verma walks across and shapes up for the scoop, but after seeing the line, he tries to angle it past short third. Ends up bunting it down in front of cover for a single.

This is good bowling, good deception. Slower ball, back of a length outside off. Verma swings hard across the line and gets an inside edge onto his thigh pad. Arora has already set off from the non-striker's end, sensing a run, but Verma is going nowhere. Deshpande decides not to throw it. Maybe there was no one to back up the throw.

Good comeback by Tushar! Nailed in the blockhole outside off, Verma is late on it and the ball squeezes past the toe of the bat and rolls behind to the keeper.

FOUR! Crashed through the gap! Full and fast outside off, sitting up as a half volley. Aniket walks into the shot, and works it through the covers, timing it sweetly. Deep cover dives to his right but it beats him all ends up.

Full and wide, outside off. Aniket falls over while trying to smash it through the cover, but misses. Wide not given and Verma has reviewed it instantly. The key is where Aniket is standing at the point of release. The replay shows that he did shuffle slightly outside off, and the revised guideline is marked. The ball is passing well outside the tramline and it is called a wide.

SIX! Important runs for the Sunrisers these. Spoils what was turning out to be a fantastic penultimate over from RR's perspective. Back of a length outside off, Arora gets up on his toes and absolutely smokes it, smashing it over long off for a six. 200 UP FOR SRH!

Pace off and short outside off. Arora tries to climb on it and ramp it behind, but is deceived by the lack of pace.

Full and outside off, Aniket hits it straight to the long off fielder for a run.

A good hand from Nitish Kumar Reddy. Aniket Verma is in at number 7.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Smart bowling from Archer as the pace off works. Wicket number 2 for him. A slower one, dug in short and just outside off. Nitish has a big swing at it, attempting to pull it into the stands over square leg, but gets a thin edge that Jurel pouches comfortably behind the stumps. Archer barely reacts. Sunrisers Hyderabad are 195/5 as Nitish departs after a breezy cameo.

Zips through the surface, a bumper, outside off. Reddy arches back and drops the wrists to leave.

Wide yorker, Arora squeezes it past cover for a single.

Jofra Archer returns to bowl the 19th over. 3-0-29-1 so far for Archer.

SIX! Christmas arrives early for Nitish! Full toss from Sandeep, on middle. Nitish Kumar Reddy obliges, gets across the line a bit and whips it massively behind the deep square leg fence for a six. 24 runs from the over.

A review taken for wide not given! Sandeep digs in a short ball and again takes pace off, wide outside off. Nitish Kumar Reddy gets on the toes and tries to slap it over cover-point, but misses to connect. Has that gone over his head? Or is it just wide enough? It is a fair delivery to begin with. The batter, Nitish, is slightly outside the off stump, and the revised guideline is marked. The replay shows that the ball is clearly passing outside that, with no part within. The on-field call is reversed to Wide.

Slowish length ball, outside off, Nitish Kumar Reddy swings at it hard, but ends up chopping down the pitch due to the lack of pace.

SIX! One more! A juicy full toss now, around off. Reddy gets under it and pumps it over wide long on for a six.

SIX! KABOOM! Way too short and with pace taken off, outside off. Reddy has ample time to press back and he pulls it away into the stands over deep mid-wicket.

Slower bumper wide outside off. Arora drags it towards mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Tries to hit it north, goes south! Shortish and widish, outside off. Arora slashes very hard at it, looking to hit it over the bowler, but gets a massive outside edge and the ball flies between the keeper and the short third fielder for a boundary.

Another pinpoint yorker, on middle. Arora jams the bat down and carves it behind point for a single. Another excellent over for the Rajasthan Royals, considering the stage of the game, just 7 off it. 4-0-31-0 for Burger tonight.

Quality bowling! Yorker right on the spot, Arora can only jam it back at the bowler.

Bump ball! Burger gets the yorker in, right at the base of the off stump. Salil drops his bat down hurriedly and opens the face of the blade to glide it past short third. A sharp grab to his right by Dhruv Jurel. A polite enquiry from the RR players. The fourth umpire performs the background check and the replays confirm that the ball bounced on the turf before going to hand.

