IPL 2025: Sunrisers Hyderabad become third team to bow out — here’s what went wrong

Dubai: Daniel Vettori kept insisting they weren’t blindly chasing aggression. The scorecards told a different story.

Sunrisers Hyderabad, last year’s swashbuckling finalists, are now the third team out of IPL 18, undone by a strategy that ignored changing surfaces and smarter game management.

They began the season in blistering fashion, seemingly picking up from where they left off. But their campaign unravelled swiftly, with just three wins in 11 games. Their ultra-attacking brand of cricket — so successful last year — proved to be their undoing this time.

Sunrisers made some sharp moves at the auction, signing Ishan Kishan and Mohammed Shami to strengthen their squad. However, the strategic success at the auction table didn’t translate into results on the field.

With three teams out of the race, the remaining seven sides are now jostling for the four available playoff spots.

One of the key reasons for Hyderabad’s poor showing was a lack of adaptability. The Hyderabad surface, which had previously been a batting paradise, saw a noticeable shift in character this season. But their batters stuck to their aggressive template, failing to adjust to conditions that demanded more caution and nuance.

“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,” said Sunrisers head coach Daniel Vettori after a rain-affected match against Delhi Capitals confirmed their elimination.

“These surfaces in particular have been a little bit different. It has been tricky, it has not been easy for the batters… I think the guys are innately aggressive, but certainly, this season has been about trying to establish what’s been required on the day.”

Hyderabad has hosted six games so far, and teams have crossed the 200-run mark in only four of 11 innings — down from seven out of 12 last season. Vettori noted that only two pitches supported scores of 250-plus; the rest aided fast bowlers, especially with the new ball.

“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… The IPL has some of the best new-ball bowlers in the world, and they were able to exploit those conditions,” Vettori said.

To sum up Sunrisers’ season: a rigid batting approach, lack of creativity and poor reading of conditions — combined with inconsistent form from the top order — all contributed to their downfall.

While Hyderabad’s tactics came undone on the pitch, Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings might regret their auction decisions.

Chennai let go of several seasoned campaigners, including Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Mitchell Santner, Maheesha Theekshana, Tushar Deshpande and Ajinkya Rahane — who is now leading Kolkata Knight Riders.

Rajasthan dismantled their core by not retaining Jos Buttler, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna and Rovman Powell — key players who had shaped their campaigns in previous years.

On a more positive note for Chennai, the Yellove have unearthed some talented youngsters this season. With their exposure to top-level cricket and the mentorship of MS Dhoni, the side will hope to rebuild in time for next year.

That, it seems, is the plan for the 43-year-old Dhoni, who remains tight-lipped about whether he’ll play next season.

For Sunrisers Hyderabad, the IPL season ends with questions rather than answers. A high-risk philosophy that once thrilled crowds has been exposed under pressure. Whether it’s a rethink in strategy or just smarter execution, one thing is clear — in this league, standing still means falling behind.