The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have been one of the most consistent teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the years. However, their performance in the ongoing 2025 season has been quite lackluster. From failing to find a reliable opener in Travishek to struggling with their middle-order muddle, the team has faced various challenges. And to make matters worse, their once formidable bowling attack, led by Pat Cummins, seems to have lost its magic. So, what exactly is wrong with SRH? Let’s take a closer look at their struggles in the tournament so far.
The Travishek Conundrum
Ever since the departure of their star opener David Warner, SRH has been unable to find a suitable replacement at the top of their batting order. They had high hopes from their new acquisition, Travishek, who was brought in for a whopping sum of 14 crores at the IPL auction. However, the Australian opener has failed to live up to the expectations. In his 10 matches so far, Travishek has only managed to score 153 runs, with an average of 15.3 and a strike rate of 102. This has put a lot of pressure on the middle order, which has also struggled to perform consistently.
The Middle Order Muddle
The middle order has been a constant worry for SRH in this season. Despite having experienced players like Kane Williamson, Manish Pandey, and Kedar Jadhav, the team has failed to put up decent scores on the board. In fact, in their last match against Delhi Capitals, SRH suffered a humiliating defeat, getting bowled out for a paltry 104 runs. The lack of partnerships and the inability to rotate the strike has been a major concern for the team. While Williamson has been consistent with the bat, the others have failed to provide much-needed support.
The Fading Cummins Magic
One of the biggest strengths of SRH has been their bowling attack, especially the performance of their star pacer Pat Cummins. The Australian speedster had a fantastic season last year, taking 30 wickets in 14 matches. However, this year has been a completely different story. In his 10 matches, Cummins has only managed to take 9 wickets, with an economy rate of 9.24. This is a sharp decline from his performance last year and has been a major setback for the team. With the absence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar due to injury, the burden of bowling has fallen on Cummins, and he hasn’t been able to deliver as per expectations.
The Shami Effect
In comparison to SRH’s bowling attack, their opponents have had a field day with the ball. In their match against Punjab Kings, SRH faced Shami, who delivered a brilliant spell, taking 4 wickets for just 21 runs. This was another instance where the middle order crumbled under pressure and failed to put up a fight. Shami’s performance highlighted the lack of depth in SRH’s batting lineup and the need for a strong finisher in the team.
In conclusion, it is evident that SRH is struggling in all three departments – batting, bowling, and fielding. Their failures are a result of a combination of factors, including the absence of key players, lack of team balance, and the underperformance of top players. However, it is not too late for the team to turn things around. With some changes in their strategy and a boost in confidence, SRH can still make a comeback in the tournament. As they say, it’s not how you start, but how you finish that matters. And SRH has the potential to finish strong and make their mark in IPL 2025.
