Sunrisers Hyderabad registered a dominant 44-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in a high-scoring IPL 2025 clash, but the match will be remembered for Jofra Archer’s record-breaking spell. The England fast bowler endured a nightmare return to the tournament, conceding 76 runs in four overs—the most expensive figures in Indian Premier League history.
After Rajasthan Royals’ captain Riyan Parag won the toss and elected to field, Sunrisers Hyderabad unleashed a brutal batting onslaught. The opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head provided a blistering start, racing to 45-0 in just three overs. Abhishek departed soon after, but Head and Ishan Kishan ensured the momentum remained with SRH.
Head, who has been in scintillating form, smashed 67 off 31 balls, setting the stage for a record-breaking total. However, Ishan Kishan’s stunning knock of 106 off 47 deliveries was the real highlight. The left-hander struck 11 fours and six sixes, dismantling the Rajasthan Royals’ bowling attack with ease.
By the end of the powerplay, Sunrisers Hyderabad had posted 94-1, clarifying it that they were on course for a mammoth score. The middle order continued the carnage, with Heinrich Klaasen chipping in with 34 of the 14 balls. By the time the innings ended, SRH had amassed 286-6, the second-highest total in IPL history, just one run short of their record set in 2024.
Jofra Archer made his first IPL appearance since May 2023. Travis Head immediately put him under pressure when he entered the attack in the fifth over. His first over went for 23 runs, including a monstrous 105-meter six.
Archer momentarily recovered, with his second over costing 12 runs, but his third was the most punishing. Ishan Kishan smashed him for three sixes, taking 22 runs from the over. By the time Archer bowled his final over, his figures already looked grim. Things worsened as he delivered a beamer that ran away for four byes, with the over ultimately going for 19 runs. His spell ended with 0-76, surpassing Mohit Sharma’s previous record of 0-73, set in 2024.
Chasing 287, Rajasthan Royals needed an extraordinary batting effort. However, they found themselves struggling early, losing three wickets inside the first six overs, reducing them to 50-3.
Despite the early setbacks, Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel put up a remarkable fightback, stitching together a 111-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Samson played an aggressive innings, scoring 66 off 37 balls, while Jurel top-scored for RR with 70 off 35 deliveries.
Just as Rajasthan looked to be gaining momentum, they suffered back-to-back setbacks, with both Samson and Jurel dismissed in consecutive overs. Despite some late hitting from Riyan Parag and Rovman Powell, the target proved insurmountable. The Rajasthan Royals finished 242-6, falling 44 runs short.
The high-scoring nature of the match did not deter Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowlers. Harshal Patel was the standout performer, picking up 2-34 from his four overs. Meanwhile, Pat Cummins struggled, conceding 60 runs in his four-over spell.
There were several record-breaking moments in this match. Sunrisers Hyderabad’s 286-6 is now the second-highest team total in IPL history, just behind their record of 287-3 against RCB in 2024. On the other hand, Jofra Archer’s figures of 0-76 will be an unwanted milestone, setting a new benchmark for the most expensive spell in the league’s history.
Outside the IPL, Archer’s figures are still some way off the worst recorded in T20 cricket. Gambia’s Musa Jobarteh holds the dubious world record, having conceded 93 runs against Zimbabwe in 2023. However, Archer’s spell now surpasses Sri Lanka’s Kasun Rajitha’s 0-75 against Australia in 2019, making it the most expensive for a bowler from a Test-playing nation.
For Sunrisers Hyderabad, this emphatic win sets a strong foundation for IPL 2025, especially after their runner-up finish in 2024. Ishan Kishan’s century and Travis Head’s aggressive start suggest that their batting lineup is among the most dangerous in the tournament.
Although the tournament is still in its early stages, the Rajasthan Royals still have time to improve.
While Sunrisers Hyderabad’s batting fireworks stole the show, the match will be forever associated with Jofra Archer’s record-breaking spell. With IPL 2025 just beginning, the stage is set for more thrilling encounters as teams look to make their mark in one of the world’s biggest T20 leagues.