FOUR! Top edge and away! Short and at shoulder height. Salil Arora stands tall, goes for the pull, but gets a thick top edge, and the ball sails over short fine leg for a boundary.

Nails the yorker in perfectly, on middle. Reddy tries to flick it away, gets an inside edge instead to short fine leg for a single.

Spears it onto the pads from around the stump, full in length. Arora misses the flick and the ball deflects to mid-wicket for a leg bye.

Full and outside the off stump. This is pushed towards deep point for a single.

SRH lose Heinrich Klaasen at an inopportune time. Salil Arora comes out to bat.

OUT! CAUGHT! Deshpande comes up with a key wicket. Back of a length and wide outside off, Klaasen is forced to stretch and fish at it, but the extra reach robs him of both power and elevation. Hits it flat and finds Parag right on the edge of the circle at cover. The Royals captain, with a slight leap, takes a sharp catch just over his head. Klaasen is absolutely livid with himself. RR will definitely breathe easy now as Sunrisers Hyderabad are 162/4.

Full toss outside off, Nitish hits it hard and straight back down the ground, but the bowler gets a hand to it and manages to kill the pace off the shot. It deflects behind him for a single.

SIX! That's huge! Halfway into the pitch, on middle. Reddy stands tall and nails the pull shot deep into the stands behind deep mid-wicket for a six. That was a six at any ground in the world.

Very full and outside off. Klaasen gets low and across and sweeps it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Full, straight, wide outside off, but comfortably inside the tramline. Klaasen sees it off. Smartly bowled.

STRATEGIC BREAK! The Sunrisers have lost Kishan at a crucial time, but with Klaasen ready to launch, his presence in the middle is very important for the team in orange. This is a belter of a surface, and they will need to get in excess of 210 or maybe even 220. The Royals will be looking to get the wicket of Klaasen as soon as possible to effectively cut down a few runs, as there is not much batting left after this. Tushar Deshpande (2-0-32-0) is back on.

Pace on now, on the shorter side, on off. Klaasen flat bats it to long off for a single.

SIX! Just over! Across off, on a good length. Klaasen just checks his swing through the line and does not go through with the shot completely. Ravi Bishnoi at long off leaps but Klaasen gets enough bat on it to clear the leggie.

Nicely bowled! This moves away off the deck, on a good length. It is the slower ball again. Heinrich Klaasen walks down the track and presents a straight bat but is squared up and is beaten on the outside edge.

Takes pace off now, does Burger. On a length, leaving the right-hander. Heinrich Klaasen swings for the hills but misses.

Hits the hard length from around the wicket, on middle. Reddy gets on his toes and tucks it to deep mid-wicket. They think about the second but eventually settle for the single as the fielder in the deep gets to the ball quickly.

Angling away, on a good length. Heinrich Klaasen reaches out and drags it towards wide long on for a single.

A successful over for the Rajasthan Royals. Just 5 runs and a massive wicket of Kishan from it. Riyan Parag brings back Nandre Burger (2-0-16-0) into the attack, replacing Archer. Interestingly, we haven't seen Jadeja with the ball yet.

Delivers it on a back of a length, outside off. Heinrich Klaasen hits it on the up to long off for a run.

Short and on off, that is cut away through point for a single.

Full, around off, Reddy leans on and drives it straight to cover.

Play and a miss! On a hard length, outside off. Nitish Kumar Reddy flashes but the ball goes over the blade.

Kishan is gone, and one has to wonder whether that slight break in play disrupted his rhythm at just the wrong moment. Nonetheless, the Royals get what they wanted. Nitish Kumar Reddy walks in at number 5.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Two men collide, but Sandeep Sharma holds onto it. A moment's silence as Ishan Kishan misses out on a hundred, which is followed by a standing ovation. Sandeep bends his back and serves the slower, short ball, outside off. Kishan has a big swing across the line but the bat turns in his hands. It is skied beside the stumps on the leg side. Sandeep runs forward and calls for it but Dhruv Jurel also goes for the catch. Both bump into each other but Sharma keeps his eyes on the ball. The ball nearly slips out of his grasp but he clings onto it close to his stomach.

