Table of Contents
The Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals timeline reads like a proper cricket novel. Every few seasons the plot twists. Leads swap. Records get smashed. And somehow, just when you think you’ve seen the best this rivalry can produce, it tops itself.
What Makes SRH vs RR One of IPL’s Most Exciting Rivalries?
Two teams. Two completely different identities. And 20+ matches that have averaged more drama per over than almost any other IPL fixture.
SRH built their brand on ruthless bowling and disciplined batting. RR built theirs on finding freaks of nature — players who shouldn’t exist at their age, price, or experience level. When those philosophies collide, the results are rarely boring.
SRH currently lead the head-to-head 14–9 against RR, and their clashes have consistently delivered big scores, aggressive batting, and high-pressure moments. But a 5-match gap doesn’t tell the whole story. RR have repeatedly pulled off wins that felt impossible on paper, and SRH have served up some of their most dominant performances specifically in this fixture.
There’s also genuine bad blood in the records. RR have ended SRH’s season. SRH have returned the favor. The 2026 Eliminator in Mullanpur was just the latest chapter. And we’ll get there.
Sunrisers Hyderabad Vs Rajasthan Royals Timeline Head 2 Head Overview
| Statistic | SRH | RR |
|---|
| Matches Played | 22 | 22 |
| Matches Won | 13 | 9 |
| Matches Lost | 9 | 13 |
| No Result | 0 | 0 |
| Win Percentage | 59.09% | 40.91% |
- Total matches played: 23 (including IPL 2026 Eliminator)
- SRH wins: 14
- RR wins: 9
- Highest team total: 286/6 — SRH, Hyderabad, IPL 2025
- Lowest team total: 102 — RR, Hyderabad, 2014
- Biggest SRH win (runs): 72 runs — Hyderabad, 2023 (RR’s perspective on the same match)
- Most runs scored (player): Sanju Samson — 764 runs in the rivalry
- Venue stronghold: SRH at Hyderabad (4–1); RR at Mullanpur (unbeaten)
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals Match Results Timeline
| Season | Winner | Margin | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | RR | 8 wickets | Jaipur |
| 2013 | SRH | 23 runs | Hyderabad |
| 2013 (Playoffs) | RR | 4 wickets | Delhi |
| 2014 | RR | 4 wickets | Abu Dhabi |
| 2014 | SRH | 32 runs | Ahmedabad |
| 2015 | RR | 6 wickets | Visakhapatnam |
| 2015 | SRH | 7 runs | Mumbai |
| 2018 | SRH | 9 wickets | Hyderabad |
| 2018 | SRH | 11 runs | Jaipur |
| 2019 | SRH | 5 wickets | Hyderabad |
| 2019 | RR | 7 wickets | Jaipur |
| 2020 | RR | 5 wickets | Dubai |
| 2020 | SRH | 8 wickets | Dubai |
| 2021 | RR | 55 runs | Delhi |
| 2021 | SRH | 7 wickets | Dubai |
| 2022 | RR | 61 runs | Pune |
| 2023 | RR | 72 runs | Hyderabad |
| 2023 | SRH | 4 wickets | Jaipur |
| 2024 | SRH | 1 run | Hyderabad |
| 2024 (Qualifier 2) | SRH | 36 runs | Chennai |
| 2025 | SRH | 44 runs | Hyderabad |
| 2026 | SRH | 57 runs | Hyderabad |
Early Rivalry (2013–2016)
SRH entered the IPL in 2013, replacing the Deccan Chargers. RR were already 5-year veterans and Shane Warne’s title-winning team from 2008 was still the benchmark. Their first 3 meetings went RR’s way — 2 wins from 3 clashes, and SRH looked like the new kids trying to find their footing.
The most memorable early-era moment came in Jaipur, where James Faulkner’s 5/20 completely dismantled SRH’s batting lineup and handed RR a comprehensive win. What made it even more striking was what happened 20 days later: Faulkner picked up another five-wicket haul against SRH, becoming the only bowler with two five-fers for RR in IPL history.
