Rajasthan Royals seek redemption against familiar foes SRH

Rajasthan Royals will look to turn the tide against one of their toughest recent opponents when they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first afternoon match of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

Having suffered two defeats to Sunrisers last season, including a painful exit in Qualifier 2, the Royals will be eager to hit back and begin their new campaign with a statement. But with key players missing and a formidable Sunrisers line-up awaiting, the challenge is steep.

Rajasthan will be without regular captain Sanju Samson, who is recovering from a finger injury. Although Samson may be available as an Impact Player, able to bat but not field or keep wickets, the team will be led by young Riyan Parag for the first three games.

The Royals have also released England's Jos Buttler, leaving a noticeable void in their top order. However, promising names like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Rana will be tasked with shouldering the batting responsibilities.