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Sunrisers Hyderabad’s aggressive batting strategy has backfired spectacularly in the early stages of IPL 2025, leaving fans and cricket experts puzzled. Despite entering the tournament with a star-studded batting lineup, SRH’s performance has been erratic. After winning their season opener, they have now suffered two consecutive defeats, the latest being an 80-run loss to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The team’s famed batting firepower crumbled under pressure, getting dismissed for just 120 runs, failing to chase down a target of 201.
The collapse has left many stunned, including former India opener Virender Sehwag, who is known for his fearless analysis. Sehwag expressed disbelief at SRH’s batting failure, particularly when the pitch wasn’t excessively bowler-friendly.
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Sehwag’s Stinging Critique of SRH
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Sehwag compared SRH’s struggles to that of Punjab Kings (formerly Kings XI Punjab), a team he was once associated with. He suggested that the trend of batting collapses, once Punjab’s trademark, now seems to have transferred to Hyderabad.
“Punjab used to put a spoke in their own wheels, and now it seems they have passed it on to Hyderabad. They made 190 and lost, then made about 160 and lost, and today, they couldn’t even chase down 200,” said Sehwag.
He further pointed out that the conditions in Kolkata’s Eden Gardens weren’t as challenging as SRH’s batting display made it seem.
“Neither was KKR’s bowling attack unplayable, nor was the pitch extremely tough. KKR batted first and made 200. The ball wasn’t turning much, there wasn’t any significant movement for the bowlers. The only thing was that it was a bit slow, and KKR’s bowlers relied on variations, but as a batter, if you stay at the crease for some time, you adjust to that.”
SRH at Risk of Losing Their Aggressive Reputation?
SRH gained a reputation as one of the most entertaining batting sides in IPL history, especially after setting multiple run-scoring records in IPL 2024. They had nearly rewritten history again in their season opener this year. However, their inconsistency is now raising concerns.
Sehwag believes that SRH must be cautious about losing their identity as a dangerous batting side.
“Hyderabad have disappointed. What can I say? They have so many batters, yet nobody could score runs, and they got all out for 120. The fans have come to watch them play. Yes, this game was in Kolkata, but Hyderabad has built a reputation of being entertaining to watch. That reputation seems to have disappeared here,” Sehwag remarked.
What’s Next for SRH?
With back-to-back losses, SRH will need to reassess their approach before their next match. Their aggressive mindset has served them well in the past, but recklessness at the cost of stability could be their downfall. The team management will have to find the right balance between aggression and responsibility to avoid further disappointments in IPL 2025.