It could have been a wide had Klaasen left it. On a good length, flirting with the guideline. Heinrich extends his hands and caresses it to deep cover for one.

Wide! Slower ball attempted on a good length, but this is well wide on off.

A stoppage as the stadium lights have gone off. But soon, the issue is fixed. Ishan takes his moment to wipe the sweat on the towel. He is just 9 runs away from the century.

WIDE! Goes for the slower one, full but miles outside off, breaching the tramline. Klaasen sits across and tries to sweep, but misses to do so.

Sandeep Sharma replaces Ravi Bishnoi. 2-0-23-0 so far.

FOUR! Oh, what happened there? Archer bangs it in short, over middle. Kishan swivels and gets on top of the bounce. He pulls it hard and wide of deep mid-wicket. Donovan Ferreira runs to his left in the deep and Ravindra Jadeja converges from deep square leg. Both fielders leave it for each other, and the ball goes right between them for another four. Jofra Archer is not happy one bit and understandably so. A hat-trick of boundaries to end the over. 17 runs off the over.

FOUR! In the gap! Nothing wrong with the ball. A yorker, tailing in at the toes. Kishan clears the front leg and brings his bottom hand into play. He whips it all along the ground between deep mid-wicket and long on. Riyan Parag charges across to his left at long on and puts in a dive but the ball sneaks under his body and into the ropes. Riyan lands hard on his left shoulder and grimaces in pain but looks fine to carry on.

FOUR! Lovely shot! Just outside the off stump, on a length. Kishan lets the ball come to him and opens the bat face to go up and over backward point for a boundary.

From around the wicket, slower bumper, over off. Kishan gets his hands high to play the upper-cut but does not connect.

Very full this time, on middle. Klaasen wrists it through wide mid on for a single.

FOUR! Stand and deliver! A floater up first up from Archer. A pretty loose ball, on the off stump. Heinrich Klaasen does not move his feet much and just gets his hands through the ball. He lofts it over the man at mid off for a boundary.

Jofra Archer (2-0-12-1) is brought back into the attack as RR search for a breakthrough. He replaces Tushar Deshpande. Meanwhile, a mini hydration break for both the batters. Ready to resume.

Bishnoi does not offer any room and bowls it short, on middle. Kishan goes back and punches it from the crease, wide of extra cover for a couple of runs.

A run saved! Ravi Bishnoi drags the length back, and this is quicker through the air, outside off. Heinrich Klaasen hangs on the back foot and cuts it behind point. Lhuan-dre Pretorius is quick across the turf to his left from deep point and a man also converges from the inner circle. Pretorius gets there first and he slides to push the ball away from the fence. The ball threatens to trickle towards the ropes but Tushar does well to prevent the ball from touching the boundary cushions. The replay confirms the same.

SIX! Clean strike! Ravi Bishnoi tosses it up, full and outside off. Heinrich Klaasen hangs deep in the crease and also walks across the off stump to get closer to the line of the ball. He launches it way back into the stands beyond long off for a biggie.

Pushes it through, around the off stump. Heinrich Klaasen makes room to go up and over cover but is beaten on the outside edge.

Very full, on middle, swept away, that too, in the reverse direction. One run taken at point.

Damage averted! Flat and short, on off. Heinrich Klaasen slaps it down the ground to the right of long off. Klaasen is keen for the second but Ishan sends him back and rightly so.

The Sunrisers are motoring along well here. The last 3 overs have produced 48 runs, with the previous one going for 21 runs alone.

FOUR! Incredible shot! Kishan is turning it on for SRH. Wide outside off, Kishan has to lunge and reach for it but times it to perfection anyway. Gets right on top of it and hits it over backward point for four.

