SRH vs LSG: Will SunRisers Hyderabad smash IPL’s first 300 today?
SunRisers Hyderabad are going to score 300 in the Indian Premier League, right? It feels inevitable after the way they started the IPL 2025 season, scoring 286 against Rajasthan Royals in Hyderabad on Sunday, 23 March. As they head into their second game, against Lucknow Super Giants at the same venue on Thursday, the big question is: will they breach the 300-run mark?
Only three teams in the history of Twenty20 cricket have gone past the 300-run mark – Baroda (349 for 5) vs Sikkim in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match in Indore in 2024, Zimbabwe (344 for 4) against Gambia in Nairobi in 2024, and Nepal (314 for 3) vs Mongolia in Hangzhou in September 2023. Team India came close when they scored 297 for 4 against Bangladesh in Hyderabad last year.
In the IPL, SunRisers Hyderabad have scored four of the top five totals in the tournament’s history. Three of them came last year – 286, 277, 266 – when they began pushing the boundaries of big-hitting under Pat Cummins and Daniel Vettori. They have continued from where they left off this season.
Top Five Totals in IPL History
- SRH – 287 for 3 vs RCB in 2024
- SRH – 286 for 6 vs RR in 2025
- SRH – 277 for 3 vs MI in 2024
- KKR – 272 for 7 vs DC in 2024
- SRH – 266 for 7 vs DC in 2024
In their IPL 2025 season opener against Rajasthan in Hyderabad, usual suspects Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma went on the attack in the powerplay. While Abhishek missed out on a big score, Head smashed 67 off just 31 balls.
This time, their batting unit has even more firepower. With the addition of Ishan Kishan from Mumbai Indians, their top three is the most lethal in the IPL. Ishan wasted no time making an impact, scoring 106 off just 47 balls to help SRH post 286 – just one run short of their record total of 287 against RCB in Bengaluru last year.
No team in T20 history has recorded more 250-plus totals than SunRisers Hyderabad.
Also Read: 230 is the new par score in IPL, says LSG’s Mitchell Marsh
And if early signs are anything to go by, that 300 is not far away in IPL 2025. Quite a few are predicting that the milestone will be conquered against Lucknow Super Giants on Thursday.
Lucknow have been hamstrung by injuries to their Indian pace battery. In the absence of Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan and Mohsin Khan, they fielded Shardul Thakur, a late replacement, and rookie Prince Yadav as pacers in their opening game against Delhi Capitals in Visakhapatnam.
Ravi Bishnoi is the only spinner with international experience in their line-up. M Siddharth, a talented left-arm spinner, bowled well against Delhi Capitals, while they also fielded a rookie mystery spinner in Digvesh Rathi, who made his IPL debut in that game. Shahbaz Ahmed was also used as the sixth-bowling option.
IPL 2025 Coverage | IPL Points Table | IPL Schedule
Delhi were reeling at 8 for 3 and then at 65 for 5, but they still managed to chase down 210 against Lucknow, thanks to a sensational knock (66 off 31) from Ashutosh Sharma.
LSG’s depleted bowling attack does not inspire confidence, and SunRisers will be licking their lips at the prospect of taking them apart on Thursday.
A lot will depend on how bravely Rishabh Pant operates with his bowling options. He made quite a few tactical blunders that allowed Delhi to fight back into the contest after they were struggling in the chase.
Pant cannot afford such mistakes against the RunRisers in Hyderabad, which has become a bowler’s graveyard. Last season, 200-plus totals were scored as many as seven times at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in the city.
200-Plus Totals in Hyderabad in IPL 2024
- SRH – 277 for 3 vs MI
- MI – 246 for 5 vs SRH
- SRH – 215 for 6 vs PBKS
- PBKS – 214 for 5 vs SRH
- RCB – 206 for 7 vs SRH
- SRH – 201 for 3 vs RR
- RR – 200 for 7 vs SRH
Even in their first game this season, Rajasthan responded to SRH’s 286 with 245.
Speaking on the eve of the match between Hyderabad and Lucknow, former SRH captain Kane Williamson said he is hopeful that his ex-team will score 300 in a match in the 2025 season.
“You just know for a fact that they are going to give themselves every opportunity. SRH in Hyderabad. It’s one of the toughest places to visit right now. The clarity in how they are operating is great, they are power-packed throughout,” Williamson told JioHotstar.
Lucknow Super Giants also have a formidable batting unit. Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh tore into the Delhi Capitals bowling attack in their opening match of the 2025 season. Despite Aiden Markram and Rishabh Pant missing out, LSG scored 209 in their 20 overs.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra suggested that Lucknow should bat first if they win the toss to shut down the chatter around SunRisers scoring 300. He said a big total on the board could put pressure on SunRisers.
“It can happen. I am sure it will happen this season. I am sure they can even score 100 in the powerplay at least twice this season. Will it happen in this match? I don’t know,” he said.
“Lucknow, yes, have a weak bowling line-up.
“Against them, you bat. End the story there. You go and bat first and allow them to chase. You never know what will happen in a chase. Don’t put pressure on yourself thinking you have to score 250. Just play according to the nature of the pitch, put runs on the board and let’s see what happens,” he added.
It is going to be raining sixes in Hyderabad on Thursday. Rishabh Pant and Lucknow would not want to be on the receiving end. A crushing defeat could do the revamped unit a lot of harm early in the season.
