You can feel it every time these two teams meet. What looks like a regular IPL fixture often turns into something tighter, louder, and far more dramatic. Sunrisers Hyderabad versus Rajasthan Royals is not built on hype, but on moments. And over time, those moments have shaped one of the IPL’s most quietly intense rivalries.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals timeline tells a clear story of how IPL cricket itself has evolved. From low-scoring bowling battles to modern-day run festivals, this rivalry mirrors the changing face of T20 cricket. Every season adds a new chapter, and each match leaves behind numbers that still matter years later.
Introduction to the SRH vs RR Rivalry
The rivalry between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals began in 2013, when SRH replaced Deccan Chargers in the IPL. Rajasthan Royals already carried a reputation as fearless underdogs, while Sunrisers arrived with a clear identity built around disciplined bowling.
From the start, this matchup felt different. It was not about glamour or star power alone. It was about execution. Rajasthan relied on instinct and bold batting, while Hyderabad trusted structure, planning, and control. That contrast made their encounters unpredictable and often extremely close.
Over the years, the SRH vs RR timeline has produced classic low-scoring thrillers, last-over finishes, record-breaking totals, and career-defining performances.
Head-to-Head Snapshot
Sunrisers Hyderabad hold a slight historical edge, leading the rivalry 12–9 across 21 matches. Recent seasons have tilted heavily in SRH’s favor, including a dominant run of four consecutive wins.
| Date | Venue | Result | Key Performers |
| Mar 23, 2025 | Hyderabad | SRH won by 44 runs | Ishan Kishan 106*, Travis Head 67 |
| May 24, 2024 | Chennai | SRH won by 36 runs | Heinrich Klaasen 50, Shahbaz Ahmed 3/23 |
| May 2, 2024 | Hyderabad | SRH won by 1 run | Travis Head 58, Nitish Kumar Reddy 76* |
| May 7, 2023 | Jaipur | SRH won by 4 wickets | Glenn Phillips, Abdul Samad |
SRH vs RR Rivalry Overview
Before diving season by season, here is a quick snapshot of the rivalry.
| Detail | Information |
| First Match | IPL 2013 |
| Total Matches Played | 22 |
| Most Wins | Sunrisers Hyderabad |
| SRH Wins | 13 |
| RR Wins | 9 |
| Highest Team Score | SRH – 286 |
| Lowest Team Score | RR – 102 |
| Most Iconic Players | Warner, Buttler, Samson, Bhuvneshwar |
These numbers already show balance, competitiveness, and a clear evolution over time.
IPL 2013: The Beginning of the Timeline
| Date | Venue | Result | RR Score | SRH Score | Key Performers |
| April 27, 2013 | Jaipur | RR won by 8 wickets | 146/2 | 144 all out | Shane Watson 98 (53), James Faulkner 5/20 |
This first meeting set the foundation of the rivalry. Rajasthan’s aggressive batting and all-round dominance were too much for a young Sunrisers side still finding its identity.
IPL 2014: Tactical Battles Take Shape
| Date | Venue | Result | SRH Score | RR Score | Key Performers |
| April 18, 2014 | Abu Dhabi | SRH won by 7 wickets | 133/5 | 130/9 | David Warner 52*, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3/21 |
This season marked a shift. Sunrisers showed improved balance and control, using swing bowling and disciplined chases to counter Rajasthan’s early aggression.
IPL 2015: Competition Intensifies
| Date | Venue | Result | SRH Score | RR Score | Key Performers |
| May 7, 2015 | Mumbai | SRH won by 7 wickets | 135/2 | 134/9 | Shikhar Dhawan 54, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2/20 |
Margins tightened in 2015. This match underlined how critical composure had become, with SRH executing a calm chase that directly impacted Rajasthan’s playoff hopes.
IPL 2016: SRH’s Championship Season
In the 2016 IPL season, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) did not face Rajasthan Royals (RR) as RR, along with Chennai Super Kings, were serving a two-year suspension over the 2013 spot-fixing case, replaced by Gujarat Lions and Rising Pune Supergiants.
