Hyderabad’s blistering summer heat isn’t the only thing scorching Sunrisers Hyderabad right now. The team’s sitting ninth in the IPL 2025 points table, a far cry from their high-flying days last season. But captain Pat Cummins, the Aussie pace ace with a cool head and a knack for rallying troops, isn’t sweating it. On April 25, he dropped a gritty truth bomb: SRH’s fortunes hinge on one or two batters pulling off something electric, something game-changing.
“It’s not about everyone firing at once,” Cummins said, speaking to JioStar after another rough outing for his side. “We’ve got a batting lineup that can scare the daylights out of any bowling attack. All it takes is one, maybe two guys to play a blinder—something that could be match-winning.” His words carried the weight of a man who’s seen enough cricket to know that brilliance often comes down to a single spark.
SRH’s campaign has been a mixed bag. Last year, their batters smashed records, piling on runs with a fearless, almost reckless style. This season, though, the same crew’s been misfiring. Big names like Ishan Kishan, who kicked off IPL 2025 with a century, have fizzled out. The team’s all-out attacking approach, once their calling card, has left them exposed, especially when conditions demand a steadier hand. A humbling loss to Mumbai Indians on April 23 was just the latest bruise, their sixth defeat in a season that’s starting to feel like a slow bleed.
Cummins, though, sees a lifeline in his squad’s depth. “They’re all match-winners,” he said of his batters. “On their day, they can score a hundred in 30-odd balls. I’d be worried facing that lineup.” He’s not wrong. SRH’s batting order, on paper, is a murderer’s row, capable of turning games in a handful of overs. The problem? Too few have found their groove at the same time.
One bright spot has been young Aniket Verma, a new face who’s been swinging for the fences. Cummins couldn’t hide his admiration for the kid. “He’s impressed us from the warm-ups,” the skipper said. “No matter the situation, he’s out there trying to clear the ropes. He takes on spin, plays with freedom, and he’s striking the ball beautifully.” Verma’s six-hitting spree has given SRH a flicker of hope, but it’s not enough to carry the team alone.
The bowling unit, anchored by veterans like T Natarajan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Jaydev Unadkat, hasn’t been the issue. Cummins leaned on their experience, noting their ability to keep things tight even when the batters don’t deliver. But in the IPL, where totals routinely kiss 200, a solid bowling attack can only do so much if the runs don’t flow.
With the season slipping away, Cummins is doubling down on his team’s aggressive DNA. He’s not calling for a complete overhaul—just for one or two players to step up and seize the moment. Whether that’s Kishan rediscovering his early-season fire, Verma continuing his fearless cameo, or another big gun like Heinrich Klaasen finally unleashing hell, the skipper’s banking on a single, defining knock to flip the script.
SRH’s next chance to prove Cummins right comes against Chennai Super Kings, a side that thrives on grinding opponents down. For Hyderabad, it’s a do-or-die moment in a tournament that waits for no one. The fans, draped in orange, are still screaming their lungs out, but they’re desperate for a hero. Cummins believes he’s got a few waiting in the wings. All it takes is one.