Into the surface, off-pace delivery. Kishan hangs back and forces it down the ground with a flat bat, wide of long off for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Carved away! Deshpande angles it across the left-hander, near the tramline. Kishan is equal to the task as he walks across and throws his hands at the ball. Slices it over behind point for a boundary.

SIX! Just enough! Tushar Deshpande hits the hard length, on middle and leg. Kishan is tucked up for room slightly but manages to get this one away. He swings across for the pull and Jofra Archer at deep mid-wicket seemed to be in business for a moment but the ball evades him to his left.

Wide! Off-cutter, trying to keep it away from the batter's arc. Slips it beyond the tramline on off.

FOUR! Easy pickings! At 145.5 kph by Deshpande, on the pads, on a length. Kishan picks it up neatly off the pads and plays it behind square, beating the man at deep square leg to his left for a boundary.

Good stop! This is pushed across the left-hander, pace off, on a back of a length. Kishan throws his hands at the ball. Gets it behind off the toe end of the blade, where the keeper, Dhruv Jurel dives to his left to make a sharp stop.

Tushar Deshpande (1-0-11-0) is back.

Full and outside off, sliced over mid off, on the bounce to long off for a single. At halfway, SRH are 89/2, as 16 runs come off this over.

SIX! That's a MONSTER! FIFTY FOR ISHAN KISHAN! A fine, fine knock from the captain that gets him to his 19th IPL fifty. And his love affair with playing against RR continues. A century last year and a fifty now. He is hungry for more, Ishan. Raises the bat calmly to soak in all the applause from the home crowd. It is a full ball, right in front of the sticks. Ishan Kishan picks the length in a trice, collapses his back knee into the pitch and nails the slog sweep handsomely over deep mid-wicket for a big six.

Outside off, short, slapped off the back foot to deep point's right for a single.

SIX! And away she goes! Into the slot, full and on middle and leg. Heinrich Klaasen gets his front foot out of the way and clubs it off the middle. Clears the long on fence with ease for a big, powerful six. Dhruv Jurel rushes to Bishnoi to have a quick word.

The googly, short outside off. Kishan flat bats it to long off for another run.

Keeps attacking the stumps, does Bishnoi. Short in length, Heinrich Klaasen thrashes it down to long off for a single.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Not the crash, bang, wallop one comes to expect here in Hyderabad, but a proper contest so far with something in it for everyone. Rajasthan Royals will be pleased with how the game has gone so far. They have been disciplined with the ball for large parts and have a couple of wickets to show for their efforts. The wicket has felt a bit sticky, where that hard length has been tough to get away, and the odd ball has held in the surface. Anything too full and Ishan Kishan has been severe on it. The SRH captain has started well and will be keen to make the most of it, while Heinrich Klaasen will look to find his feet quickly.

Slow, outside off, on a good length, Klaasen runs it through extra cover for a single. 11 runs from the over. 2-0-23-0 so far for Sandeep.

Huge swing and a miss! Full in length, nipping away from the right-hander, just outside off. Heinrich Klaasen clears the front foot to smoke it over the leg side, but misses to connect.

Far outside off, on a good length. Kishan falls over but he manages to slap it past cover for a single.

SIX! Into the crowd! On a length, on top of off. Ishan Kishan latches on it and pulls it across the line, dumping it behind deep mid-wicket for a cracking six. Moves to 47 from 27, does the SRH captain.

WIDE! Misses his radar and fires it outside the tramline on the off side. Kishan ignores.

Back of a length, pace taken off, outside off. Klaasen stands tall and knocks it away to long off for another solo.

Wide outside off, likely a slower one, full in length. Kishan slices it over extra cover for a single.

Wrong'un, on a tight line on off, Ishan Kishan rocks back and bunts it through mid off for one. So 6 singles from Bishnoi's first over.

Conventional leg break, on middle, on a slightly fuller length. 103.5 kph. Klaasen heaves it to deep mid-wicket and crosses over.

Googly now, wide outside off, Kishan throws his bat at it and slices it to deep point for a single.

