After Sunrisers Hyderabad suffered an 82-run defeat to Gujarat Titans, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin delivered a sharp assessment of what went wrong in the chase. SRH were set 169 on a difficult wicket, but the batting order collapsed and the team were bowled out for just 86—marking their most lopsided losing margin in IPL history.
Ashwin’s critique of SRH’s chase
In a post-match discussion on his YouTube channel, Ashwin described SRH’s batting approach as lacking the necessary adaptability to the conditions. He singled out opener Abhishek Sharma for criticism, focusing on the way the left-hander attempted to play at the same tempo regardless of the situation.
- Ashwin said Abhishek Sharma is capable of playing aggressive shots, but questioned why the batter did not adjust once the match conditions demanded restraint.
- To explain his point, Ashwin compared Abhishek’s style to driving—arguing that speed can be handled safely on an open highway, but it becomes dangerous in heavy traffic where reaction time and control matter.
- He stressed that in cricket, conditions “rule the game,” urging Abhishek to take singles, rotate strike, and build a partnership rather than forcing the same type of strokeplay.
- Ashwin also broadened the discussion, suggesting that elite batters such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are admired because they read the pitch and tailor their innings accordingly.
- He added that SRH should have chased the target, but the top three failed to take responsibility, which compounded the collapse.
Cummins fined for slow over-rate
Alongside the on-field result, there was also an off-field penalty for SRH captain Pat Cummins. He received a fine for maintaining a slow over rate during the match against Gujarat Titans.
Cummins was penalised Rs 12 lakh. The IPL stated that, as it was SRH’s first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL Code of Conduct—which covers minimum over-rate violations—he was fined INR 12 lakhs.
