Match overview
Sunrisers Hyderabad chased down 215 to beat Rajasthan Royals by 4 wickets at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on 7 May 2023. Rajasthan had won the toss, batted first, and posted 214/2, a total nearly 50 runs above the venue's historical average of 165 across 97 matches. SRH's reply was tense throughout, and four wickets fell in the death overs alone. Glenn Phillips took the Player of the Match award as Sunrisers pulled off one of the larger chases seen at this ground.
The match arrived at a point where both sides were struggling for consistency. Rajasthan Royals had won just one of their previous five fixtures, with defeats to Gujarat Titans, Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Lucknow Super Giants sandwiching a win over Chennai Super Kings. Sunrisers Hyderabad's record was similarly patchy: four losses from five, with their only win coming against Delhi Capitals.
Despite the context, both teams produced a high-scoring contest. Rajasthan's batting was especially fluent through the middle phase, and SRH found another gear in the final four overs when it mattered most.
Venue and conditions
Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur has hosted 97 T20 matches, producing an average first-innings score of 165 and an average second-innings score of 153. The gap between those figures suggests the pitch does deteriorate somewhat as a game progresses, though not dramatically. Teams batting second have won 64 per cent of completed matches here, making it one of the more chase-friendly venues in Indian domestic T20 cricket.
The powerplay typically yields around 46 runs, and the death overs average 39 runs per innings. Rajasthan's powerplay of 61/1 and death-overs score of 60/1 both exceeded those norms comfortably. SRH's death phase of 71/4 was the most frantic passage of play in the match. Their middle overs of 94/1 were steadier and provided the foundation the chase needed.
Of the teams winning the toss, 60 per cent in Jaipur have chosen to field. Rajasthan bucked that trend by electing to bat, and their innings of 214/2 vindicated the decision, even if SRH had the final say.
How to watch
IPL fixtures are broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Cricket. Live streaming is available through Sky Go and NOW TV for existing subscribers or those taking out a day pass. For matches played in the Indian evening, UK viewers can generally expect the first ball around 15:30 BST. Highlights and clips are also available on the Sky Sports website and app for subscribers after the match concludes.
Recent form
Going into this fixture, Rajasthan Royals had won only once in five outings. Their form read W-L-L-L-L across that run, and their batting unit, despite performing here, had been inconsistent across the season. Sunrisers Hyderabad's form was no better. They had lost four of their last five, with wins against Delhi Capitals their sole bright spot in recent weeks.
On paper, neither side entered this match with momentum. SRH's eventual win, chasing more than 215, will have done more for their confidence than any of their recent results. For Rajasthan, a total of 214/2 in a losing cause was a reminder that their top order was capable, even if the bowling attack could not close out a high chase. The head-to-head now stood at 13 wins to 9 in Sunrisers' favour across 22 meetings, a gap that has only widened in the seasons since.
