Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), who set an audacious batting template in the previous season with their explosive display, couldn’t replicate the same performance in the IPL 2025, becoming the third team to face elimination after Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. They were on track to stay alive in the league, but rain intervened and interrupted the contest midway after they restricted the visiting Delhi Capitals to 133 for 7.
Related Article：Cummins Shines, But SRH Is Out of IPL 2025 in Washed-Out Thriller
Ultimately, they shared one point each and accumulated a total of 7 points by the end of the 11th match. They can reach a maximum of 13 points if they win all their remaining 3 matches. In this article, we take a closer look at the SRH batting struggles in IPL 2025 and explore the key reasons why SRH is out of Playoffs so early in the tournament. Just a season ago, the Orange Army dominated with the bat—so what went wrong this time? Let’s break it down, point by point.
Why SRH Is Out of Playoffs So Early？
1. SRH Batting Struggles in IPL 2025
SRH batting struggles in IPL 2025 compounded game after game, pinpointing them as their downfall. They had high expectations from their swashbuckling openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, but the duo couldn’t match the intensity of last year, where they were remarkable throughout the season.
The duo that we can never get tired of watching 🥹🧡
Travis Head | Abhishek Sharma | #PlayWithFire | #SRHvPBKS | #TATAIPL2025 pic.twitter.com/NxHpwDznZS
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) April 13, 2025
Abhishek Sharma tops SRH’s run charts this season with 314 runs, while Travis Head has gathered 281 runs. Not only did the openers struggle, but the batters down the order, including pocket dynamo Ishan Kishan and dynamic all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, also failed to make an impact, scoring 196 runs and 173 runs respectively.
𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 never looked cooler than this 🤷♂️
Heinrich Klaasen | #PlayWithFire | #TATAIPL2025 pic.twitter.com/bbrTcHi9is
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) May 17, 2025
The only bright spot in the middle order was Heinrich Klaasen, who scored 311 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 153.96. Despite repeated setbacks, they remained committed to their aggressive approach, which didn’t yield any results. The above factors are sufficient to showcase SRH batting struggles in IPL 2025.
2. SRH Auction Strategy in 2025
Before the auction, they retained Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, Pat Cummins, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who had a phenomenal IPL 2024 and played a crucial role in taking the team to the finals. Did the SRH auction strategy in 2025 fail? Let’s delve into this.
While they didn’t completely stumble at the auction table, the players they acquired were indeed talented and had performed well for other franchises in the past. Star Indian pacer, Mohammed Shami, purchased for Rs 10 Crore, didn’t deliver dividends as he proved to be costly, with an economy of 11.23 runs per over in 9 matches, managing only 6 wickets. Even Ishan Kishan, who set high standards, scored a thrilling century in the opening game against the Royals but managed only 90 runs in the next 9 innings.
Another concern for many cricket fans is that they didn’t provide enough opportunities for their premier Indian spinner, Rahul Chahar, who had 75 IPL wickets to his name. The 25-year-old leg spinner, previously with Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Rising Pune Super Giants, bowled only 6 deliveries in the entire IPL 2025, which is puzzling.
Instead, they prioritised Zeeshan Ansari, who did a decent job, taking 6 wickets across 9 matches at an economy rate of 9.76. On paper, SRH auction strategy in 2025 appeared perfect, but when it came to execution on the field, they struggled entirely, leading to their exit from the Playoffs.
3. The Skip Didn’t Set the Tone Early
Pat Cummins’ low-key outings at the start of IPL 2025 are a primary reason why SRH is out of Playoffs ahead of time. He was predictable and not as lethal, often getting hit for runs. Even newcomers made him look ordinary on many occasions. Even the greatest bowlers like Cummins will struggle if they don’t consistently play T20 cricket.
He did manage to regain form in the last 3 matches, finishing with figures of 3 for 19, 1 for 40, and 2 for 21. In 11 matches overall this season, he took 13 wickets at an economy of 9.15.
4. Not Exposing the Reserves
SRH’s bench strength looked formidable with talented players such as Wiaan Mulder, Sachin Baby, Rahul Chahar, Eshan Malinga, and Abhinav Manohar. If these players were with other franchises, they would likely have received more opportunities; however, it remains strange that they didn’t make regular appearances in SRH’s starting lineup, especially Eshan Malinga, who is playing in his first IPL, could have featured more. However, he only played in 4 matches, taking 6 wickets at an economy of 9.46. Perhaps he was introduced at the wrong time.
5. Sticking to Their Core Players
Despite repeated failures, Ishan Kishan and Nitish Kumar Reddy played more matches, which is a significant factor in SRH’s early exit from the Playoffs. Ishan, being a newcomer to the franchise, struggled after scoring an unbeaten century against the Rajasthan Royals, while Nitish Kumar Reddy, who impressed at the biggest stage in Australia, struggled and only managed a highest individual score of 32 in IPL 2025.
6. Over-Reliance on the Top Order
Heavily relying on their top order exposed their weaknesses. Other than Heinrich Klaasen and Aniket Verma, no other batter in the middle order scored a half-century.
Finally…the Weather Plays Vital Role
In the end, it wasn’t just poor form or mid-season blunders—the weather had its say too. While the SRH batting struggles in IPL 2025 were a key reason behind their slide down the table, the final blow came in their last league match. After a decent bowling effort at home, SRH never got the chance to chase, as rain wiped out the second innings. Just like that, without even picking up a bat, SRH is out of playoffs. A season filled with missed chances, and in the end, one final one taken away by the skies.
