New Delhi [India], April 7 (ANI): Ex-Indian player Ambati Rayudu feels that Sunrisers Hyderabad’s difficulties do not arise from poor performance with the bat, but rather from issues within their bowling unit during the current IPL 2025 season. He shared these views on ESPNcricinfo's TimeOut program.

Sunrisers Hyderabad, who made it to last season’s finale, have found it challenging to regain their form in the 18th installment of the lucrative tournament. They suffered their fourth consecutive loss during IPL 2025 when they were defeated by the Gujarat Titans at their home stadium.

Following their innings fold at a modest total of 152 for 8 wickets, Mohammed Shami along with team captain Pat Cummins managed to unsettle Gujarat Titans' opening batsmen. However, the remaining bowlers couldn’t maintain the intensity during the middle phase of the game. Despite this setback, Titans’ leader Shubman Gill weathered the initial storm and remained not out on 62 runs, guiding his team to an easy seven-wicket victory.

Rayudu identified the root cause of the Sunrisers' recent struggles, highlighting their poor performance with the ball, particularly during the middle overs. The team has managed to take only 12 wickets between the 7th and 16th overs, conceding runs at an average of 41.33 per wicket and allowing opponents to score at an economy rate of 9.92. This makes them one of the three least effective sides among the ten participating teams in this period.

"During the middle overs, they lack players capable of claiming key wickets and putting the opposing team under pressure—similar to how Gujarat Titans have managed with Sai Kishore, Rashid Khan, and Prasidh Krishna. These bowlers have effectively squeezed things tighter," explained Rayudu during ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show.

“I don’t envision SRH making an effort to claim wickets; they’re primarily focusing on defense and preventing batsmen from hitting boundaries. The IPL isn’t won through average middle-over bowling performances,” he continued. “To secure victories, you require top-notch bowlers who can deliver during the middle overs.”

In the meantime, supporters of SRH anticipated that their team would aim for a score exceeding 300 runs through powerful batting displays, drawing from their dynamic performances in the previous season of the lucrative tournament.

Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who were key figures for Hyderabad’s triumph in 2024, have struggled in the current year. While Head has managed only 67 and 47 runs respectively, Abhishek has accumulated merely 51 runs across five innings. Over their past four games, their highest opening stand amounts to just 15 runs.

Rayudu isn’t concerned about Abhishek’s form being an issue for SRH and stated, “I feel what he really needs is a change in approach. He should focus on scoring straightforward boundaries past square leg, alongside mid-off or mid-on; accumulate singles; score around 10-15 runs; and boost his circulation of blood. Once this happens, the bigger hits will naturally follow since these skills are well-practiced. Remember, you’re meant to execute those powerful shots, and when the moment comes, they’ll be there. It all starts with reinforcing fundamentals. At this point, SRH might need to revert to basic techniques.”

"Actually, all of their top three players really appreciate facing deliveries with good length. They aim to clear the infield and smash boundaries against such lengths, as they've been practicing this recently. There have been adjustments in their batting techniques; Abhishek Sharma’s backlift has altered, and Ishan Kishan employs his technique too. By raising their bats higher, they position their hands above, enabling them to attempt powerful hits," he explained.

Rayudu pointed out the reason for SRH's disappointing show from their opening batsmen and explained the strategy of employing long spells that other teams have implemented to counter them effectively.

"Now, what teams are doing is delivering fuller pitches towards them. However, these players continue attempting powerful shots over the infield. In my opinion, they should adopt smarter tactics and aim at hitting through the gaps since these tenders often provide half-volley opportunities. A slight adjustment in their approach might help; thinking along the lines of ‘If it’s full, traditionally as batters we’re trained to hold back until encountering a full delivery.’ Therefore, all they have to do is patiently await such deliveries, direct their hits between the fielders, and allow the bowlers to bring out more length-based or shorter pitches afterward. Once this happens, one can aggressively target the bowling,” he explained. (ANI)