Then came 2014 in Hyderabad. RR turned up and folded for 102. That 102 all out remains the lowest total in this rivalry’s history. SRH’s bowlers were ruthless that afternoon, and it served early notice: Hyderabad was going to be a fortress.
RR were banned for the 2016 and 2017 seasons. So their rivalry hit pause right as SRH were winning their maiden IPL title in 2016. That gap meant they missed what would have been two years of potentially fascinating contests.
Competitive Years (2017–2020)
RR came back in 2018 after their suspension. By then, SRH had David Warner back at the top, and the teams found a rough equilibrium. The head-to-head started evening out. Both franchises were building squads in proper waves.
One match that stood out from this period: in 2019, SRH’s disciplined bowling limited RR repeatedly in run chases. Jos Buttler was emerging as RR’s most dangerous weapon, but SRH’s death bowling — specifically Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rashid Khan in tandem — made life very difficult.
These were the quietly tense years. Nothing in the 200s. Nothing that broke records. But you could feel the rivalry maturing.
Modern Era (2021–2024)
2021 is where things accelerated. The UAE bubble seasons created strange dynamics, but RR had found Buttler in the kind of form that erases team disadvantages. Jos Buttler’s 124-powered a 55-run win in IPL 2021 at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium — one of RR’s biggest wins in the rivalry, and proof that one man genuinely could win a match by himself against a quality bowling attack.
2022 brought more fireworks. Buttler was in his legendary season — he smashed 863 runs and single-handedly took RR to the final, where they fell short against Gujarat Titans. SRH, meanwhile, were in a rebuilding phase, finishing bottom half.
Then came 2023. A remarkable moment at Hyderabad that SRH fans still can’t fully explain. RR demolished SRH by 72 runs, with Yuzvendra Chahal taking 4/17. Even SRH’s home fortress fell. Rajasthan’s 72-run win at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is their biggest win against SRH in terms of runs.
But 2023 also produced the other direction. A 4-wicket win for SRH in Jaipur in May kept the ledger balanced.
2024 was the year SRH reinvented themselves as the most explosive batting team in IPL history. Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma as openers. Heinrich Klaasen in the middle. They weren’t just scoring runs — they were making the game unrecognizable. On May 2, 2024, SRH beat RR by 1 run in a match where RR posted 200 but still fell short — a perfect illustration of the firepower SRH were wielding.
The 2024 Qualifier 2 was the defining match of that season’s rivalry. SRH beat RR by 36 runs when RR were held to 139/7 chasing 176. SRH marched to the final. RR went home. The power balance had shifted.
Record-Breaking Matches (2025–2026)
IPL 2025, Hyderabad — March 23
This one deserves its own section. SRH posted 286/6 in Hyderabad — the second-highest total in IPL history. Ishan Kishan was at the center of it with an unbeaten century. RR’s response of 242/6 would have won virtually any other IPL game. That they lost by 44 runs while scoring 242 tells you everything about SRH’s firepower that afternoon.
That single match produced 528 combined runs and 81 boundaries. It was the biggest run-scoring match in this rivalry’s history, and one of the most absurd batting displays in IPL history period.
IPL 2026 Eliminator — May 27, Mullanpur
The stakes don’t get higher. Lose, go home.
RR had not beaten SRH in their last 6 IPL meetings heading into this clash. Six straight losses. But they had 1 thing going for them: they had never lost at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur since it became an IPL venue.
Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bowl, citing the chasing record at the venue. Riyan Parag said he’d have preferred to chase too. One of them was going to be wrong.
It was RR’s plan that worked — spectacularly.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi entered the match with 53 sixes for the season, needing 7 more to pass Chris Gayle’s record of 59 from IPL 2012.
What happened next was simply other-worldly.
Sooryavanshi swept past numerous records during his innings, falling just three runs short of a century and just one ball short of threatening Gayle’s fastest IPL hundred (30 balls), before top-edging an attempted uppercut to fall for 97 off 29 balls.
