The runners-up of the 2022 season, Rajasthan have started their 2023 Indian T20 League campaign with a massive 72-run win against Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Batting first after losing the toss, Rajasthan posted a total of 203 runs for the loss of 5 wickets, powered by the fifties by Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and skipper Sanju Samson. In reply, Hyderabad was restricted at 131 for 8.
Buttler and Jaiswal gave a firing start to Rajasthan after adding 85 runs for the first wickets inside six overs. With this, Rajasthan also scored their highest total in the powerplay in the history of the Indian T20 League. Buttler got out after smashing 54 runs off 22 balls, hitting seven fours and three sixes. After that, Jaiswal put up a partnership of 54 runs with Samson for the second wicket. The 21-year-old got out after a knock of 54 runs from 37 balls, hitting nine boundaries.
Samson went on to become the third half-centurion of the innings as he scored 55 off 32 with three fours and four sixes, before giving his catch to Abhishek Sharma in the 19th over on T. Natarajan’s delivery. Shimron Hetmyer added finishing by scoring 21 off 16 as Rajasthan go past 200. Natarajan and Fazalhaq Farooqi scalped 2-2 wickets each for Hyderabad, while Umran Malik put one in his bag.
Trent Boult put Hyderabad on the backfoot by taking 2 wickets in the first over
Chasing the winning total, Hyderabad had a disastrous start as Trent Boult sent Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi back to the pavilion without conceding any run in the first over of the innings. The home team kept losing wickets at regular intervals and didn’t get any chance to come back in the match. Abdul Samad and Umran Malik hit some boundaries in the last couple of overs as Hyderabad finished on 131 after the completion of 20 overs.
Yuzvendra Chahal was the main anchor for Rajasthan bowling as he scalped 4 wickets by conceding 17 runs in his four overs. While Trent Boult finished on 2 wickets with 21 runs in his four overs. Jason Holder and Ravichandran Ashwin shared a wicket each.
Rajasthan finally broke the tradition of the home team winning the game in the ongoing season of the Indian T20 League after Gujarat, Punjab and Lucknow won their first matches of the season at their home ground.
Kavya 🥺#IPL23#SRHvsRR #RRvSRH #RajasthanRoyals #SunrisersHyderabad #RCLens #RCBvMI pic.twitter.com/24HLLThpCS
— Mohammed Nayeem (@PMN2463) April 2, 2023
— Fluky Cricketer (@flukycricketer) April 2, 2023
When you disgrace Legends pic.twitter.com/wCe1haybwv
— Shivam Kumar (@Itzzz_Shivam) April 2, 2023
Are han Han Jeet gyi RR pic.twitter.com/gCmGHe7AhZ
— Rishabh Pandey (@RAVINDU_PANDEY) April 2, 2023
— kaleen Bhaiya (@kaleen_bhaiya_) April 2, 2023
— Vivek (@itsvivekp7) April 2, 2023
— Rishabh Pandey (@RAVINDU_PANDEY) April 2, 2023
— Ritvik (@kohli_fanatic) April 2, 2023
#HallaBol #RajasthanRoyals #RRvSRH https://t.co/72DyewXlQ4 pic.twitter.com/DBpiFM219X
— vandana (@Vanduuu22) April 2, 2023
Pipe down haters, we're here to rule. 💪
— Aaradhya Prajapati (@Aaradhya_2003) April 2, 2023
What a power show from Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson.
A complete team effort from Rajasthan Royals 💗
Halla Bol, a good start. ✨#SRHvsRR#RajasthanRoyals pic.twitter.com/uc60RoXSUv
#SunrisersHyderabad vs #RajasthanRoyals #IPL
— THOR (@SaiKumar24100) April 2, 2023
the most happiest man on earth right now 😂😂 @davidwarner31 pic.twitter.com/brvWco3g1e
Orange army ka juice nikal diya RR ne 😂 #SRHvsRR #RajasthanRoyals #SanjuSamson pic.twitter.com/t40Bzq7rKG
— HR_in_RajasthanRoyals (@HrithikRoars) April 2, 2023
@SunRisers #SRHvsRR #IPL23 #RajasthanRoyals @rajasthanroyals#SunrisersHyderabad
— Anand Joshi (@anandjoshi711) April 2, 2023
Me as a Srh fan watching them play every IPL pic.twitter.com/aZTPMCPCDO
— Lucifer 😈 (@vk_king_) April 2, 2023