IPL 2025: Rajasthan Royals opt to bowl against Sunrisers Hyderabad

Rajasthan Royals (RR) stand-in skipper Riyan Parag won the toss and elected to bowl first against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the second match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday.

With regular captain Sanju Samson currently playing as a specialist batter, Parag is leading the team for the first three games of the season. Expressing his excitement at the toss, he said, “Bowling first. Looks like a dry wicket, so we’ll have a crack at it later. It means a lot to lead the team; I started here as a 17-year-old, and now I get to fill in big shoes. We have retained most of our core, and the impact rule helps us manage Sanju’s availability. Our overseas players for today are Theekshana, Jofra, and Farooqi. We’ve practiced a lot and are ready to begin on a strong note.”

SRH, led by Australian pacer Pat Cummins, retained much of their squad from the previous season. Cummins sounded confident in his side’s ability to continue their momentum, especially with Ishan Kishan and Abhinav Manohar making their debuts for the franchise.

“It’s great to be back. The core group and coaching staff remain unchanged. Batting or bowling first doesn’t matter much. It’s quite hot, so we don’t mind chasing. Hopefully, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head will continue their form from last year, while we have Nitish and Klaasen adding stability. We encourage our players to express themselves freely on the field,” Cummins remarked.