SRH’s IPL 2025 Struggles: Where’s the Fight, Where’s the Logic?

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) entered the 2025 IPL season with a lot of hype, fuelled by a few explosive performances last year. Four standout games against Mumbai Indians (MI), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Delhi Capitals (DC), and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) had fans believing SRH had cracked the code to T20 dominance in 2024. But as the season unfolded, cracks appeared—glaring ones. From baffling batting orders to questionable captaincy decisions, SRH’s campaign has left fans scratching their heads and asking: Where’s the fighting spirit that makes IPL so thrilling?

The Curious Case of Abhishek Sharma vs. Mitchell Starc

Take the IPL 2024 final against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). SRH decided to throw Abhishek Sharma into the deep end against Mitchell Starc, instead of letting Travis Head—the usual first-ball warrior—take strike. The dressing room buzzed with talk of an “aggressive approach,” but how does this qualify as aggressive? Head ended up facing Starc a ball or two later anyway, rendering the move pointless. Fast forward to a match against Delhi Capitals in 2025, and the same script played out: Head scrambled for a single to avoid Starc, catching Abhishek off-guard. Lazy running followed, and a wicket fell. For a team that prides itself on bold intent, this feels more like confusion than aggression.

Batsmen get 120 balls to build an innings and make an impact, while bowlers need just 6 good deliveries to turn a game. It’s simple math—so why does SRH keep missing the plot? Last season, they scored under 180 against Punjab Kings but still won, proving that situational awareness, solid defense, and sharp bowling can trump reckless hitting. So why abandon that blueprint now?

Captaincy Conundrums: Misusing Resources

Then there’s the captaincy. In matches against LSG and DC, skipper Pat Cummins made some head-scratching calls. Abhishek Sharma, a part-time spinner, was handed two overs in the powerplay—prime time for pace—while SRH’s main spinner twiddled his thumbs until later. On a Kolkata pitch known to favour spin, where KKR’s Kamindu Mendis squeezed out a miserly three-run over and snagged a wicket, SRH inexplicably held back their own spinners. Mendis bowled in the 15th over and didn’t get another chance. It’s not just about misreading the pitch—it’s about misreading the game.

The Missing Hunger

IPL thrives on teams displaying grit and hunger, the kind of spirit that turns good players into legends. SRH’s 2025 campaign, though, feels like a team coasting on last year’s hype rather than building on it. Four big wins in 2024 don’t define a franchise—consistency and adaptability do. Fans tune in for the fight, the drama, the moments where players prove themselves under pressure. Win or lose, that’s what makes IPL special. But SRH seems stuck in a loop, believing their own press clippings instead of asking the tough questions.

Time to Reinvent

SRH needs a hard reset. Batsmen should play the situation—trust their defense when needed, not just swing for the fences. Bowlers and fielders must step up to complement the effort, not just rely on the opposition crumbling. And the captaincy? It’s time to stop experimenting for the sake of it and start making logical calls. A spinner-friendly track demands spinners early; a fiery pacer like Starc shouldn’t dictate your batting order to the point of chaos. It only makes clear that you can’t win cup with these kinds of loopholes.

At the end of the day, IPL isn’t just about results—it’s about the journey. SRH can still salvage their season, but only if they rediscover that hunger to fight, adapt, and prove themselves. The fans deserve it, and frankly, so does the team.