For Sunrisers Hyderabad, it is no longer about going hard or going home. The 2024 finalists, who redefined batting in the Indian Premier League, are no longer the team that simply bangs or fails. After defeating Punjab Kings on May 6 to top the table, SRH have found their sweet spot with consistent high scores this season.

After their all-out aggressive approach backfired and fell out of the playoff spots in 2025, the think tank recalibrated. They have found a more sustainable path while still maintaining their original philosophy.

SRH vs PBKS: highlighted | Achievement:

Out of their 11 matches this season, SRH have fallen short of the 200-run mark only three times. The Pat Cummins-led side has always had tremendous batting ability, but it is their consistency that has made them particularly dangerous this year. They seem to be improving in every game since Cummins’ return, a trend that bodes well heading into the playoffs.

separating the openers from the rest

A major factor behind SRH’s success has been the measured approach of the middle order, which has been tasked with assessing conditions and setting realistic targets during the middle overs. This allows openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head to continue their ultra-aggressive approach, while players like Heinrich Klaasen and Ishan Kishan adapt to the demands of the surface and match conditions.

This marks a change from the last two seasons, when SRH attacked consistently from start to finish. While that approach caught teams by surprise in 2024, opponents adjusted in 2025 and exposed a significant flaw in their methodology.

Cummins acknowledged this development after victory over punjabExplaining how the team has clearly defined roles within the batting unit.

Cummins said, “We are very good at playing at our own pace. We don’t try to start conservatively. That’s not really Abhi and Travis’ style. It’s about trying to maximize as much as possible.”

The SRH captain said that the team does not enter the game with any fixed target in mind, but rather adjusts as the innings progresses.

“Not really thinking about the total score or anything, and then maybe later in the innings if it takes a different direction, we’ve been very good at making adjustments,” he said.

Klaasen comes for SRH

The main reason for this success is Klaasen, at number 4, who has scored 494 runs in 11 matches. Interestingly, he softened his approach a bit and scored a score of 157, which is slightly below his usual standards.

SRH have also benefited from the consistent contributions of Abhishek and Kishan, who are second and fourth in the run scorer list this season. Abhishek has scored 475 runs at a strike rate of 210, while Kishan has scored 409 runs at a strike rate of 186, indicating a subtle change in the team’s batting approach.

Their bowling unit has also performed well, with uncapped players performing significantly throughout the season. The team has looked more balanced since moving away from the inclusion of Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat in the starting lineup, which has helped them produce strong results.

Cummins said, “We have played very good cricket here in Hyderabad over the last few years. It suits our style. Even tonight it took a bit of grip, which suited a lot of our bowlers in the end.”

With the win over Punjab, SRH now have 14 points from 11 matches and are very close to a playoff spot. They have three group stage matches remaining against Gujarat Titans, Chennai Super Kings and defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore.

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