Following the end of their impressive five-match winning streak, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain Pat Cummins took full responsibility for his team’s seven-wicket defeat at the hands of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Batting first, SRH were bowled out for 165. In reply, KKR completed the chase with 10 balls to spare.
Speaking after the clash at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Cummins candidly admitted that it was a difficult day for the franchise, noting that the Sunrisers failed to capitalize on their home-ground advantage during the first game of Sunday's doubleheader.
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Pat Cummins takes accountability for SRH's loss to KKR
The skipper observed that while the innings began with promise, the team suffered a significant loss of momentum during the latter half of their turn at the crease. Despite an initial target of approximately 200 runs, the Sunrisers finished well short of that mark as the pitch began to slow down. Cummins credited the Knight Riders for their tactical poise, noting that KKR’s bowlers expertly exploited the changing conditions to stifle the scoring rate.
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My over costing 27 probably made a difference: Pat Cummins
On a personal level, Cummins pointed to his own performance as a turning point in the match, specifically highlighting a 27-run over that shifted the pressure back onto his side. He acknowledged that in a game defined by fine margins, such expensive lapses proved too costly to overcome. Ultimately, he felt the combination of a stagnant middle-order performance and disciplined execution from KKR led to the reverse-fixture loss.
“Not our best day. We had a pretty good start, but then we weren’t at our sharpest. Probably aimed for 200 and then 180, but it wasn’t meant to be. You just need to adapt. The first 8-10 overs were excellent, but they used the match-ups well, and the second half wasn’t good. It dried up and slowed down; we probably should have aimed at 180," Cummins said at the post-match presentation.
“The margins are small, we did show some good things, fought till the end, my over costing 27 probably made a difference, but we did have our moments, and the fine margins went against us,” he added.
SRH will next face Punjab Kings (PBKS) on May 7 at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium.