Follow UsSunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) IPL 2025 campaign came to an end as they could not mathematically make it to the playoffs following a washout against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Hyderabad on May 5 (Monday).
After playing the final last season, SRH are currently on seven points from 11 matches and can reach a maximum of 13 if they win all the matches, which will not be good enough to take them to the playoffs.
They restricted DC to just 133/7, with skipper Pat Cummins leading the way with three wickets. Looking back at the performance against DC, SRH head coach Daniel Vettori says it was their best bowling and fielding performance of the season.
"It was a really good performance, probably our best bowling and fielding performance of the tournament so far," Vettori said at the post-match press conference.
"It's something that we really talk long and hard about in training and in the meetings. So, to come out there and start so well, it was a very good performance.
"Obviously it's disappointing. We came [into this season] with high hopes, But we just haven't been consistent enough with our performances and just not being able to put complete performances together. Today was the start of a complete performance so it's frustrating that we couldn't finish it, but that's cricket."
Last season, SRH played aggressive cricket, which helped them defeat almost all the teams. However, given the massive changes in the conditions, this strategy has not worked this time around. "We're about assessing conditions, and I think this year, the conditions weren't as we expected," Vettori said.
"If you look to last year, there were a number of high-scoring games here, and these surfaces in particular have been a little bit different. It has been tricky, it hasn't been easy for the batters. All we've talked about is just assessing conditions and trying to read the game and understand what to do in certain situations The guys are innately aggressive, but certainly this season has been about trying to establish what's required on the day."
Vettori praised skipper Cummins' performance against DC as his 3/19 ripped apart DC's top order. "Pat's a tremendous new ball bowler normally he sort of plays a bit of a Mr Fix-It role for us in terms of being able to jump all over the power play, the middle, the death. Today it was just a nice opportunity to give him the new ball and go at them and he was fantastic tonight," he said.
"If you look at his overall performance, he's been able to be a wicket-taker, he's bowled a number of different roles for us and he's been able to mix and match depending on who's selected in the team. Today, I think the first time he took the new ball, took the first over and you can see why he's such a dominant test match bowler when he gets that opportunity. So pleasing for him to be able to turn up today and bowl so well and lead the team exceptionally well. Hopefully that carries on to the last three games of the season."
SRH will look to end their IPL 2025 campaign on a positive note as they take on defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on May 10 (Saturday) in Hyderabad.