Sunrisers Hyderabad’s ultra-aggressive batting philosophy came under heavy scrutiny after their dramatic collapse against the Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2026. Former IPL chairman and BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla questioned SRH’s approach after the franchise was bundled 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 on a difficult surface. Unlike the flat batting tracks seen across several IPL venues this year, the Ahmedabad wicket offered movement for seamers and made stroke-making far more challenging.
Rajeev Shukla questions SRH’s shot selection
Following the heavy defeat, Rajeev Shukla took to X and appeared to criticise Hyderabad’s intent-driven batting style. His post indirectly targeted the repeated attempts from SRH batters to clear the boundary despite the pitch demanding patience and smart strike rotation.
“When you need to score 160, why lose a wicket trying to hit sixes right from the beginning,” Rajeev Shukla wrote after the match.
The remark quickly gained attention online, with many fans agreeing that SRH’s batting lineup failed to read the conditions properly. Players like Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen, who have dominated attacks throughout the season, struggled badly against disciplined seam bowling and extra bounce off the surface.
GT bowlers dominate on a challenging Ahmedabad surface
Earlier in the match, Gujarat Titans also found batting difficult after being asked to bat first. However, unlike SRH, GT’s middle order showed patience and adjusted well to the tricky conditions. Sai Sudharsan anchored the innings with a composed 61 off 44 deliveries, while Washington Sundar produced a crucial unbeaten fifty to guide the hosts to 168/5.
The total eventually proved far more than enough as GT’s pace attack completely dismantled Hyderabad’s batting unit. Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj set the tone with the new ball before Jason Holder cleaned up the middle and lower order. Holder finished with impressive figures of 3/20, while Rabada claimed 3/28. SRH skipper Pat Cummins top-scored with just 19 runs, highlighting the extent of the collapse.
SRH camp defends aggressive philosophy
Despite the embarrassing defeat, both Cummins and head coach Daniel Vettori defended the team’s batting mindset. Cummins insisted that one poor outing should not overshadow the consistency shown by SRH’s top order throughout the season. Vettori also described the collapse as a rare off-day rather than a major concern. According to the SRH coach, the franchise remains committed to its fearless batting identity and believes the team can bounce back quickly in the remaining matches of IPL 2026.