His strike rate of 334.48 is the highest by any batter in an IPL innings of 90 or more runs. That’s not a typo.
8 of his 12 sixes came in the powerplay alone — the most by any batter in this phase in a single IPL innings.
RR were 63 for no loss after just 4 overs. By the time the powerplay ended, the match was effectively settled.
Dhruv Jurel added 50 off 21 balls, while contributions from Parag and Jadeja pushed RR to 243/8.
SRH’s chase started promisingly. Klaasen hit two fours and a breathtaking six in nine balls, but was lbw off Yash Raj Punja in the 7th over. Nitish Reddy and Salil Arora then put on a fifty-run stand in just 19 balls, briefly making things interesting at 132/5 at halfway.
But 197 off the final 10 overs was always impossible. SRH were bowled out for 196 in 19.2 overs. Jofra Archer was RR’s pick of the bowlers, taking 3/58. RR won by 47 runs and moved into Qualifier 2 against Gujarat Titans.
Sooryavanshi ended with 65 sixes for the 2026 season — the most by any batter in a T20 tournament in history. Gayle took 456 balls for his record of 59. Sooryavanshi needed just 266.
Best SRH Victories Against RR
1. IPL 2025, Hyderabad — Won by 44 runs SRH’s 286/6 is the highest total in this rivalry, and RR’s 242 in reply is actually the highest losing score in this fixture. Ishan Kishan won Player of the Match for his unbeaten century.
2. IPL 2024, Hyderabad — Won by 1 run RR posted 200 and still lost. SRH’s batting depth meant they got over the line off the final ball. An absolute thriller — and the kind of win that shows this rivalry’s tendency toward the absurd.
3. IPL 2024 Qualifier 2, Chennai — Won by 36 runs RR were shot out for 139 chasing 176. SRH’s bowling came alive in a knockout match, and they marched to the final. The most consequential victory in this fixture’s playoff history.
4. IPL 2014, Hyderabad — Heavy win RR’s 102 all out remains the lowest score in this rivalry’s history, and SRH’s bowling was unplayable that day.
Best RR Victories Against SRH
1. IPL 2026 Eliminator, Mullanpur — Won by 47 runs Sooryavanshi’s 97 off 29. Gayle’s sixes record shattered. SRH knocked out. The single most spectacular individual performance in this rivalry’s history.
2. IPL 2021, Delhi — Won by 55 runs Buttler’s 124 powered an emphatic 55-run win, and reminded everyone why RR always kept one world-class matchwinner in the squad.
3. IPL 2023, Hyderabad — Won by 72 runs RR’s biggest win against SRH by runs. Chahal’s 4/17 was the wrecker. Even the Hyderabad fortress fell.
Read Also : Mumbai Indians Vs Rajasthan Royals Timeline
Top Individual Performances
Best Batting Performances
| Player | Runs | Balls | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 97* | 29 | 2026 Eliminator |
| Ishan Kishan | 106* | ~60 | IPL 2025, Hyderabad |
| Jos Buttler | 124 | ~64 | IPL 2021, Delhi |
| Sanju Samson | 71* | 33 | IPL 2024 league match |
Sanju Samson holds the all-time runs record in this rivalry with 764 runs across all meetings.
Best Bowling Performances
| Player | Figures | Match |
|---|---|---|
| James Faulkner | 5/20 | IPL 2013, Jaipur |
| James Faulkner | 5-for | IPL 2013, Return leg |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 4/17 | IPL 2023, Hyderabad |
| Jofra Archer | 3/58 | 2026 Eliminator |
Faulkner is the only bowler to have taken 2 five-fers for RR in IPL history, and both came against SRH.
SRH vs RR Playoff History
This rivalry has produced some of the most important knockout-match moments in IPL history.
- IPL 2024 Qualifier 2 (Chennai): SRH beat RR by 36 runs. Booked their place in the final, eventually finishing runners-up to KKR.