Led by David Warner, SRH went on to win their maiden IPL title, defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore in a high-scoring final, becoming the only team in IPL history to clinch the championship after starting the playoffs from the Eliminator.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Final Result | Champions (Defeated RCB by 8 runs in the final) |
| Top Run Scorer | David Warner (848 runs, 2nd highest in the league) |
| Top Wicket Taker | Bhuvneshwar Kumar (23 wickets, Purple Cap winner) |
| Final MVP | Ben Cutting (39* off 15 balls & 2 wickets) |
| Emerging Player | Mustafizur Rahman (17 wickets) |
| League Stage | Finished 3rd (8 wins, 6 losses) |
SRH vs. RR Historical Context
While they did not meet in 2016, the two teams have a storied rivalry in other seasons. As of 2026, the head-to-head record is closely contested:
Playoff History: In IPL 2024, SRH defeated RR by 36 runs in Qualifier 2 to reach the final. ression with the bat and disciplined bowling left Rajasthan with few answers, reinforcing Hyderabad’s title-winning blueprint.
Head-to-Head: Sunrisers Hyderabad has won 12 matches, while Rajasthan Royals has won 9.
Notable Recent Encounter: In the IPL 2025 season opener, SRH defeated RR by 44 runs, scoring a record 286/6.
IPL 2017: Royals Fight Back
| Date | Venue | Winner | Result | Notes |
| No recorded match between SRH and RR in 2017 | — | — | — | There was no SRH vs RR fixture this season in IPL records. |
In 2017, Rajasthan, Sunrisers and most teams rotated schedules; this rivalry did not feature a head-to-head game that year.
IPL 2018: Royals’ Comeback After Suspension
| Date | Venue | Winner | Result | Key Performers |
| Apr 9, 2018 | Hyderabad | SRH won | by 9 wickets | SRH strong chase |
| Apr 29, 2018 | Jaipur | SRH won | by 11 runs | Aggressive batting from SRH |
Sunrisers won both 2018 meetings, showing consistency and experience after RR’s return from suspension.
IPL 2019: A Low-Scoring Classic (Two Matches)
| Date | Venue | Winner | Result | Notes |
| Mar 29, 2019 | Hyderabad | SRH won | by 5 wickets | SRH chased 198/2 |
| Apr 27, 2019 | Jaipur | RR won | by 7 wickets | RR chased 161/8 |
Both teams won once, and the Jaipur match exemplified RR’s comeback with effective chase execution.
IPL 2020: UAE Drama and Balance
| Date | Venue | Winner | Result | Match Type |
| Oct 11, 2020 | Dubai | RR won | by 5 wickets | Neutral venue |
| Oct 22, 2020 | Dubai | SRH won | by 8 wickets | Return fixture |
In the neutral-venue setting of UAE, both teams split the season fixtures, keeping the rivalry even.
IPL 2021: Pandemic Season Battles
| Date | Venue | Winner | Result | Notes |
| May 2, 2021 | Delhi | RR won | by 55 runs | Strong RR batting |
| Sep 27, 2021 | Dubai | SRH won | by 7 wickets | Jason Roy 60* |
Two tightly contested matches balanced the season, each side winning once.
IPL 2022: A New Era Begins
| Date | Venue | Team Batting First | Score (20 overs) | Team Chasing | Score (20 overs) | Result |
| Mar 29, 2022 | Pune (MCA) | RR | 210/6 | SRH | 149/7 | RR won by 61 runs |
Rajasthan Royals set a big total and then used disciplined bowling to restrict Sunrisers in this high-pressure contest.
IPL 2023: Batting Takes Over
Several memorable encounters highlighted rising scoring standards in this rivalry.
| Date | Venue | Team Batting First | Score (20 overs) | Team Chasing | Score (20 overs) | Result |
| Apr 2, 2023 | Hyderabad | RR | 203/5 | SRH | 131/8 | RR won by 72 runs |
| May 7, 2023 | Jaipur | RR | 214/2 | SRH | 217/6 | SRH won by 4 wickets |
In the earlier game, Rajasthan’s batting display was dominant, but Sunrisers bounced back later with a chase win.
IPL 2024: Tactical Masterclass and Playoff Drama
| Date | Venue | Team Batting First | Score (20 overs) | Team Chasing | Score (20 overs) | Result |
| May 2, 2024 | Hyderabad | SRH | 176/6 | RR | 175/7 | SRH won by 1 run (close league match) |
| May 24, 2024 (Qualifier 2) | Chennai | SRH | 175/9 | RR | 139/10 | SRH won by 36 runs |
Sunrisers showed their nerve in tight contests, including a dramatic one-run league win followed by a playoff victory.
IPL 2025: Record-Breaking Modern Era
| Date | Venue | Team Batting First | Score (20 overs) | Team Chasing | Score (20 overs) | Result |
| Mar 23, 2025 | Hyderabad | SRH | 286/6 | RR | 242/6 | SRH won by 44 runs |
Sunrisers set the second-highest IPL total in history and held off a strong Rajasthan chase in a high-scoring classic.
