The heights of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s 2024 pyrotechnics have come to a grinding halt 12 months on in IPL 2025. Having blazed their way to the final last year, the Pat Cummins-led side find themselves at odds with their own standards this season. Led by the trailblazing ways of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, the SRH openers have flattered to deceive in the 5 games this year.
Sunrisers have tailored their game to hunting for sixes, trying to hit as many boundaries as possible. The Cummins-led side has the most 250+ scores in the history of T20 cricket, with 3 of them coming in last season. While they smashed a massive 286 in the opening game, their batters have struggled to put on a par score. Once considered strong enough to breach the 300-run mark, the Hyderabad-based side has failed to even post 200 despite the nature of the wicket.
Aggressive approach now reckless
Their innovative and risk-taking approach that reaped dividends last year has now turned reckless, with a run of three straight defeats. Needing to set the record straight, all eyes were on ‘Travishek’ in the SRH vs GT clash on Sunday, only for the Sunrisers’ top order to fizzle out.
Batting first against the Gujarat Titans at home, Travis Head was dismissed by Mohammed Siraj in the very first over of the contest. Abhishek Sharma tried to get settled in, but was again Siraj’s victim as SRH could only muster 45/2 in the Powerplay.
| SRH in Powerplay | SRH’s Opening Stands |
|---|---|
| 94/1 vs RR | 45/1 vs RR |
| 62/2 vs LSG | 15/1 vs LSG |
| 58/4 vs DC | 11/1 vs DC |
| 33/3 vs KKR | 4/1 vs KKR |
| 45/2 vs GT | 9/1 vs GT |
Troubled Travishek
While SRH were the team to beat and put the fear of God in opposition teams last year, the opposition teams have now stepped out to the plate. Franchises have resorted to death bowling lengths early, leaving little to no room for the SRH top order to make merry during the field restrictions. Abhishek’s form has been a cause of concern; the left-hander has aggregated 51 runs in 5 innings at an average of 10 and a strike rate of 127. In comparison, Sharma had a SR of 204.22 with a tally of 484 runs in 16 innings.
Travis Head, meanwhile, has been patchy, with 148 runs in 5 games. SRH added Ishan Kishan to their ranks to further boost their batting lineup. However, after a century in the season opener, the former MI star has scores of 0,2, 2 and 17. This has left Heinrich Klassen and the rest to do too much damage control, which the Sunrisers’ middle order have failed to do.
If the Sunrisers have to return to winning ways, last year’s beaten finalists will need their Travishek to find their mojo. The 2016 champions smashed sixes on their way to the final last year, but some caution and responsibility will be the way forward for the Orange Army to make the playoffs again.
