SRH’s batting collapse against Gujarat Titans only a blip, insists Vettori

Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Daniel Vettori described his side’s batting collapse against Gujarat Titans as a rare off day after SRH were bundled out for their lowest-ever IPL total in a crushing 82-run defeat in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.

Chasing 169 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, SRH were bowled out for just 86, their lowest-ever IPL total. Earlier, Sai Sudharsan scored 61 while Washington Sundar added 50 to help GT post 168/5.

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“We knew we needed to get off to a good start, and that’s what we weren’t able to do. But I mean if they’d scored 200, then we would have known it would have been incredibly difficult. But I think the fact that it was 169, we thought we had a chance. But as always, you have to start well and we didn’t, and that’s what happens.

“And I don’t put any blame on the batting unit. They’ve been exceptional this year. Every team throughout the IPL is going to have their small blips once in a while, and ours was tonight,” Vettori said in a post-match press conference.

Gujarat Titans dominated with the ball as Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder picked up three wickets each. Prasidh Krishna claimed two wickets, while Mohammed Siraj and Rashid Khan chipped in with one apiece.

The win helped GT climb to the top of the points table after successfully defending the second-lowest total of the season.

“We knew coming up against their bowling line-up and the fact that they had five seamers (Arshad Khan was the fifth but didn’t get to bowl) plus Rashid (Khan) was always going to be a challenge. We didn’t get the start we wanted, and they were able to capitalise the whole way through, and their bowling was brilliant,” Vettori said.

The heavy defeat dealt a major blow to Sunrisers Hyderabad’s net run rate and exposed concerns around their batting after a strong run in the tournament. Despite the setback, SRH remain firmly in contention for a playoff spot and will need quick improvement in their remaining matches to stay in the race for a top-two finish.

Cummins penalised for over-rate offence

Meanwhile, SRH captain Pat Cummins was fined Rs 12 lakh for maintaining a slow over rate during the match. In a statement, the IPL said, “As this was his team’s first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which pertains to minimum over-rate offences, Cummins was fined INR 12 lakhs.”