SRH Labelled As ‘Boom Or Bust IPL Team’

SRH in IPL 2026 [Source: AFP]

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) slumped to a huge defeat against Gujarat Titans in match number 56 of the IPL 2026 season. Chasing 169, the ‘Orange Army’ bundled out for just 86 as their NRR took a massive hit towards the business end of the tournament.

While SRH still remains one of the leading contenders to make it to the season’s playoffs, former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin recently criticized the franchise for often struggling on even slightly bowling-friendly surfaces.

SRH need to adapt to other conditions, believes Ashwin

While speaking on his YouTube channel, CSK great Ravichandran Ashwin criticized the SRH batting line-up for struggling on certain surfaces where there is life on the wicket.

He said “SRH is a boom or bust team, and with some life on the wicket, they’d struggle a bit.”

Ashwin added that while SRH flourish at their high-scoring home ground at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, the ‘Orange Army’ need to adapt to away conditions to become more successful.

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He added “SRH knows they have a high-scoring home pitch and they draft their side based on that, but they’d have to adapt to other conditions on the road. SRH have a very strong unit and they can challenge for the top-two spots, but their only pitfall is that, when the conditions don’t favor high-scoring games, I feel they trap themselves by trying to attack a bit too much.”

SRH suffer huge blow in playoff race

Ravichandran Ashwin’s comments occurred in the aftermath of SRH’s demoralizing defeat at the hands of Gujarat Titans at the latter’s home ground, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, May 12.

Bowling first, Praful Hinge (2-17) and Sakib Hussain (2-37) picked up two wickets each, but fiery half-centuries from Sai Sudharsan (61 off 44) and Washington Sundar (50 off 33) steered the Titans to a commendable 168-5 in 20 overs.

In response, SRH bundled out for just 86 in 14.5 overs. Captain Pat Cummins top-scored in the innings with his mere 19-run knock from nine balls. Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder hogged the limelight with the ball for the hosts by picking up three wickets each.

IPL 2026 qualification scenario for SRH

That being said, SRH is still ranked third on the IPL 2026 points table as of May 13 after their huge defeat to Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. Pat Cummins and co. have so far secured seven wins at an expense of five losses from 12 games, with a healthy NRR of 0.331.

In a bid to secure a place in the playoffs, the SRH franchise need to win at least one of its remaining two matches. One win will get them to 16 points, which has proven enough for teams making it to the top four.

As per the IPL 2026 schedule, they will now face the CSK in match number 63 of the tournament on Monday, May 18 at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai.

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