The Rajasthan Royals (RR) faced a brutal reality check in their IPL 2025 opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), as their bowling attack crumbled under relentless pressure from SRH’s explosive batting lineup. Despite having promising talents like Jofra Archer and Maheesh Theekshana, RR’s bowling strategy and execution left much to be desired, resulting in a massive total of 279/6 by SRH.
Interim captain Riyan Parag made the controversial decision to bowl first on a flat pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, widely known for favoring batsmen. Former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu criticized this move, stating that RR handed SRH the advantage by allowing them to bat first on a surface ideal for setting big totals.
RR’s bowlers struggled to contain SRH’s openers, with Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma smashing boundaries at will. Head raced to 67 off 31 balls, while Sharma contributed 24 off 11 balls, leaving RR’s bowlers clueless. The lack of discipline in line and length allowed SRH to dominate early.
With stalwarts like R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Trent Boult no longer part of the squad, RR’s bowling attack lacked the experience to handle SRH’s aggressive batting. Young bowlers like Tushar Deshpande and Akash Madhwal were unable to step up under pressure.
Despite Archer’s return to IPL after a long hiatus, RR failed to capitalize on his abilities. His overs lacked penetration, and he wasn’t used strategically during key phases of the innings. RR’s death bowling was particularly disappointing, as they leaked runs heavily in the final overs. Players like Ishan Kishan capitalised on loose deliveries, smashing a century and propelling SRH to an almost unassailable total.
These mistakes not only allowed SRH to post one of the highest totals in IPL history but also exposed RR’s lack of depth and planning in their bowling attack.The absence of regular captain Sanju Samson, who played as an impact substitute due to injury, further weakened their leadership on the field.
Fans were quick to express their frustration on social media, criticizing RR’s bowling performance and Parag’s decision-making. Many questioned the franchise's choices during the auction, especially their failure to retain experienced bowlers like Ashwin and Chahal.