Drag-downer, on middle. Klaasen backs away and slaps it along the turf to long off for one more.

Drags the length and dishes out a googly, on 95.1 kph, Ishan Kishan is quick to go back and across before dragging it to long on. Only a single.

Full, on off, driven away to long off for a single.

Spin from both ends? Indeed. Ravi Bishnoi has been called into the attack.

Around off, on a good length, Heinrich Klaasen stands in the crease and cuts it to deep point for a single to get off the mark.

In walks Heinrich Klaasen at number 4.

OUT! CAUGHT! The RR skipper does the trick and both SRH openers are in the hut now. Head shows his cards early as he skips down the track and seeing that, Parag offers more flight on the ball and lands it in the vicinity of the leg stump, on a dragged length. Travis Head is already out of the crease and is beaten in the air. Still, he goes for a lofted shot to take on the long on fielder, but gets it mistimed badly and offers a dolly to Donovan Ferreira stationed at the mentioned position. A scratchy stay comes to an end for Head. Sunrisers Hyderabad are 55/2.

Flat, full, on off, Kishan stays put and drills it down to long on for another run.

A round-arm delivery, on a lower trajectory, on a length, on leg. Head heaves it off the back foot for a single to long on.

Drifts it on the pads, Kishan pushes the full toss to long on for a single.

Quicker one from around the stump, on off. Head punches it to deep cover for a single.

Well, this is interesting. With the Powerplay done, one would have expected Ravi Bishnoi to be introduced, but with two left-handers at the crease, Riyan Parag has brought himself on. That said, Bishnoi is predominantly a bowler who relies on his googlies, and he would have also been a good match-up.

At pace, on a good length, on leg. Head whips it off the back foot to deep mid-wicket for a run. Sunrisers Hyderabad end their Powerplay at 51/1.

FOUR! Gets enough on it! Bangs it slow and short, on top of off. Head climbs on the imaginary ladder and slaps it over cover-point for a boundary.

Slow full toss, on middle. Head moves towards the leg side a bit early, tries to smash it to the off side, but inside edges it to the mid-wicket region.

In the air... but does not carry! Short of a good length, on leg. Ishan swivels and pulls it aerially, but gets no timing on that one. Gets it off the inner half and it lands just ahead of the charging Donovan Ferreira at deep mid-wicket. Just a single.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Full and straight on the pads. Ishan Kishan gets under the ball nicely and whips it over mid-wicket for a boundary as the ball dribbles into the fence, beating deep square leg to his right.

A dipping slower ball, outside off. Head takes it on the full and carves it to cover-point for a single.

Double change? Indeed. Tushar Deshpande replaces Nandre Burger.

Sharma spots Head backing away and he follows him with a good-length ball. Travis can only push it with a straight bat to mid off for a single. 12 runs off Sandeep's first over.

Sliding onto the pads, on a length. Kishan smears it to the left of deep square leg for a single.

SIX! All the way! Sharma sticks to the full ball, at the sticks. Kishan collapses his back knee to get under the ball before swinging through the line. He tonks it towards the sight screen for his third six.

Donovan Ferreira at it again. Pitched up now, on middle. Kishan hangs low and goes down the ground. Ferreira moves to his right this time from long off and mops it up. Another brace for the SRH captain.

Good effort! On middle and leg, on a short of a length. Kishan makes room and flat bats it wide of long on. Donovan Ferreira sprints to his left and sticks out his left hand to push the ball away from the fence. He saves a couple of runs for his side.

Starts with a slower ball, full and on off. Kishan lunges and eases it to mid off.

Will Archer get the third? Looks unlikely. And he won't. Here's Sandeep Sharma into the attack. Jurel is standing up to the wickets.

Just outside the off pole, on a length. The ball keeps a bit low as Head checks his drive to cover.

A big swing and a miss! This is on a back of a length, around the off stump. Head stays leg side of the ball and throws the kitchen sink at it but does not connect.

In and around the off pole, on a short of a length. Kishan runs it down to deep third for one.

