Have IPL Teams Cracked the Code to Stop SRH’s Explosive Batting in 2025?

The runners-up of the IPL 2024 season, Sunrisers Hyderabad, started IPL 2025 in spectacular fashion, smashing 286 runs against Rajasthan Royals. Their explosive batting lineup, featuring Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Reddy, and Heinrich Klaasen had made fans believe they could even breach the 300-run mark this season. However, since that dominant start, SRH has struggled to maintain their high-scoring performances.

In their second match against Lucknow Super Giants, SRH failed to cross 200 and were dismissed for just 190 runs. This was followed by an even weaker display against Delhi Capitals, where they managed only 163 runs before getting bowled out. These consecutive failures highlighted a growing issue, the team’s dependence on its top order. Whenever the opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head fails to provide a strong foundation, SRH’s batting crumbles. Ishan Kishan and Nitish Reddy haven’t consistently anchored the innings, and while Klaasen has shown some fight, he has lacked support from the middle order.

The aggressive approach that worked in their opening match has backfired in subsequent games. SRH’s middle order has been unable to absorb pressure and rebuild when early wickets fall. Their inability to adapt to different match situations has left them struggling in IPL 2025. If they don’t find solutions quickly, their season could slip away despite having one of the most feared batting lineups on paper.

Over-Reliance on Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head

The whole of the IPL 2024 season, SRH was majorly reliant on their explosive opening duo of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma which helped them to set the tone for their innings. Their success largely depended on how these two batters performed, especially in the powerplay. The numbers highlight this dependence, showcasing a stark contrast in SRH’s winning chances based on their top-order performance.

When both Head and Abhishek managed to stay at the crease beyond the powerplay, SRH had an impressive win percentage of 80%. This suggests that a solid start from their openers gave the team a significant advantage, allowing the middle order to capitalize on the platform set by them. However, if either of the two was dismissed within the powerplay, the team’s win percentage dropped to 71%. This shows that while losing one of their openers early was a setback, they still had a decent chance of winning if the other managed to anchor the innings.

The real concern for SRH, though, was when both batters got out within the powerplay. In such cases, their win percentage plummeted to just 17%, indicating that the rest of the batting lineup struggled to recover from early setbacks. These statistics clearly highlight how over-reliant SRH was on their opening pair. If both Head and Abhishek failed, the team often found itself in deep trouble. Strengthening the middle order and finding more consistency in the batting lineup will be crucial for SRH moving forward.

How IPL Teams Have Adapted to Counter SRH in 2024?

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s batting approach in IPL 2025 has revolved around their explosive top order. However, when their main batters fail to deliver, the entire lineup struggles to put up competitive totals. The reliance on Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma has been evident, and opposing teams have taken note of this weakness.

Travis Head has been SRH’s most consistent batter, scoring 140 runs in four innings at an impressive strike rate of 191.78. His highest score of 67 showcases his ability to dominate bowlers, but the lack of big scores beyond that has hurt SRH. Similarly, Abhishek Sharma has failed to provide the kind of starts SRH needs, managing just 33 runs in four innings at a below-par average of 8.25. His inconsistency has left a massive gap in the top order.

Nitish Kumar Reddy, expected to be a key middle-order batter, has also struggled to convert starts into substantial innings. He has scored 81 runs in four innings at an average of 20.25 and a strike rate of 135.00, including a highest score of 32. While he has shown promise, his inability to anchor the innings when needed has added to SRH’s woes. Heinrich Klaasen, known for his power-hitting, has fared slightly better, scoring 125 runs at an average of 31.25 and a strike rate of 176.05. However, he has lacked support from the other end, which has prevented him from accelerating in the death overs.

Ishan Kishan, who has played a vital role at the top, has been among the best performers for SRH with 110 runs in four matches, including a century. His strike rate of 189.65 is impressive, but he has lacked consistency after his big knock. With such heavy dependence on a few players, SRH’s batting lineup appears vulnerable when their top order fails. If they want to succeed in IPL 2025, they must find solutions to their middle-order woes and ensure contributions from all batters.