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Time of India
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
IPL 2025 - From fire to falter! Sunrisers Hyderabad's rollercoaster ride
Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head There would have been few better contenders than Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) if a spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs were to be decided based on how well a team starts and finishes the campaign. While SRH slammed 286 in their league opener against Rajasthan Royals (RR), they smashed 231 and 278 respectively in their final two matches against RCB and KKR. SRH finished their campaign with a mammoth 110-run win and are currently sixth on the points table. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Unfortunately for SRH fans, the IPL 2025 playoffs race does take into account consistency, an area where the Pat Cummins-led side failed miserably. While SRH players like Cummins, Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen expressed great confidence in the side's ability to post a historic 300-run total, teams quickly figured out a solution to their ultra-aggressive approach. The Hyderabad-based franchise's triumph in their IPL 2025 opener was followed by a four-match losing streak against LSG, DC, KKR and GT. A win against PBKS failed to transform fortunes which majorly came back to haunt SRH. IPL 2025: Daniel Vettori explains Shami's struggles, Reddy's limited role While opposition bowling attacks managed to figure out a solution to keep the SRH batters quiet, the Hyderabad-based team also didn't enjoy batting-friendly wickets like IPL 2024. Even the conditions at their home ground weren't as expected making it even tougher for the batters. "It's been tricky and not easy for the batters," acknowledged SRH head coach Daniel Vettori . Another major reason behind the IPL 2024 finalists failing to make their presence felt was the performance of openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma . The duo set the stands on fire in IPL 2024, smashing 1,051 runs in 16 innings at a strike rate of 197.2 with 74 sixes. However, their overall tally reduced to 813 runs in 13 IPL 2025 matches at a strike rate of 177.9 with an alarming decline to 43 sixes. Their dot ball percentage in the current season stands at 37.2 which is certainly higher than IPL 2024's tally of 32.3%. Abhishek emerged as the better performer between the duo, smashing 439 runs in comparison to Head's 374. Quiz: Who's that IPL player? While Klaasen finishes as the team's top run-getter with 487 runs, even the South African battled a streak of inconsistency with his unbeaten 105 in the final match against KKR adding respectability. Similarly, Ishan Kishan started off with a ton in the first match but finishes with a tally of just 354 runs. Kishan particularly came into the limelight due to a brain-fade moment against MI where he walked off despite being not-out. The franchise badly missed the presence of an all-rounder like Shahbaz Ahmed who could provide stability down the order especially considering a poor campaign for Nitish Reddy, who scored 182 runs in 13 matches. 'Aggressive but smart': SRH coach Simon Helmot lauds balanced approach after RCB win Cummins and Harshal Patel finished as SRH's top wicket-takers with 16 wickets each, with the former making a late comeback having initially picked 10 wickets in as many matches. However, SRH badly missed the variety of left-arm pacer T Natarajan who had picked 19 wickets in IPL 2024, especially considering a poor display by Mohammad Shami who recorded six dismissals. An overall lack of balance in the squad buildup raised eyebrows, with the absence of an experienced spinner capable of throttling the opposition drawing attention. "With the calibre of the players we have, we can't play any worse than what we did earlier," said Cummins, summing up a season where SRH promised a lot but delivered precious little. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Major League Cricket: How Washington Freedom fared in the first two seasons
Washington Freedom Season 1 Recap (2023) Washington Freedom had a promising debut season in the inaugural edition of Major League Cricket (MLC) 2023, finishing third on the points table with three wins in five matches. They secured a place in the playoffs. However, their campaign ended in the eliminator, where they lost to MI New York. Matt Short was the standout performer with the bat, finishing as Freedom's leading run-scorer with 152 runs. On the bowling front, Saurabh Netravalkar led the attack with 10 wickets, emerging as the team's most successful bowler. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Season 2 Glory (2024) The second season saw a complete turnaround. Washington Freedom went on to clinch their maiden MLC title, defeating San Francisco Unicorns comprehensively in the final by a massive margin of 96 runs. Ajinkya Rahane reflects on KKR's inconsistent IPL 2025, backs under-fire Venkatesh Iyer The triumph was led by a formidable performance from Travis Head, who was named Player of the Tournament. Head amassed 336 runs in 9 innings and finished as the second-highest run-getter in the tournament overall. Skipper Steven Smith was equally pivotal, scoring 336 runs at an impressive average of 56.00, and was named Man of the Match in the final. In the bowling department, Saurabh Netravalkar once again delivered, picking up 15 wickets and continuing to be a key figure in their setup. Rachin Ravindra also made a significant impact with the ball, claiming 12 wickets in the season. Quiz: Who's that IPL player? Despite their success, Washington Freedom face a few setbacks heading into the 2025 season. Travis Head is set to skip the tournament owing to his self-imposed cap of participating in only two franchise leagues per year while he remains an active Test cricketer. Additionally, Australia's scheduled Test series in the West Indies will also rule out Pat Cummins, who is contracted with the San Francisco Unicorns. Freedom, however, has managed to retain its captain Steven Smith, although his full availability remains uncertain due to Australia's red-ball commitments. The franchise has retained the highest number of both domestic and international players among all MLC teams. Key overseas stars like Glenn Maxwell, Jack Edwards (Australia), and Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand) are all set to return for the title defence. On the other hand, the team has released Akeal Hosein, Andrew Tye, and Travis Head ahead of the new season. With a strong core and solid retention strategy, Washington Freedom will be aiming to overcome personnel challenges and continue their winning momentum in the 2025 season. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