SIX! Width offered and Kishan cashes in! Short and wide on off, there to be put away. Kishan frees his arms and slams it. Gets a bit of an outside edge but still it goes over deep third for half a dozen.

In the air....but safe! At the stumps, angled in, on a good length. Head makes room and swings through the line. Skies it a long way up over mid on, where Jofra Archer turns around and goes after it. He never managed to settle under it and was always playing catch-up. The ball eventually drops out of the reach of Jofra. They cross.

FOUR! A tough chance for Dhruv Jurel but a chance nonetheless. Angled into the left-hander, on a nagging length. Head gets on his toes and looks to nudge it away on the leg side. He gets into a bit of a tangle. The ball catches the inside edge and goes low towards the keeper. Dhruv Jurel dives low to his right and sticks out his right glove but the ball clips the fingertips before going behind into the fence.

Pushed across the left-hander, more on the shorter side. A bit too close for Kishan to force it away, and he ends up chopping it down the strip.

On top of off, on a back of a length. Kishan waits on the back foot and steers it with an open bat face to backward point.

SIX! Absolutely smoked! Ishan is fighting fire with fire. Archer digs it in short at 144 kph, but fails to get it high enough to trouble the batter. It comes just below the shoulder for Kishan, who pivots on the back foot and nails the pull over square leg for a biggie.

Back to bowling it on a hard length, on middle. Ishan charges down the track and punches it on the up but can't get it past point.

FOUR! Nicely done! Archer gets his line wrong. This is a little too straight, on a good length, on the pads. Kishan swivels quickly and pulls it behind square leg towards the vacant fence for his first boundary.

Archer hits the hard length, on middle. Kishan can only pat it back to the bowler with a straight bat.

Excellent start for both RR seamers to set the tone. SRH still looking to break free. Archer to continue.

A couple of dots to end the over. Goes full now, does Burger, on off and middle. Travis jams it out on the off side.

Drags the length back a touch and the line is tighter, on middle. Head stays leg side and firms the drive to mid off.

FOUR! Head is up and running! Just outside the off stump, on a length. Head gives himself a bit of room and gets under the ball before carving it over cover for a one-bounce boundary.

Into the strip, this skids through, over middle. Travis backs away and has a hack across the line but fails to connect.

On a good length, on middle and leg. Travis makes room to go through the off side but does not get any room and pats it down on the off side.

Oh, Head cops a painful blow. Tucking the batter up for room, this is angled in from over the wicket, on a short of a good length. Travis hops to fend it away but misses and wears it on the midriff.

That was some rhythmic start from Archer. There is good bounce off the surface and he didn't offer any room for the batters. Nandre Burger will share the attack from the opposite end.

End of a testing first over from Jofra. Attacks the stumps and this is on the fuller side. Ishan Kishan watches the ball all the way onto his bat and defends it solidly.

Serious heat! Archer hurls it on a hard length at 146 kph, over off. Kishan hangs back to deal with it but is taken aback as the ball kicks up off the deck. It catches the shoulder of the blade but drops well in front of backward point.

Not in control, but Ishan gets away with it! Archer strays on the pads, on a length. Kishan's head falls over to the off side as he attempts the flick. The ball nips away a bit to catch the top edge. Luckily for the SRH skipper, it lands safely beyond the inner circle and wide of mid on to his left. SRH and Kishan are on the board with a couple of runs.

Hits the bat hard, does Archer. On a good length, on off and middle. Ishan lets the ball come to him and stabs it down on the off side.

Pushes the length up this time, shaping away from the left-hander. Kishan makes a watchful leave.

What an anticlimactic start for SRH. Archer wins the battle against Abhishek in the very first ball. The captain Ishan Kishan is in at number 3. FYI, he smashed a hundred against this very opposition in the previous season.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! What a start for the Royals. A wicket off the very first ball. The crowd goes silent as Abhishek Sharma falls for a golden duck. Archer steams in from over the wicket and bashes the hard length, a bit of away movement. Abhishek dances down the track and flays at it. The ball catches the toe end of the blade and it is skied to deep third, where Ravi Bishnoi settles under the skier and takes the catch a few metres in off the ropes. Bishnoi turns around and he has his arms aloft while looking towards the crowd behind him. And as per Raunak Kapoor on air, this is Abhishek's first golden duck in the IPL.

