SRH vs RR Match Highlights IPL 2023 - Match 4 Season 16: Chahal, Boult, batters power Royals to big win

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Rajasthan Royals started their campaign in the IPL 2023 season with a dominant 72-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in match number four of the tournament on Sunday (April 2) at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad.

The match between the two teams turned out to be a dull encounter as the Sunrisers failed to put up a fight in a big run chase of 204. The Orange Army - who looked patchy from the start - were no match against the visitors - who did nothing wrong in the day.

Rajasthan Royals' top-three batters explode

Put in to bat first, the Sanju Samson-led side posted a mammoth 203/5 in 20 overs, courtesy of three fifties from their top three batters. It was the first game of IPL Season 16 where a team breached the 200-run mark.

For the Royals, Jos Buttler (54 off 22), Yashasvi Jaiswal (54 off 37) and captain Sanju Samson (55 off 32) laid a solid foundation with their explosive knocks. With their confident batting performance, the Royals have sent a warning signal to their opponents that they can't be taken lightly.

Buttler - who was the Orange Cap winner from last year - smashed a 20-ball fifty to set the pace of the game. The England captain - who scored 863 runs, including 4 centuries in IPL 2022 - started from where he left off.

Jaiswal and Samson - who has a penchant for shining in the first game of every edition since 2022 - showed aggressive intent. Samson's innings were laced with four maximums.

While Devdutt Padikkal (2) and Riyan Parag (7) were dismissed cheaply but Shimron Hetmyer's cameo of 22* off 16 balls ensured the Men in Pink and Blue crossed the 200-run mark in the final over the innings.

While fast bowling sensation Umran Malik was again impressive with his raw pace and accurate line. His delivery breached the defences of Padikkal with a speed of over 150 kmph.

Boult-Chahal shine with the ball

Chasing a big total, SRH lost two wickets in the first over when Trent Boult dismissed Abhishek Sharma (0) and Rahul Tripathi (0). Boult first dismantled Sharma's stumps and two balls later, Jason Holder took a stunner at slip to send Tripathi back for a duck.

Harry Brook and Glenn Philips - who made their debuts for SRH - failed to make an impression in the game. Brook had a forgettable IPL debut as he was outfoxed by spin wizard Yuzvendra Chahal - who became the first Indian to 300 T20 scalps.

Chahal - who was the Purple Cap winner of IPL 2023 - emerged as the top wicket-taker in the game and returned with impressive figures of 4 for 17. The Haryana tweaker started the new season on a dominant note.

While New Zealand cricketer Philips became R Ashwin's victim to be dismissed for 8. The senior off-spinner finished with 1/27 and was economical as usual for the Royals.

While impact substitute Abdul Samad played an unbeaten knock of 32 off 32 deliveries but that wasn't enough. Sunriesers could muster only 131 for the loss of 8 wickets in the run chase and lost the game by 72 runs.

SRH were led by senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the absence of their newly-appointed captain Aiden Markram - who is on national duty and missed the opening game. They will be hoping for a better show from the batting unit in the next game.