Head-to-Head Record: SRH vs RR
| Category | SRH | RR |
| Matches Played | 22 | 22 |
| Matches Won | 13 | 9 |
| Highest Score | 286 | 242 |
| Lowest Score | 127 | 102 |
| Biggest Win | 44 runs | 72 runs |
Sunrisers hold a clear overall advantage, especially at home in Hyderabad.
Venue-Wise Performance
| Venue | Matches | SRH Wins | RR Wins |
| Hyderabad | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| Jaipur | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Neutral Venues | 11 | 5 | 6 |
Hyderabad remains SRH’s fortress, while neutral venues slightly favor Rajasthan.
Top Run Scorers in SRH vs RR Matches
| Player | Team | Runs |
| Sanju Samson | RR | 760+ |
| David Warner | SRH | 480+ |
| Jos Buttler | RR | 350+ |
| Kane Williamson | SRH | 320+ |
Sanju Samson stands out for consistency, while Warner defined an era for SRH.
Top Wicket Takers in the Rivalry
| Bowler | Team | Wickets |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | SRH | 15 |
| James Faulkner | RR | 12 |
| Rashid Khan | SRH | 11 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | RR | 11 |
Bhuvneshwar’s control in death overs remains unmatched in this matchup.
Key Strength Comparison
Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals approach this rivalry with very different strengths, which is what keeps their contests engaging year after year.
Bowling Depth: Sunrisers Hyderabad rely on structure and planning. Their attack is built around swing in the powerplay and controlled execution at the death. Bowlers like Pat Cummins and Harshal Patel focus on discipline, making SRH harder to break in tight finishes.
Explosive Batting: Rajasthan Royals bring fearless intent with the bat. Their top and middle order emphasize high strike rates and quick momentum shifts, often changing games within a few overs when conditions favor batting.
Fielding Standards: Rajasthan usually gain an edge through athletic fielding. Sharp catching, fast ground coverage, and aggressive inner-ring fielders often save crucial runs and create pressure.
Pressure Handling: Sunrisers Hyderabad have shown stronger composure in knockout-style moments. Close finishes and high-pressure chases tend to suit their calmer, process-driven approach.
| Area | Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) | Rajasthan Royals (RR) |
| Bowling Style | Structured, death-over focused | Wicket-taking, impact-driven |
| Batting Identity | Relentless aggression | Explosive and flexible |
| Fielding | Reliable and safe | Athletic and attacking |
| Big-Match Nerves | Strong under pressure | Momentum-dependent |
Why This Rivalry Stands Out
This rivalry may not always dominate headlines, but it consistently delivers high-quality cricket. Tactical captaincy decisions often decide the outcome, especially when bowling changes and matchups come into play. Young players frequently announce themselves here, using the spotlight to make a statement.
Matches between these sides rarely feel settled early. Even massive totals have produced tense finishes, with momentum swinging late into the final overs. Both teams also adapt quickly to pitch and weather changes, making each encounter feel different despite familiar lineups. It is a rivalry defined by execution and intelligence, not noise.
Match Records
| Record Type | Team / Player |
| Highest Team Score (SRH) | 286/6 vs RR (2025) |
| Highest Team Score (RR) | 242/6 vs SRH (2025) |
| Highest Individual Score | Ishan Kishan 106* (SRH, 2025) |
Overall, Sunrisers Hyderabad bring sustained pressure and structure, while Rajasthan Royals rely on versatility and flair. That contrast keeps this rivalry competitive and relevant as both teams continue to evolve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has won more SRH vs RR matches?
Sunrisers Hyderabad lead with 13 wins out of 22 matches.
What is the highest score in this rivalry?
SRH’s 286/6 in March 2025.
Who is the top run scorer?
Sanju Samson with over 760 runs.
Which bowler has the most wickets?
Bhuvneshwar Kumar with 15 wickets.
Have they met in playoffs?
Yes, most notably in IPL 2024 Qualifier 2, won by SRH.
Conclusion
The Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals timeline is a reflection of IPL’s evolution. From tactical bowling duels to explosive batting spectacles, this rivalry has adapted with the game.
Sunrisers bring structure, planning, and calm under pressure. Rajasthan bring flair, bravery, and unpredictability. Together, they produce contests that reward smart cricket as much as raw talent. As the IPL continues to evolve, this rivalry promises even bigger moments ahead.
