Jaydev Unadkat picked up 3 wickets for 35 runs in 4 overs against Gujarat Titans on May 2, 2025. Photo: AP
After starting the season with a bang by scoring the highest-ever total in IPL history - 286 for 6 - Sunrisers Hyderabad's campaign has lost track. They are currently reeling at the second-last spot on the IPL 2025 standings with three wins from 10 matches.
On Friday, SRH suffered their seventh defeat of the season when they went down to Gujarat Titans by 38 runs in Ahmedabad. The Titans posted 224 for 6 in 20 overs, with Jaydev Unadkat being the most successful bowler for the Sunrisers. He took 3 wickets for 35 runs in 4 overs. None of the other SRH bowlers who bowled their full quota of four overs managed a better average than Unadkat.
After their defeat against the Titans, the 33-year-old said toothless bowling and lack of support disrupted SRH's campaign.
“From my experience of playing in the IPL for all these years, for a team to do well, there has to be at least 3 or 4 guys, in terms of your bowling I am talking, who have to contribute in every game. Like, there have to be 3 or 4 performances in every game for you to win games and probably this year, I would say that we are lacking that. When two guys are bowling well, the other 3 are probably not bowling in tandem, and like we look at partnerships in terms of batting,” Unadkat told the reporters after the loss against GT.
“Like we look at partnerships in terms of batting, I think it’s the same in bowling as well. Because when you are not bowling well from both the ends, it creates unnecessary pressure on the other guy,” he added.
After winning the toss, SRH captain Pat Cummins opted to bowl first. But they failed to keep the Titans batters in check, with Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler scoring half-centuries.
'200+ Cannot be The Norm'
For SRH, the ultra-aggressive intent - which they adopted last season - has failed to make an impact this time.
Unadkat said the idea of 200-plus scores does not work in the IPL anymore. “Last year, we scored 200+ in four or five matches, and that gave us a sense that we had set a standard. But that cannot always be the norm. Other teams and batters are planning better now, and bowlers are also adapting and coming up with new strategies."
“Last year, swing was enough to make an impact, but this year, it is about using variations effectively. Also, the pitches are playing a big role. Last year we had a lot of flat pitches, whereas this time we have had more difficult ones. That is why we have not been able to carry the same momentum,” he added.
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