Image: Rain ends SRH's playoff hopes as match against Delhi gets washed out / © NDTV Sports
What can be termed as one of the most unusual and heartbreaking endings for a team who is looking to strengthen their position in the points table, Sunrisers Hyderabad have been now eliminated from the IPL 2025 after the rain intervened in their match against the Delhi Capitals and hence they are now out of the playoffs race with their 3 more matches yet to be played this season. This 55th league stage encounter at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, was crucial for the home team to keep their hopes alive in what has been a tough season so far. However, the persistent rain after Delhi’s innings ensured that not a single ball could be bowled in the second half, forcing the game to be abandoned with no result.
Sunrisers Hyderabad, having elected to bowl first after winning the toss, looked sharp and determined with the ball as their captain Pat Cummins led from the front and was instrumental in derailing Delhi’s top-order early as Cummins picked up three quick wickets, including Karun Nair for a golden duck, Faf du Plessis for 3, and Abishek Porel for 8, reducing Delhi to a precarious position within the powerplay.
Jaydev Unadkat also bowled with impressive discipline, giving away just 13 runs in his 4 overs and removing KL Rahul for 10 and by the end of the first six overs, Delhi were struggling at 26 for 4 as Axar Patel, captaining the side, tried to stabilize the innings but could only contribute 6 runs before being dismissed by Harshal Patel. The pressure was mounting on the hosts, but Delhi’s middle and lower order found some resilience.
The turning point came when Tristan Stubbs, batting at number six, anchored the innings with a steady knock of 41 off 36 balls. He was well supported by Ashutosh Sharma, who made a quickfire 41 from just 26 balls, laced with two fours and three sixes. Their 7th-wicket partnership of 50 runs in 35 balls was crucial in lifting Delhi past the 130-run mark. Mitchell Starc chipped in with a single run, remaining unbeaten with Stubbs as Delhi ended their innings at 133 for 7 in 20 overs.
Among SRH bowlers, apart from Cummins and Unadkat, Eshan Malinga and Harshal Patel picked up a wicket each. Zeeshan Ansari was the most expensive, conceding 30 runs in his 3 overs without any success. Abhishek Sharma bowled a tidy single over for 5 runs. Overall, it was a disciplined bowling effort from SRH, restricting Delhi to what looked like a below-par total on a good batting surface.
Unfortunately for SRH, their efforts were washed away literally as rain clouds loomed large over Hyderabad shortly after Delhi’s innings concluded. Despite efforts to get the game underway again, the outfield remained wet and the drizzle refused to relent. The umpires waited as long as possible before eventually calling off the game and declaring it a no result.
This outcome turned out to be a major blow for Sunrisers Hyderabad. With just three wins in eleven matches and only seven points to their name, their negative Net Run Rate of -1.192 meant they were mathematically knocked out of the playoffs race, regardless of how the remaining fixtures go. What made it more painful was the fact that SRH appeared in control during the first half of the game and might have fancied their chances chasing a modest target.
Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, survived a shaky start to post a competitive total and were lucky to walk away with a point, keeping their playoff chances alive. They now sit on 13 points from 11 matches and remain in contention, especially with their superior NRR compared to some of the other mid-table teams.
Getting the wicket on the first ball of the match is always exciting and it has been the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game today as Pat Cummins set the tone for Sunrisers Hyderabad with a searing first over. The Australian skipper removed Karun Nair on the very first delivery of the match, nicking behind to Ishan Kishan, and repeated this remarkable feat in each of his first three overs to rattle the Delhi Capitals’ top order. In a spell filled with pace, discipline, and leadership, Cummins struck again in the second over he bowled by dismissing Faf du Plessis on the first ball, inducing another edge to the keeper.
When he came back for his third over, he once again struck first ball as this time removing the in-form Abishek Porel, who also fell to a catch behind the stumps. By the end of his spell, Cummins had figures of 4 overs, no maidens, 19 runs, and 3 crucial wickets, delivering 14 dot balls and conceding just two boundaries. Each of his breakthroughs came at critical stages, 0 for 1, 6 for 2, and 15 for 3, leaving Delhi Capitals reeling in the powerplay. His triple strike ensured DC never recovered the momentum, finishing on just 133 for 7 in their 20 overs.
For the Delhi Capitals fans, the TCNI’s Hero of the Day has to be Ashutosh Sharma. Walking in as an Impact Player at 62 for 6 in 12.1 overs, he arrived when Delhi were staring at a collapse and a sub-par total on a tricky Hyderabad pitch. But Ashutosh had other plans and with a fearless and fluent knock of 41 off just 26 balls, he brought Delhi Capitals back into the contest and ensured they posted a respectable score of 133 for 7 in 20 overs. His innings, laced with 2 fours and 3 sixes, came at a striking rate of 157.69, which stood out starkly in a game where the top order struggled to find rhythm.
Ashutosh’s shot selection was precise, and his intent was clear from the start, counterattack under pressure. He didn’t just survive the moment, he owned it. Crucially, it was his 50-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs that turned the game around for DC. The pair added those runs in just 35 balls, with Stubbs playing a smart anchor’s role (41* off 36), while Ashutosh took the aggressive route. Together, they rebuilt an innings that was in tatters at 62 for 6 and pushed the total to a defendable zone, giving the bowlers something to work with.