IPL 2025: Ambati Rayudu analyses SRH's problems after fourth consecutive loss

IPL 2025: Ambati Rayudu analyses SRH's problems after fourth consecutive loss. (Photo Source - Twitter/X)

Ambati Rayudu highlighted Sunrisers Hyderabad's (SRH) bowling woes after they encountered their fourth consecutive defeat in the against the Gujarat Titans (GT) on Sunday, April 6, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

After amassing some humongous totals during their run to the finals last season, fans expected the 2016 champions to post the first 300-plus total in the IPL this year. However, apart from the first game against the Rajasthan Royals, where they slammed 286/6, SRH have not been able to touch the 200-run mark.

However, Rayudu believes that it's not the batting, but the bowling department that is actually letting SRH down in IPL 2025. The former India cricketer said that Hyderabad do not have bowlers who can pick wickets through the middle overs like Gujarat's troika of R Sai Kishore, Rashid Khan, and Prasidh Krishna. The Andhra Pradesh-born opined that the SRH bowlers are only trying to prevent the opposition batters from hitting boundaries.

"I think more than their bowling, it's their batting that is struggling. In the middle overs, they don't have anybody who can pick up those crucial wickets and put the opposition under pressure - like how GT have done with Sai Kishore, Rashid [Khan] and Prasidh Krishna. They really tightened the screws," Rayudu said via ESPNcricinfo.

"I don't see SRH trying to take wickets. They are just about being defensive and trying to stop batsmen from scoring boundaries. You don't win the IPL with mediocre middle-overs bowling. You need some really good middle-overs bowlers to pick up those wickets," he added.

Just spend a little time on the basics: Rayudu

Last season, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head played a key role as openers for Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, in IPL 2025, while Head has looked in decent touch, the same cannot be said about Abhishek, who has only managed 51 runs from five innings. Rayudu suggested that the Punjab all-rounder should look to hit boundaries along the ground and take singles to start his innings, and the big shots would come once he is set at the crease. The cricketer-turned-expert said that some tweaks in technique and mindset will hold SRH in good stead.

"I think he just needs a shift in his mindset. Just hit those few boundaries along the ground, beside mid-off, [or] mid-on; run those singles; get your 10–15 runs; [and] get your blood flow going. Then the big shots will always come because you have trained for it. You are there to hit them, and they will come. Just spend a little time on the basics," the cricketer-turned-commentator said further.

"I think SRH will have to come to basics now. All their top three actually like [good] length a lot. So they are looking to clear the infield and hit those sixes off length, which they have been practising of late. Their backlifts have changed. Abhishek Sharma's backlift has changed; Ishan Kishan does that. They are lifting the bat much higher so that their hands are higher, and they can go for those big shots," the Guntoor-born added.

They need to ebb a little bit and then flow: Rayudu

"So now what teams are doing is they're bowling really full to them. Still, these guys are trying to hit over the infield. I think they need to be slightly smart and just hit the gaps, because these are actually half volleys that people are bowling to them. I think a little shift in their mindset [is required], saying, 'Okay, if it is full, generally as a batsman we are all taught to wait for a full ball.' So that's all they need to do: wait for a full ball, hit the gaps, and then let them come and bowl those lengths or short balls, and then you can get after the bowling. They just need to ebb a little bit and then flow," Rayudu concluded.