Rajasthan Royals (RR) began the season with a 61-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League’s fifth match. SRH got off to the worst possible start when Prasidh Krishna and Trent Boult combined to unsettle the top-order while chasing 211. Kane Williamson was bowled for two runs, while Rahul Tripathi and Nicholas Pooran were unable to get off to a good start. Meanwhile, after being asked to bat first, Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal got RR off to a good start. Before Jaiswal was bowled by Romario Shepherd for 20 runs, the partnership accumulated 58 runs for the first wicket (16). Buttler was subsequently removed by Umran Malik for 35 runs off 28 balls.
Sanju Samson and Devdutt Padikkal put up 73 for the third wicket before Padikkal was dismissed for 41 by Malik (29). Samson reached his half-century, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed him soon after on 55(27). Shimron Hetmyer then took over and bowled a late cameo of 32 in just 13 deliveries, assisting his team to a total of 210/6. SRH could only muster 149/7 in their 20 overs in response.