Image: Sunrisers Hyderabad slump to 8th in IPL 2025 after disappointing season run / © The CSR Journal
In the last season of the IPL, the one team that completely changed the dynamics of the tournament and brought out aggression in the batting department was the Sunrisers Hyderabad, who ended up as the runners-up in the tournament. Their campaign was more than what they depicted as at the top, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma did most of the damage with the bat and even this year, the squad remained largely the same with a few additions, and expectations were high but the results in IPL 2025 have been far from what the franchise and fans had hoped for.
In the IPL 2025 season, the Sunrisers Hyderabad failed to produce quality play as they lacked consistency, especially in the bowling department, which has been a major reason behind their poor show. After playing 11 games, they have won only 3 and lost 7, with one no result. This dismal performance has left them at the 8th position on the points table with just 7 points and a disappointing net run rate of -1.192 as their recent form reflects their struggles, having lost two consecutive games, winning one before that, and then losing again, while one game ended without a result.
For the Sunrisers Hyderabad team, the start of the IPL 2025 season brought plenty of excitement and high hopes. After reaching the final in IPL 2024, fans expected another strong campaign. SRH started with a bang by smashing a record-breaking total, but as the league progressed, inconsistency took over as they are in the league phase with only 3 wins, 7 losses, and 1 no result, finishing low on the points table with 7 points.
| Date | Match No. | Opponent | Venue | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Mar ’25 | 2nd | Rajasthan Royals | Hyderabad | Won | By 44 runs |
| 27 Mar ’25 | 7th | Lucknow Super Giants | Hyderabad | Lost | By 5 wickets (23 balls remaining) |
| 30 Mar ’25 | 10th | Delhi Capitals | Visakhapatnam | Lost | By 7 wickets (24 balls remaining) |
| 03 Apr ’25 | 15th | Kolkata Knight Riders | Eden Gardens | Lost | By 80 runs |
| 06 Apr ’25 | 19th | Gujarat Titans | Hyderabad | Lost | By 7 wickets (20 balls remaining) |
| 12 Apr ’25 | 27th | Punjab Kings | Hyderabad | Won | By 8 wickets (9 balls remaining) |
| 17 Apr ’25 | 33rd | Mumbai Indians | Wankhede | Lost | By 4 wickets (11 balls remaining) |
| 23 Apr ’25 | 41st | Mumbai Indians | Hyderabad | Lost | By 7 wickets (26 balls remaining) |
| 25 Apr ’25 | 43rd | Chennai Super Kings | Chennai | Won | By 5 wickets (8 balls remaining) |
| 02 May ’25 | 51st | Gujarat Titans | Ahmedabad | Lost | By 38 runs |
| 05 May ’25 | 55th | Delhi Capitals | Hyderabad | No Result | — |
The first match on 23rd March against Rajasthan Royals at home was the perfect beginning. SRH posted an incredible 286 for 6, one of the highest totals in IPL history. Their top order went berserk, and despite a strong reply from the Royals (242 for 6), SRH won by 44 runs. However, this bright start was followed by a string of disappointing performances. Against Lucknow Super Giants, SRH scored a competitive 190/9, but their bowling let them down as LSG chased the target in just 16.1 overs, handing SRH a 5-wicket loss with 23 balls to spare.
In the next game against Delhi Capitals, SRH again struggled. Their total of 163 wasn’t enough, and Delhi chased it down in only 16 overs, leading to a 7-wicket defeat. The problems were starting to show. Then came one of their worst defeats. Playing against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, SRH managed just 120 runs as KKR responded with 200/6, and SRH lost by a huge margin of 80 runs and it was a wake-up call for the team. Even their home matches didn’t turn out to be strongholds.
Against Gujarat Titans at Hyderabad, SRH could only score 152/8, and GT chased it down comfortably in 16.4 overs, resulting in another 7-wicket loss. A big moment came on 12th April when SRH faced Punjab Kings. Punjab posted a massive 245/6, but SRH responded with one of the most stunning chases in IPL history and they made 247/2 in just 18.3 overs, winning by 8 wickets with 9 balls to spare as this showed how powerful their batting lineup could be when it clicked.
But this momentum didn’t last. In their next two games, both against Mumbai Indians, SRH again fell short. In the first match at Wankhede, they scored 162/5, but MI chased it in 18.1 overs, winning by 4 wickets. In the return match at Hyderabad, SRH’s total of 143/8 was never enough, and MI reached the target in 15.4 overs, winning by 7 wickets with 26 balls to spare. On 25th April, SRH finally earned another win, this time against Chennai Super Kings. Chasing 154, they reached 155/5 in 18.4 overs, winning by 5 wickets. This was their third and last win of the league stage.
In their second game against Gujarat Titans on 2nd May, SRH posted a decent 186/6, but their bowling again failed to contain the opposition. GT smashed 224/6, and SRH lost by 38 runs. The last league game before the IPL 2025 suspension was against Delhi Capitals on 5th May was washed out and SRH didn’t get a chance to bat, and DC managed 133/7 in 20 overs, but rain stopped further play, leading to a no result and hence they were knocked out of the competition.
Coming to the players who have performed well for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025, a few standout names have made a significant impact with both bat and ball. Abhishek Sharma has been one of the most explosive batters for SRH, scoring 314 runs in 10 innings at a superb strike rate of 180.45. His best of 141 shows his ability to dominate bowling attacks, and his tally includes 35 fours and 17 sixes while Travis Head has also played a key role at the top, contributing 281 runs at a healthy strike rate of 156.11, with two half-centuries and 41 boundaries to his name.
Heinrich Klaasen provided stability in the middle order, scoring 311 runs in 10 innings at an average of 34.55 and a strike rate of 153.96. On the bowling front, Harshal Patel has led the wickets chart for SRH with 14 scalps in 10 matches. His best figures of 4 for 28 and strike rate of 14.5 reflect his knack for breakthroughs. Pat Cummins, leading the side, has picked up 13 wickets and maintained control despite tough matchups while Jaydev Unadkat has chipped in as well, picking 7 wickets at a tidy economy of 6.94 and together, these players have been key contributors in SRH’s 2025 campaign.
When it comes to the remaining fixtures for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025, the road ahead may not involve qualification hopes, but it certainly carries significance. Though SRH are out of contention for a spot in the playoffs, they still have a chance to influence the outcome of the tournament by playing the role of spoilers as their final three league matches are against teams still in the hunt for a playoff berth, Lucknow Super Giants, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Their next clash is scheduled for 19 May against LSG in Lucknow, followed by a tough away fixture against RCB in Bengaluru on 23 May. The final group stage encounter will take place in Delhi on 25 May, where they face the Kolkata Knight Riders. All three opponents are battling for points, and SRH could disrupt those plans with surprise victories. However, for Hyderabad, the task will be challenging. With the league nearing its end, the team might be without key overseas players such as Pat Cummins, Travis Head, and others, who may leave early due to national commitments and their absence could affect both the balance and morale of the side.