- IPL 2026 Eliminator (Mullanpur): RR beat SRH by 47 runs. Sooryavanshi’s 97 ended SRH’s season and ended a 6-match losing streak for RR against their rivals.
Two playoff meetings. One each. The next knockout clash between these teams is going to feel enormous.
Most Memorable Last-Over Finishes
The 2024 league match in Hyderabad is the one that lives longest in memory. RR needed just a few runs off the final over with wickets in hand. SRH’s bowlers held their nerve. Final margin: 1 run. RR’s 200 wasn’t enough. It’s the kind of result that makes you question the logic of cricket.
SRH vs RR Records at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium (Hyderabad)
These 2 teams have met 5 times at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, with SRH holding a 4–1 lead. Hyderabad is a flat, true surface that SRH have learned to weaponize. The crowd plays a part too — Hyderabad’s fanbase is loud and consistent.
The 1 RR win at this ground came in 2023, when Chahal ran riot and RR won by 72 runs. That’s the exception that proves the rule.
SRH vs RR Records at Sawai Mansingh Stadium (Jaipur)
Jaipur has been more evenly split — 2 wins each in 4 matches at Sawai Mansingh Stadium. RR’s home crowd gets behind them hard in Jaipur, and the conditions suit their attack-first batting approach.
The iconic first-ever meeting at this ground saw Faulkner take 5/20 and set the template for what RR home support could do for a team.
Current Rivalry Trends (2024–2026)
The Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals timeline has entered a fascinating new phase.
SRH won 4 of the last 5 completed matches against RR entering 2026. But the 2026 Eliminator flipped the recent narrative in the most dramatic way possible — a 15-year-old batsman producing the single most extraordinary knock in this fixture’s history.
RR are now in Qualifier 2. SRH are packing their bags. But the IPL doesn’t stay still for long.
A few things define the current era of this rivalry:
Batting is winning. Both teams consistently post 180+. The 2025 meeting produced 528 runs. The 2026 Eliminator produced 439. Bowlers are fighting to stay relevant.
Age is irrelevant. Sooryavanshi was 15 when he dismantled SRH in a knockout match. Fifteen. SRH had Pat Cummins as captain, Nitish Reddy, Klaasen, Travis Head. And a teenager destroyed their plans in 29 balls.
Mullanpur may become a new stronghold. RR remain unbeaten at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, and with the IPL expanding its venue base, that record could matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads the SRH vs RR head-to-head in IPL?
SRH lead 14–9 across 23 matches, including the 2026 Eliminator.
What is the highest score in SRH vs RR matches?
286/6, scored by SRH at Hyderabad during IPL 2025. The combined match total of 528 is the highest in this rivalry.
Have SRH and RR met in the playoffs before?
Yes, twice. SRH won the IPL 2024 Qualifier 2 by 36 runs. RR won the IPL 2026 Eliminator by 47 runs.
What happened in the IPL 2026 Eliminator between SRH and RR?
RR beat SRH by 47 runs. Sooryavanshi hit 97 off 29 balls, breaking Chris Gayle’s IPL sixes season record in the process. RR moved on to Qualifier 2, SRH were eliminated.
Who has scored the most runs in SRH vs RR matches?
Sanju Samson, with 764 runs across all meetings between these two sides.
What is the lowest score in SRH vs RR history?
102 all out, scored by RR at Hyderabad in 2014.
Final Thoughts
The Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals timeline stretches from 2013 to now, and it hasn’t had a dull chapter yet.
A 15-year-old breaking Chris Gayle’s sixes record in a knockout match. Two teams combining for 528 runs in a single league game. James Faulkner taking back-to-back five-fers against the same side. A 1-run finish where the chasing team scored 200 and still lost.
That’s the texture of this rivalry. Every few years, someone rewrites what’s possible and uses this specific fixture to do it.
RR had not beaten SRH in 6 straight meetings before the 2026 Eliminator. That stat looked permanent. Then Sooryavanshi walked out to bat in Mullanpur and made it irrelevant in 29 balls.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals timeline isn’t finished. It’s barely into its second act.
