Why Sunrisers Hyderabad are struggling in IPL 2025?

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have faced significant challenges in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, with former cricketer Ambati Rayudu attributing the team's struggles more to their bowling woes than their batting attempts. Despite reaching the finals last season, SRH have found it difficult to match their earlier performances in the ongoing edition.

Bowling Concerns

During a recent interaction, Rayudu highlighted SRH's ineffective middle overs strategy as a significant hurdle. He noted a worrying scenario where SRH managed only 12 wickets between overs seven to 16, with an average of 41.33 and an economy rate of 9.92, placing them among the weakest teams in this critical phase.

"In the middle overs, they tend to miss out on crucial wickets. Teams like the Gujarat Titans apply pressure through bowlers like Sai Kishore and Rashid Khan, effectively tightening their grip," said Rayudu.

Rayudu argued that SRH's strategy centred more on restricting boundaries than on taking wickets, a strategy that might hinder long-term success in the IPL.

Batting Shortfalls

Expectations were high for SRH's batsmen, riding on last year’s high-scoring displays. However, key players like Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma have fallen short of replicating their previous forms. While Head has shown glimpses of his capabilities, Abhishek's current tally stands at 51 runs over five innings, signalling a significant performance slump. 

Rayudu offered advice for Abhishek, recommending, "He needs to begin with basic techniques—hitting along the ground and focusing on singles to gather momentum. Once settled, bigger shots will emerge naturally. This might revitalise SRH's batting dynamics."

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Analysing the top batsmen, Rayudu explained they often employ backlift techniques to target towering sixes over the infield, a tactic countered by opposing teams by delivering fuller-length balls.

"Opponents anticipate these shots and adjust their bowling accordingly," Rayudu observed. "Adapting to place shots in the gaps and waiting for the ideal deliveries could offer better results for SRH's batsmen," he advised.