Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Daniel Vettori said the franchise will keep a close watch on its less-tested middle order as the IPL playoffs approach, even while praising an explosive top section and a disciplined bowling unit that powered a standout campaign. SRH delivered a commanding 55-run victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday, clinching third place in the points table and a spot in the postseason.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Vettori described the performance as a near-complete effort. “We played really well. You can’t have everything. It was a magnificent game and I thought the guys were incredible. The season isn’t over yet. We finished near the top of the table, but we missed out slightly on run rate. Still, nine wins is a fantastic tournament,” he said.
Focus on the middle order as playoffs near
- Vettori said SRH’s build-up going into these high-pressure fixtures will include continued monitoring of a middle order that has not batted as frequently across the season.
- He added that the group has been performing strongly, and highlighted the turning point created by a “top-four” phase of the campaign.
- In the latter part of the league stage, Vettori credited the combination of Ishan, Pat and Shakib as a key difference-maker for SRH’s progress.
- He also flagged that balancing the team’s fifth and sixth bowling options remained one of the club’s main tactical headaches.
- Vettori explained that SRH went with Harshal Patel in this match due to the characteristics of the playing surface, while noting that Praful Hinge and Harsh Dubey are also available.
Vettori further praised the way the bowling attack has complemented the batting unit, especially after SRH had suffered a difficult start. “Those three fast bowlers have been exceptional, and we’ve had contributions from Harsh Dubey, from Shivang, from Nitesh, from Hinge that helped us bounce back after losing three of our first four games,” he said.
He credited the momentum of the latter stages of the league as the foundation for their qualification. “Winning eight out of the next 12 is a real credit to them. We expected our batting unit to do what they did, and then for the bowlers to complement them is why we’re in the position we are now,” Vettori added.
Flower pleased with RCB’s league finish despite defeat
Despite the loss, RCB head coach Andy Flower said he was satisfied with his team finishing at the summit of the points table. However, he acknowledged that SRH’s use of slower deliveries and RCB’s untidy fielding made a significant difference to the outcome.
Flower noted that SRH posted a challenging total after being put in to bat first, scoring 255 for 4 in their 20 overs. He then pointed to RCB’s chase, which ended at 200 for 4.
“It is great that we topped the table and we played some really good cricket over the length of the tournament to do that,” Flower said. “This league is an outstanding competition with 10 very good teams, so we’ve got a lot of confidence going into the playoffs.”
Flower attributed much of SRH’s edge to the smart deployment of pace variations. “I thought their seamers bowled almost 50 per cent slower balls, and as the pitch got slower those deliveries were gripping and didn’t make batting that easy,” he said.
He also discussed tactical changes in SRH’s bowling setup, including the role of Pat Cummins. “They’ve changed their bowling attack pretty much. Pat Cummins has also come in and taken over. They know these conditions very well. They’ve picked a bowling attack that can exploit these conditions here, and they’ve got a history of doing that,” Flower added.
The RCB coach admitted that fielding standards slipped noticeably during the evening. “We weren’t very sharp in the field. It looked a little different not having Tim David on the field and Jacob Bethell,” he said, adding that their absence affected boundary coverage. “They make a difference, particularly in the powerplay when they’re patrolling the boundary on either side. So we’ll have to have a think about that.”
Special praise for Venkatesh Iyer
Flower reserved lavish praise for Venkatesh Iyer, describing his impact whenever he received an opportunity. “We were happy with Venky opening the batting. He had to wait for his chance,” he said.
He explained that Iyer had come in as an impact option when SRH needed extra batting cover, and also highlighted his role in recent matches. “Every time he’s had a chance, either as an impact player when we’ve needed the extra batsman because we’ve got ourselves into some trouble in the innings, or in the last two matches when he’s been given a chance—first at number four in Dharamsala and then today opening the batting—he’s taken all of those chances,” Flower said.
Flower said Iyer’s professionalism, despite limited chances, earned the respect of the entire squad. “I’ve got a lot of respect for a man that’s played a lot of IPL cricket, played for India, and was sitting on the sidelines waiting for his chance,” he said.
He also praised Iyer’s attitude in the dugout. “He’s been in that dugout with a big smile on his face all the time. He’s practised hard every single session. He’s worked hard at his bowling, fielding and batting. He’s been exemplary,” Flower added.
Multiple chase scenarios discussed
Looking at the chase, Flower said RCB had several target scenarios in mind while the innings progressed. “We were in a position to keep pushing to chase down 255 but ultimately we got the job done and topped the league. It’s quite a tricky situation when you’ve got conflicting things,” he said.
He added that the coaching staff had discussed different thresholds before and during the pursuit. “We discussed the various targets. I think we needed 166 to confirm top two, 179 to confirm top of the league and obviously 255 to win the game,” Flower concluded.
