SRH vs RR: Chahal's four-wicket brilliance helps Rajasthan to an easy 72-run win vs Sunrisers

Rajasthan Royals began their IPL 2023 campaign with a 72-run victory vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad, on Sunday. Chasing a target of 204 runs, SRH were restricted to 131/8 in 20 overs, with Yuzvendra Chahal taking four wickets. Initially, RR posted 203/5 in 20 overs, with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, and Sanju Samson bagging half-centuries respectively. Read the Match Report of the SRH vs RR game and share your thoughts in the comments.

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SRH vs RR: IPL 2023 Match Report

After winning the toss, Sunrisers Hyderabad's skipper Bhuvneshwar Kumar opted to field first. Rajasthan Royals finished their innings at 203 runs after 20 overs in their opening match of IPL 2023. Last season's runners-up RR got off to a brilliant start with T20 World Cup-winning England skipper Jos Buttler smacking 54 off 22 balls with 7 fours and, 3 sixes. Promising uncapped Indian batter Yashasvi Jaiswal made an identical 54 in 37 deliveries with 9 fours while skipper Sanju Samson top-scored with 55 in 32 deliveries with three fours & four sixes. RR posted the season's highest total of 203 for 5.

In reply, the home side managed 131 for 8 after the end of 20 overs. For Sunrisers Hyderabad, T Natarajan (3-0-23-2) was the pick of the bowler and dragged the Royals back in pressure in an over where he dismissed Samson and gave away just seven runs. Left-arm Afghan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi returned with 2 for 41 from his four overs. While chasing, the home side lost two wickets without opening the account with Trent Boult's double blow in the first over. He came out with splendid figures of 4-1-21-2. Yuzvendra Chahal made Hyderabad begging in his 4-0-17-4. When they looked to fold inside 100 runs, the Jammu and Kashmir duo of Adul Samad (32 not out; 32b) and Umran Malik (19 not out; 8b) produced some late fireworks to take them to a respectable 131 for 8.