All set to get going in the City of Pearls​​​​​​. It's almost a full house on a working day, with the sea of orange and odd sprinkling of pink here and there. Riyan Parag leads his men out to the middle as the Royals spread across the park. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma are the two openers for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Jofra Archer is ready to bowl thunderbolts first up. So it's Abhishek vs Archer to begin. A slip in place. Here we go!

Impact sub options for RR - Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravi Singh, Shubham Dubey and Brijesh Sharma.

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI) - Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Lhuan-dre Pretorius (In for Shimron Hetmyer), Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi and Tushar Deshpande (In for Brijesh Sharma).

Impact sub options for SRH - Ravichandran Smaran, Sakib Hussain, Liam Livingstone, Shivam Mavi and Harshal Patel.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI) - Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (C), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora (WK), Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Praful Hinge (On IPL debut and in for Harshal Patel) and Eshan Malinga.

Relishing the leadership role - The skipper of the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Ishan Kishan shares that he has a lot of experience leading sides, starting from his U-19 days and also having led his state team. He adds that captaincy makes you more aware and pushes you to do more for the team. Kishan believes that being the captain does make a difference, especially when you are performing well, as it reflects maturity and growth as a player. He also feels that his leadership and performances played a role in earning a return to the Indian side, and says that is all one can really ask for. Ishan informs that Sakib Hussain and Praful Hinge will feature tonight, with Jaydev Unadkat and Harshal Patel making way.

Keen to make the first use of the fresh surface - The captain of the Rajasthan Royals, Riyan Parag says it's a fresh wicket, so he reckons it might be a bit sticky in nature as well. About the changes, he informs that Tushar Deshpande is back in the side, replacing Brijesh Sharma. Also adds that Hetmyer gets a rest and Lhuan-dre Pretorius makes his debut. Reflects on his journey to the captaincy, saying he learned a great deal playing under Sanju Samson for a long time. He also credits Kumar Sangakkara, RR's head coach, for playing a key role in his development, grooming him over time and involving him in strategic discussions. Parag adds that stepping into the leadership role has meant taking ownership and making some tough calls, but says he is happy to be in this position.

TOSS - Time for the coin to go up in Hyderabad. Riyan Parag and Ishan Kishan have made their way out to the middle. Being the home captain, Ishan gives the coin a flick. 'Tails' is the call from Riyan, and he gets it right. Rajasthan Royals elect to BOWL first.

PITCH REPORT - Daren Ganga describes it as a very good batting track, pointing to last season's encounter between the Rajasthan Royals and the Sunrisers Hyderabad, where over 500 runs were scored, as an evidence of what the ground is capable of producing. Ganga informs that the match is being played on pitch number three, with a straight boundary of 77 metres. Adds that the square dimensions are 63 metres, with the larger measuring 67 metres. He also adds that both teams boast two of the most aggressive opening pairs in the competition, promising pyrotechnics. Faf du Plessis reiterates that it is an absolute belter and is pretty nice and hard. Given the quality of openers on both sides, he anticipates a big Powerplay from each team. Faf shares that there is a general tendency for sides to chase at this venue, with the dew settling in during the evening hours.

Where RR hold the edge - Both teams have hit 42 sixes each this season, the joint-second most among the 10 teams, but the contrast lies in the bowling. RR have picked up the most wickets so far (32) at an economy of 8.95, while SRH have managed 20 wickets at an economy of 10.42. SRH certainly have the firepower with the bat to match RR, but can they rise to the occasion with the ball against the league leaders? We will have our answer soon. Stick around for the toss and team news.

