Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Daniel Vettori addressed the team’s disappointing IPL 2025 campaign following their washout against Delhi Capitals at Hyderabad on Monday. After starting as trailblazers with an aggressive batting approach, SRH managed only three wins in 11 games, with Vettori citing unexpected playing conditions and tricky surfaces as key factors in their performance.
The conditions at Hyderabad’s home ground proved challenging this season, with teams crossing the 200-run mark in only four out of 11 innings, compared to seven out of 12 times last year.
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“I definitely did not say after every match I was backing an aggressive approach. I said we are about assessing conditions and this year, the conditions weren’t as we expected. If you look at last year, there were a lot of high-scoring games here,” Vettori stated during the post-match press conference.
“These surfaces in particular have been a little bit different. It has been tricky, it has not been easy for the batters. All we have talked about is assessing conditions, trying to read the game, and understand what to do in certain situations. I think the guys are innately aggressive, but certainly, this season has been about trying to establish what’s been required on the day,” he added.
The coach elaborated on the varying nature of pitches this season, with two surfaces supporting high scores while others favoured fast bowlers.
“There have been two surfaces that have been 250-plus, and there have been four here that have been probably more conducive for the fast bowlers. Not so much the spinners but the new ball has been a little bit sticky, hard to hit, not coming onto the bat. The IPL has some of the best new-ball bowlers in the world, and they were able to exploit those conditions,” Vettori explained.
SRH’s playoff hopes were dashed after the washout against DC, where they had restricted the opposition to 133/7 before rain intervened.
“Obviously, it is disappointing. We came in with high hopes, but we have not been consistent enough with our performances. I have spoken to you guys a number of times around just not being able to put complete performances together. Today was the start of a complete performance, so it is frustrating that we could not finish it, but that is cricket,” Vettori commented.
Captain Pat Cummins showed impressive form, taking 3/19 including a wicket on the first ball, removing Karun Nair. The decision to drop Mohammed Shami, who struggled with six wickets in nine games at an average of 56.16, was based on conditions.
“It has obviously been a tough season so far for Shami. But he has been working exceptionally hard in the background. We just saw, particularly on this Hyderabad wicket, that is the best make-up of this team for us,” Vettori said regarding Shami’s exclusion.
Praising Cummins’ versatility, Vettori stated: “If you look at his overall performance, he’s been able to be a wicket-taker. He has bowled [in] a number of different roles for us. He has been able to mix and match depending on who has been selected in the team. Today, I think was the first [second] time he took the first over and you can see why he’s such a dominant Test-match bowler when he gets the opportunity. Pleasing for him to be able to turn up today and bowl so well and lead the team exceptionally well. Hopefully, that carries onto the last three games of the season.”
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In the washed-out match, DC recovered from 29/5 through Tristan Stubbs (41- off 36 balls) and Ashutosh Sharma (41 off 26 balls) to post 133/7.
The result left DC in fifth position with 13 points from six wins, four losses, and a no-result, while SRH remained eighth with seven points from three wins, seven losses, and a no-result.
