Despite Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) being officially knocked out of the IPL 2025 playoff race, head coach Daniel Vettori had nothing but praise for his team’s spirited bowling display in a rain-marred encounter against the Delhi Capitals (DC). The much-anticipated match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on May 5 was abandoned without a result due to persistent rain, but not before SRH’s bowlers put on a stellar show, restricting DC to just 133/7 in 20 overs.
With SRH entering the contest on the brink of elimination, a win was imperative to stay in contention for the playoffs. The bowlers, led by captain Pat Cummins, responded with one of their finest performances of the season. Unfortunately, the heavens opened during the innings break, and with the outfield unplayable, the match was called off, sealing SRH’s fate.
With only seven points from 11 matches, their campaign can now only finish with a maximum of 13, well short of the playoff cutoff. Speaking after the match, Vettori acknowledged the team’s disappointment but commended their effort in the field.
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“That was probably our best bowling and fielding performance this season,” said the former New Zealand captain. “We’ve worked hard on those aspects in training, and it was great to see the guys execute everything so well on the field. The early breakthroughs and the intensity in the field were exactly what we needed.”
Daniel Vettori admitted that expectations were high, especially considering SRH’s explosive start to the season and their runner-up finish in the previous edition.
“We came in with strong hopes, but inconsistency has let us down,” he noted. “Today felt like the beginning of a complete team performance, so it’s frustrating that rain had the final say. But that’s part of cricket.”
Cummins was at his lethal best, dismantling Delhi’s top order with a fiery new-ball spell. His 3 for 19 included key wickets of Karun Nair, Faf du Plessis, and Abhishek Porel—all dismissed cheaply.
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“Pat’s usually our utility bowler—he can bowl in the powerplay, middle, or at the death—but today he led from the front with the new ball,” Daniel Vettori explained. “It was the first time he opened the bowling this season, and he showed why he’s one of the best in the world. His control, aggression, and ability to strike early really set the tone. He’s led the side exceptionally well, and hopefully he carries this momentum into our final games.”
