Sunrisers Hyderabad is all set to take on Gujarat Titans this Sunday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, and it’s a bit unusual since it’s a single-header day in IPL 2025. In their season opener, SRH had a dream start, posting a record score at this very stadium, but things didn’t go as planned afterward; they lost their next three matches. Their latest outing against Kolkata Knight Riders was particularly tough, ending in a hefty defeat. In that game, SRH initially did well with the ball during the powerplay, but KKR’s batsmen, especially Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi, got their act together. Venkatesh Iyer then took off at the end and helped KKR reach the 200-run mark.
When it came to batting, SRH never found their rhythm. Vaibhav Arora’s impressive attacks in the early overs put them in a tough spot. Every time they attempted to make a comeback, KKR’s bowlers had the answer, leading to SRH experiencing their biggest loss ever—a whopping 80 runs.
On the other hand, Gujarat Titans bounced back impressively after a shaky start, securing two wins in a row. Their last victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore was convincing as they cruised to an easy win by eight wickets at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. GT’s bowler, Mohammed Siraj, took full advantage of the helpful conditions early on, putting RCB on the back foot in the powerplay. RCB managed a decent score of 169, thanks to contributions from Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, and Tim David. GT had a slower start, but once Sai Sudharsan laid the groundwork, Jos Buttler and Sherfane Rutherford kicked it up a notch and saw their team through the chase.
Now, this upcoming clash promises to be exciting. There are plenty of thrilling player matchups to keep an eye on:
Heinrich Klaasen vs. Rashid Khan:
Klaasen has emerged as a powerful hitter of spin in T20 cricket lately. But when it comes to the IPL, he hasn’t had much luck against Rashid Khan, the leading wicket-taker in T20s. So far in the IPL, Klaasen has only managed 21 runs off 18 balls against Rashid, earning a strike rate of 116.67, and he’s been dismissed once.
Mohammed Shami vs. Shubman Gill :
In past IPL seasons, Gill has had a tough time facing Shami. They played together from 2022 to 2024, but now they’ll be rivals. Gill’s numbers aren’t impressive—he’s scored 41 runs off 36 balls against Shami, with a strike rate of 113.89, and has been out twice.
Harshal Patel vs. Jos Buttler:
Buttler’s explosive batting can shift the game in no time, while Harshal Patel’s smart changes in pace will be crucial in keeping him in check during those initial overs or at the end of the innings.
Kamindu Mendis vs. Sherfane Rutherford:
These two all-rounders have the potential to turn the match around quickly—Rutherford with his bat and Mendis with his crafty spin bowling.
Abhishek Sharma vs. Mohammed Siraj:
Siraj’s fast bowling and bounce will be key in trying to dismiss the dangerous Abhishek Sharma during the first six overs.
This face-off is shaping up to be a thrilling event, with plenty of excitement expected from these player battles. Fans are definitely in for a treat!