India Today
26-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Travishek's start, Klaasen's Class: SRH's final game serves a reminder of an IPL season that could have been
SunRisers Hyderabad capped off their Indian Premier League 2025 season with a thundering performance against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday, May 25. Playing their final game of the tournament, last year's finalists delivered a scintillating batting display, racking up the third-highest total in the history of the Klaasen starred with a tremendous 105*, an innings well-supported by Travis Head's 76 off 40 and Abhishek Sharma's 32 off 16. It was fittingly ironic that SRH would finish their season with a blistering batting performance—something they had threatened to do since the opening match. They began the IPL with a record-shaking 286, the second-highest total ever, and closed with the third between, however, SRH floundered in a manner few had predicted. The match against Kolkata Knight Riders served as a reminder of how fine the margins are in the IPL—and how a little luck can swing a season. Hyderabad, after an explosive start, were eventually undone by a rigid strategy. They had spoken all season about breaking the 300-run barrier, and in every game, they chased that with pitches offering more balance this year, their ultra-aggressive approach often backfired. By the time they adjusted, the playoff race had already slipped out of their hands—they needed to win every remaining match to stay in won four of their last six matches, with one game washed out. That abandoned match against Delhi Capitals likely would have gone their way as well—they had restricted the opposition to just 133 in the first that point reinforces what Pat Cummins emphasized in his final post-match press conference of the season: SRH should have made the final, given the squad they had at their FROM IPL 2025There was a noticeable shift in tone from SRH in how they approached their media duties this season. Last year, it was all about, 'We don't care about the losses; we'll aim for 250 every game.' But about 60% into the 2025 season, players and coaches started to realise that a one-dimensional, inflexible approach wasn't the smartest path admitted after the KKR game that they should've been willing to grind out scores in the 170–180 range instead of always going hard, which too often led to an SRH fan's perspective, the sight of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head absorbing pressure and then launching into big shots was a major positive. At the start of the season, the pair looked out of sync—even running each other out in the opening few fact that Ishan Kishan showed such commitment and delivered strong performances toward the end of the season might well earn him a retention spot next also unearthed a top all-rounder in Harsh Dubey and a promising pacer in Eshan Malinga—both of whom will add strength to the squad moving in all, the final three matches—against LSG, RCB, and KKR—offered a glimpse into what this season could have been for SRH. And, just as importantly, they lay the foundation for building a stronger, smarter team for next updated on IPL 2025 with India Today! Get match schedules, team squads, live score, and the latest IPL points table for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Plus, keep track of the top contenders for the IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap. Don't miss a moment!
News.com.au
26-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Cameron Green's third county cricket century creates serious selection questions ahead of World Test Championship final
Cameron Green peeled off a third county cricket century as spinner Matt Kuhnemann took six wickets in a one-off appearance and Travis Head left the IPL with a bang in positive signs for the Australian trio ahead of the World Test Championship final at Lord's. Selection decisions loom large for Australia ahead of the clash with South Africa on June 11 as pressure grows to get Green back into the team after he missed the entire home summer due to back surgery. Green blasted 118 in his latest effort for Gloucestershire, taking his average from eight county knocks to 73.67 from 442 runs. Against Kent he blasted 128 and an unbeaten 67 in the same game, showing an affinity for the local conditions after making 112 in his first innings since September. Green's been included in Australia's 15-player WTC final squad to play as a batter only and is amping up the heat on Test teammate Marnus Labuschagne, who began his county campaign with Glamorgan with a duck and managed just 23 in his latest effort. Labuschagne has been touted as a possible opening option, with Green able to bat anywhere from three to six, as part of a batting order that will include red-hot Head, who blasted 76 off 40 balls in his final outing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. Head finished the tournament with 376 runs, behind only Mitch Marsh's 560 among Australians in the IPL, and will get in ample preparation in the UK with his Sunrisers not involved in the delayed finals. The Australian Test batters aren't the only ones in form, with left-arm spinner Kuhnemann, back playing after having his action cleared following a report in Sri Lanka, ripping through the Middlesex batting order in Cardiff. 5 WICKETS ON DEBUT FOR MATT KUHNEMANN ðŸ'�ðŸ'�ðŸ'�ðŸ'�ðŸ'� The Australian spinner spun a web at Sophia Gardens against Middlesex in his debut match for the Club 🙌 WATCH LIVE: #GLAMvMID #OhGlammyGlammy — Glamorgan Cricket ðŸ�† (@GlamCricket) May 25, 2025 Playing just the single game for Glamorgan with Labuschagne before joining the Australian Test camp, Kuhnemann returned figures of 6-53 as his team cruised to a 10-wicket victory. Kuhnemann is the second spinner in the Australian squad, behind Nathan Lyon as first-choice tweaker.
News.com.au
25-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Head belts 76 in final IPL game
Cricket: Australian Travis Head as led the Sunrisers to a big win despite missing finals in the 2025 season.
