IPL 2025: Ishan Kishan's Unstoppable Century Leads SRH to a Historic 286 Against RR

Hyderabad, March 23 (NationPress) Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan unleashed a stunning performance with an unbeaten 106 runs off 47 deliveries, leading Sunrisers Hyderabad to a remarkable total of 286/6 in 20 overs against Rajasthan Royals during the second match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday. This achievement marks the second-highest team score in IPL history, just one run shy of SRH's record against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2024 season.

Supported by explosive innings from Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, Kishan dominated the game from the outset, shutting down his critics with a powerful display. After being put in to bat first, SRH's openers picked up right where they left off last season, with Abhishek launching an aggressive assault on the RR bowling attack during the power-play. The Indian opener marked his entry with consecutive boundaries against Fazalhaq Farooqi in the opening over.

Head, batting alongside him, smashed four boundaries and a six off Maheesh Theekshana in the second over, propelling the side to a blazing start. Abhishek showcased his full capabilities by striking three consecutive fours, while Head capped off Farooqi's over with a six, racking up 21 runs.

Theekshana eventually broke the opening partnership, dismissing Abhishek for 24 runs off just 11 balls at the start of the fourth over. Kishan entered the fray and maintained the momentum, hitting consecutive boundaries off Theekshana in the same over.

In the fifth over, Head delivered a memorable welcome to Jofra Archer, racking up four fours and a six off six balls to score 23 runs in that over. With an additional 16 runs from the sixth over, SRH managed to accumulate 94 runs during the power-play, setting a solid groundwork for their monumental score.

Despite field restrictions, Head achieved his first half-century of the season in just 21 balls, forming a rapid partnership of 85 runs off 39 balls for the second wicket before being dismissed by pacer Tushar Deshpande in the 10th over. Head finished with a score of 67 runs off 31 balls, embellished with nine fours and three sixes. Nitish Kumar Reddy came in at No. 4, continuing the assault with two boundaries against Archer in the 11th over.

Meanwhile, Kishan struck back-to-back sixes off Archer, reaching his half-century in 25 balls on his debut for SRH. He hit another six shortly after and smashed Farooqi for another six behind square. Reddy also kept the momentum going, dispatching a short ball to deep square before Kishan struck a four on the last ball of the over.

Nitish's innings of 30 runs off 15 balls was cut short by Theekshana in the 15th over, but SRH had already crossed the 200-run mark. He was part of a 72-run partnership with Kishan in just 29 balls, marking the joint-fastest 200 runs in IPL history, equaling Royal Challengers Bengaluru's record against Punjab Kings in 2016.

Heinrich Klaasen joined Kishan, and the scoring rate remained high in the final overs, with regular boundaries. They formed a 56-run partnership in just 25 balls, with Klaasen departing after scoring 34 runs off 14 balls, including five fours and a six. Kishan completed his century off 45 balls, becoming the first player this season to reach the milestone, finishing with an impressive 106 runs off 47 balls, decorated with 11 fours and six sixes.

For Rajasthan, Deshpande took three wickets while Theekshana ended with figures of 2-52 in his four overs.

Brief scores:

Sunrisers Hyderabad 286/6 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 106 not out, Travis Head 67; Tushar Deshpande 3-44, Maheesh Theekshana 2-52) against Rajasthan Royals.