Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) made a statement when they posted a mammoth total of 286/6 in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign opener. But Pat Cummins' SRH paid for the ultra-aggressive approach and ended up getting eliminated from the playoffs race. On May 5, they looked like they would spoil Delhi Capitals' (DC) playoffs chances by causing a collapse and restricting the target to 134 but the game was abandoned as rain had the final say. As SRH In the post-match press conference, SRH head coach Daniel Vettori said that he never said that he backed team's aggressive approach after every match. He blamed tricky surfaces for SRH batters' template not working in IPL 2025.
"I definitely didn't say after every match I was backing an aggressive approach. I said we're about assessing conditions and I think this year the conditions weren't as we expected," Vettori said after runner-ups of previous season were eliminated from playoffs contention.
"I think 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 so it has been tricky, it hasn't been easy for the batters and all we've talked about is just assessing conditions and trying to read the game and understand what to do in certain situations," he added.
Vettori explains why the top-order failed
SRH have a menacing top-order featuring Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan. In the middle-order they got Heinrich Klaasen, who is the most expensive retained player in IPL history. Apart from 286/6, the run chase of 245 featuring a sensational ton from Abhishek were the two highlights for them in the season. Vettori feels that SRH's big-hitters are more effective against pacers than spinners.
"I think the guys are innately aggressive but it's certainly this season has been about trying to establish what's required on the day. I think there's been two surfaces that have been the 250-plus.
"Then there's been another (wicket)... how many games we've played, I think four here that have been probably more conducive for the fast bowlers, not so much the spinners. But new ball, been a little bit sticky, hard to hit, (ball) not coming on to the bat," he explained.
Vettori happy with performance against DC
After reflecting on a disappointing season, Vettori lauded SRH for producing their best bowling and fielding performance to dominate Axar Patel's DC. He was frustrated that SRH couldn't register a win.
"It was a really good performance, probably our best bowling and fielding performance of the tournament so far and it's something that we really talk long and hard about in training and in the meetings," the former New Zealand captain said.
"Obviously it's disappointing (for the match to get washed out). Today was the start of a complete performance, so it's frustrating that we couldn't finish it, but that's cricket."
Vettori praises back-in-form Cummins
The former left-arm spinner lauded skipper Cummins who rattled the top-order with new ball and helped his side reduce DC to 29/5 in the eighth over.
"I think 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," the 46-year-old further added.
SRH will now take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their last home clash of the season on May 10. They are currently placed eighth on the points table with seven points from 11 games.