Sanju, Chahal takes Hyderabad to task

HYDERABAD: Rajasthan Royals leashed out a performance that befits champions to beat Hyderabad in one prolific display from the Sanju Samson-led eleven. Royals in their IPL 2023 debut defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 72 runs. Rajasthan mounted a gargantuan 20-over total of 203 while a chasing Hyderabad fell apart before succumbing to just 131 runs in 20 overs. Yuzvendra Chahal took 4 wickets for Rajasthan.

The Hyderabad batting lineup crumbled from the very start. Trent Bolt in his lightning seam took two wickets at a canter shattering the spirits of the batsmen readying to grace the pitch. Mayank Agarwal and Samad showed some prospects of a fight but couldn’t last long in the terrain of Chahal's doosras which ended the game in haste.

Earlier, Rajasthan opener Jos Butler struck a decisive 54 runs followed by captain Sanju Samson doing his usual sweep to score a magnificent 55 runs. However, it was Shimron Hetmeyer's late cameo that helped Rajasthan cross a not-so-easy 200 with ease.