Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) aims to continue their aggressive batting style from last season under head coach Daniel Vettori as they prepare for their IPL 2025 opener against Rajasthan Royals. Vettori emphasizes the team’s focus on aggressive batting, stating that pitch conditions typically favor this approach. With returning players like Pat Cummins, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Reddy, Travis Head, and Abhishek Sharma, SRH is hopeful for success. The addition of Ishan Kishan is seen as a significant boost. Cummins leads a strong pace attack, complemented by Mohammed Shami and Harshal Patel, following key player departures. Vettori expresses excitement for the season ahead.
“No matter the venue, we encourage an aggressive mindset from our batting side,” Vettori remarked. “The only aspect that might temper this approach is the pitch conditions, but generally, IPL pitches tend to be quite flat.”
“When playing at these grounds, you have a solid understanding of what to anticipate. You recognize how the batsmen will likely approach the game. It’s a good challenge for the bowling unit to navigate through that, even if ‘fun’ isn’t quite the right word.
“Pat [Cummins, the captain] recently spoke to our bowling group about this. He emphasized that the focus is on our batters to do the heavy lifting, scoring runs, while the bowlers need to support that effort. If we can achieve that, it will significantly aid us in winning matches. The responsibility lies with the batting unit to pile on the runs, and the bowlers to manage that effectively.”
Vettori shared his enthusiasm about the high expectations surrounding the team and expressed hope that they could match the intensity that took them to the finals last year.
“High expectations bring a sense of excitement,” he noted. “These expectations are rooted in last year’s performances and the roster we’ve been able to assemble since the latter part of last season and during the auction.”
“As a franchise, we are genuinely excited about this season, especially with the solid foundation provided by the five players [Cummins, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Reddy, Travis Head, and Abhishek Sharma] we retained, who performed exceptionally well last year. We’re optimistic that we have the team to not only match previous success but perhaps surpass it this year.”
Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who achieved the second-highest run total for an opening pair last season, will continue to lead the batting lineup for SRH. Vettori also welcomed Ishan Kishan into the team, calling him a “major addition.”
“We don’t anticipate changing the opening combination; Ishan fits in perfectly,” Vettori explained. “His style is similar—left-handed and capable of challenging bowlers of all types. We feel fortunate to have him on board to complement the existing openers, along with Nitish, Klaasen, and some of our younger batsmen stepping in as well. We regard this as a significant enhancement to our squad.”
Vettori expressed satisfaction seeing a fully fit Cummins and Nitish, with Cummins having overcome an ankle injury that sidelined him from the Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, Nitish returns after recuperating from a side strain that kept him off the field for a month.
“They both have been performing well in training,” Vettori noted. “They sustained injuries back in January, and while it’s been a long gap since they last played, this time has also allowed for recovery. Given the volume of cricket they both play, sometimes a chance to refresh can be beneficial.”
“Both players are keen and excited about the forthcoming season, which puts us in a great spot. Often, when players enter the IPL at the end of a long season, they can feel a bit weary, but those two are eager to start.”
Cummins will lead a formidable pace attack that includes two other outstanding performers, Mohammed Shami and Harshal Patel, both of whom secured the purple cap in IPL 2023 and 2024, respectively.
“Shami was the purple cap winner two seasons ago, and Harshal claimed it last year—both are significant assets,” he said. “We recognize that stepping in for Bhuvi [Bhuvneshwar Kumar] and Nattu [T Natarajan] comes with great expectations—both have been stalwarts for Sunrisers and are very much valued by the franchise.
“It was difficult to see them leave, but the auction dynamics require adaptability to seize opportunities. It’s fantastic to see Shami with us, bowling exceptionally well in the Champions Trophy; they will effectively complement what Pat brings to the team.”
Shashank Kishore is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo