In Hyderabad, India, Ishan Kishan delivered an exceptional performance, scoring an unbeaten 106 from just 47 balls to help Sunrisers Hyderabad secure a convincing 44-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in their opening match of the 2025 Indian Premier League on Sunday. Kishan’s inaugural century in the IPL included 11 fours and six sixes, showcasing his prowess for his new team, which recorded its second-highest total in the tournament’s history.
Teammate Travis Head contributed significantly with a rapid 67 off 31 deliveries, assisting Sunrisers in achieving an imposing total of 286-6 in their allotted 20 overs. This was just short of the franchise’s record of 287-3 set against Royal Challengers Bengaluru during the previous season. Meanwhile, in another encounter, Chennai Super Kings triumphed over Mumbai Indians by four wickets with five balls to spare in a highly anticipated showdown.
Chennai’s success was largely credited to Afghanistan’s left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad, who claimed 4-18 from his four overs, restricting Mumbai to 155-9 after putting them into bat. Tilak Varma top-scored for Mumbai with a cautious 31 off 25 balls.
The Rajasthan Royals came close with a spirited response, reaching 242-6 in their pursuit of Hyderabad’s daunting target. Dhruv Jurel led the charge with 70 from 35 balls, while Sanju Samson added a crucial 66 from 37 balls. Hyderabad made an aggressive start, with Head and Abhishek Sharma (24) hammering 45 runs off the first 19 balls.
Kishan exploded into form, reaching his half-century in merely 25 balls, delivering instant returns for the franchise that acquired him in the season’s auction. His prolific innings included a partnership of 85 runs in 39 balls with Head, who also hit nine boundaries and three sixes before his departure just before the halfway stage.
Kishan’s relentless onslaught saw him conclude his century in 22 additional balls, setting up Hyderabad for a formidable statement total in their first outing. He received solid support from Nitish Reddy, who contributed 30 off 15 balls, and Heinrich Klaasen, with a rapid 34 off 14 deliveries.
It was a tough day for Rajasthan’s English pacer Jofra Archer, who ended with figures of 0-76 from his four-over spell, marking the most expensive in IPL history. Rajasthan’s pursuit stumbled early as Yashasvi Jaiswal was out for one and Riyan Parag followed soon after for four, leaving the team wobbling at 50-3 with Nitish Rana’s dismissal for 11.
Samson, utilized as an impact substitute, momentarily revived Rajasthan’s hopes with a fluent 50 off 26 balls, partnering Jurel for a 111-run stand off 60 balls. Jurel registered his half-century in 28 deliveries, smashing six sixes and five fours, keeping Rajasthan in the hunt on a conducive batting surface.
However, Adam Zampa terminated Jurel’s innings in the 15th over, and Samson was caught out shortly before. Despite valuable contributions from Shimron Hetmyer (42 off 23 balls) and Shubham Dubey (34 not out off 11 balls), the target proved insurmountable.
In Chennais’ victory over Mumbai, spin played a decisive role on the slow Chepauk pitch. After initial breakthroughs, left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed secured 3-29, including a critical dismissal of Rohit Sharma without scoring.
The absence of regular Mumbai captain Hardik Pandya, due to an over-rate suspension, was felt as stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed for 29 off 26 balls by Ahmad, with IPL legend MS Dhoni executing a stumping. Mumbai staggered to 96-6 in 13 overs, then 118-7 by 16.1 overs.
Deepak Chahar, a former Chennai bowler now with Mumbai, notably pushed the innings past 150 with a brisk 28 not out from 15 balls, including two sixes. Chasing 156, Chennai rode on a crucial 67-run partnership for the second wicket between Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rachin Ravindra in just 37 balls.
Gaikwad’s enterprising knock featured three sixes and six fours, reaching his 50 off 22 balls. Though Mumbai fought back with Vignesh Puthur taking 3-32, Chennai managed to reach their target in the 20th over, aided by Ravindra’s half-century.
MS Dhoni, at 43, returned to the IPL with Chennai, rounding off proceedings not out in the decisive moment, ensuring a perfect start to their campaign.