Battle of the openers - The dominance up top from Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head is well-documented, but they now have a new challenger to their throne in RR's pairing of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal. The SRH duo are coming off a 120-run opening stand in the last game, but they have blown hot and cold overall this season, while the RR pair has been consistent with 3 fifty-plus opening stands in the 4 matches so far.

Season 19, Episode 21 - Hello, one and all! Hope the week has started just as you would have wanted. If not, the next few hours should set it right for you, as fireworks are guaranteed with two batting powerhouses set to clash. We witnessed a run-fest last night in Mumbai, and potentially another awaits us in Hyderabad as the Sunrisers Hyderabad host the Rajasthan Royals. 

... MATCH DAY ...

The beginning of a new week - Match 21 of the Indian Premier League 2026 between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals, scheduled at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, shapes up as a fascinating clash of contrasting momentum rather than a concluded contest, with Rajasthan entering as the form team and Hyderabad searching for consistency. Heading into this match, Rajasthan Royals have clearly established themselves as the team to beat. With a perfect four-for-four record, they’ve locked down the top spot on the table, backed by a healthy net run rate that proves their early-season balance isn't just luck - it's dominance. Sunrisers Hyderabad, however, find themselves on the opposite end of the spectrum. With only a single victory in four attempts, their campaign has been a bit of a rollercoaster, marred by inconsistent performances that swing wildly between brilliant bursts of scoring and disappointing mid-game collapses. Firepower along with Fragility - SRH is currently a team of polar opposites. Their top-order firepower is undeniable, evidenced by three scores north of 200 in their first 4 games. Despite this, their vulnerability in the bowling department and middle-order inconsistency have prevented them from converting that raw power into steady momentum. Players like Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, and Abhishek Sharma provide SRH with a destructive top order, but the lack of consistency in the middle overs and death bowling remains a concern. Their one-dimensional pace attack has shown flashes but hasn’t delivered under pressure, especially in high-scoring encounters. Shivang Kumar, the left-arm wrist-spinner, has been a standout, though. A Well-Oiled Unit - With a self-assured core group at the helm, the Rajasthan Royals have been operating like a well-oiled machine. Their batters have struck a perfect balance between steady composure and calculated aggression, proving equally adept at clinical run chases and setting formidable targets. This recent string of dominant victories, often wrapped up with plenty of time to spare, highlights a team currently firing on all cylinders. What stands out most is their balance. The top order lays strong foundations, the middle order accelerates intelligently, and the bowling unit, featuring both pace and spin, has delivered breakthroughs at crucial junctures. This all-round cohesion makes RR one of the most complete sides in the tournament at this stage. Fighting Fire with Fire - The Royals currently have a clear edge when it comes to the bowling performances this season over the Sunrisers, but in all likelihood, how the top order, especially the opening pair, performs will decide the outcomes of this game. Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head amassed an astonishing 105 runs in the Powerplay in their last game, whereas the duo of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal has been able to mix aggression with consistency, which has turned RR into a winning machine right now. The openers will play a big role, yes, but both teams also have a couple of in-form middle-order batters, and if things go wrong up top, the likes of Heinrich Klaasen and Dhruv Jurel will be key for SRH and RR, respectively. A batting paradise with a twist - Historically, the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium has been a chase-friendly venue, with teams batting second claiming victory in approximately 59% of fixtures. While the typical first-innings total has traditionally sat in the mid-160s, recent matches indicate a shift toward higher-scoring affairs, where targets exceeding 180 are now frequently expected. Interestingly, the venue has also witnessed extreme scores, from modest defenses to record-breaking chases, making adaptability key. Pace bowlers have enjoyed slightly more success than spinners, which could influence team combinations and strategies. Form (Last 5 completed IPL games, most recent first) - SRH - LLWLW | RR - WWWWW. Match outlook - On paper and current form, Rajasthan Royals enter this match as clear favorites. Their unbeaten run, tactical clarity, and squad balance give them a strong advantage. However, Sunrisers Hyderabad remain a dangerous opponent, especially at home, where a single explosive performance could turn their season around. Who are you backing for the win?