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The 19th match of IPL 2025 saw Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) fall to their fourth consecutive defeat, this time at the hands of the Gujarat Titans (GT), in what turned out to be a one-sided affair under the lights at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Batting first on a sluggish surface, SRH managed just 152/8 in their 20 overs. In reply, GT made light work of the target, chasing it down in only 16.4 overs with seven wickets in hand, thanks to a clinical bowling display and composed batting. The star of the evening was Mohammed Siraj, who ripped through SRH’s top order with figures of 4/17 and was deservedly named Player of the Match.
Daniel Vettori sites 3 main reasons for SRH lost against GT in IPL 2025
Following the defeat, SRH head coach Daniel Vettori offered an honest appraisal of his team’s shortcomings. While reiterating faith in his top-order’s aggressive intent, he outlined three specific areas that led to the team’s loss against GT.
1) Disrespecting the conditions
Vettori was candid in admitting that SRH’s batters failed to respect the playing conditions. The Hyderabad pitch on April 6 wasn’t the flat belter the home side is usually treated to. Instead, it offered variable bounce and a slower pace, making stroke play more challenging. SRH’s batters, however, went in with an aggressive mindset and did not adapt quickly enough.
“I think we know the style is going to work, but we have to respect conditions, we haven’t assessed well, and that’s probably something we haven’t done,” said Vettori in the post-match press conference. In attempting to go hard from the outset, SRH lost early wickets and failed to stitch together meaningful partnerships. Their inability to build a foundation meant that they fell at least 20 runs short of a par score — a gap that proved costly in the final analysis.
2) Underestimating the opposition’s planning
According to Vettori, GT’s bowlers were not just executing their plans well — they were outsmarting SRH’s much-hyped top three. The Titans’ bowling unit, led by Siraj, clearly came in with homework done, targeting weaknesses and denying the batters the pace and angles they thrive on. The result? SRH’s big names crumbled under pressure.
“Other teams are putting a lot of planning into our top three, and they haven’t been able to execute it at times,” Vettori added. The consistent failure of the top order to convert starts into match-winning scores is now a growing concern for SRH, especially as it places undue pressure on the middle and lower order to rescue innings.
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3) Collective failure across all three disciplines
While the batting was undoubtedly underwhelming, Vettori emphasized that the defeat wasn’t solely the batters’ burden to bear. Fielding and bowling also failed to live up to the standards expected at the highest level. GT’s chase was rarely threatened, with SRH’s bowlers unable to apply sustained pressure or exploit any slowness in the pitch that GT’s bowlers had utilized to perfection.
“We just haven’t been near our best in the last four games, that’s all three disciplines. The barometer of most teams is how their fielding’s going, and we’ve been pretty poor in the field,” Vettori admitted.
SRH’s fielding lapses and lack of energy in the field only added to their woes, with easy singles converted into doubles and half-chances going begging — crucial details that can define tight matches, especially in a tournament as competitive as the IPL.
SRH’s IPL 2025 season at the crossroads
Despite the string of losses, Vettori and skipper Pat Cummins are refusing to panic. However, the margin for error is shrinking with each passing game. SRH will now turn their attention to their clash against Punjab Kings on April 12, aware that a turnaround must come sooner rather than later.
“There’s still some confidence within the batting group, but it’s the collective that needs to stand up now,” Vettori concluded.
If SRH are to revive their season and live up to the expectations set after last year’s runner-up finish, they’ll need more than individual brilliance — they’ll need cohesion, adaptability, and belief.
