Sunrisers Hyderabad’s ultra-aggressive batting philosophy has come under heavy scrutiny after a dramatic flop against them. Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2026. Former IPL Chairman and BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla The franchise questioned SRH’s approach after being bowled out for just 86 while chasing a manageable target of 169 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The defeat marked one of SRH’s worst batting performances of the season and exposed their inability to adapt to the difficult surface. Unlike the flat batting paths seen at several IPL venues this year, the Ahmedabad wicket offered movement for the bowlers and made batting more difficult.
Rajeev Shukla questions SRH’s batting selection
After the heavy defeat, Rajeev Shukla went to X and criticized Hyderabad’s purposeful style of batting. His post targeted repeated attempts by the SRH batsmen to clear the boundary, despite a pitch that required patience and intelligent batting rotation.
“You have to score 160, why lose a wicket trying to hit a six from the start?” Rajeev Shukla wrote after the match.
The remark quickly gained traction online, with many fans agreeing that SRH had failed to read the conditions of the batting order correctly. Players like it Head of Travis, Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich KlaasenDominating attacks throughout the season, he struggled badly against disciplined seam bowling and extra bounce off the surface.
GT bowlers dominate the tough Ahmedabad surface
At the start of the match, Gujarat Titans also struggled to bat after being asked to bat first. However, unlike SRH, GT’s middle order showed patience and adapted well to the tough conditions. Sai Sudharsan While anchored the innings with 44 off 61 deliveries Washington Sundar He produced a crucial unbeaten fifty to take the hosts to 168/5.
In the end, the total was more than enough as GT’s pace attack completely dismantled Hyderabad’s batting unit. Kagiso Rabada and Muhammad Siraj Set the tone with the new ball first Jason Holder cleared the middle and lower ranks. Holder finished with impressive figures of 3/20 while Rabada took 3/28. SRH captain Pat Cummins top-scoring with just 19 runs, underlining the extent of the collapse.
The SRH camp advocates an aggressive philosophy
Despite the embarrassing loss, both Cummins and head coach Daniel Vettori defended the team’s batting mentality. Cummins insisted that one poor outing should not overshadow SRH’s consistency throughout the season. Vettori described the collapse as a rare day off work rather than a major concern. According to the SRH coach, the franchise is sticking to its fearless batting identity and believes that the team can bounce back quickly in the remaining matches of IPL 2026.
