Gujarat Titans strengthened their position at the top of the IPL 2026 points table with a commanding 82-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. The result further intensified the playoff race, while also raising fresh questions about SRH’s aggressive batting template on challenging surfaces.
Half-centuries from Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar guided GT to a competitive 168/5 on a pitch that offered movement and variable bounce. Later, a clinical bowling display led by Jason Holder and Kagiso Rabada dismantled SRH for just 86 runs.
Following the defeat, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin analysed SRH’s struggles and pointed out how the Hyderabad-based franchise often finds it difficult to adapt when conditions are not ideal for high-scoring cricket. “SRH is a boom-or-bust team, and with some life in the wicket, they struggle a bit,” Ravichandran Ashwin explained while discussing the match.
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Ashwin believes modern IPL teams are increasingly being built around flat batting-friendly pitches and power-hitting strategies. However, he stressed that teams must remain flexible enough to adjust their approach depending on the conditions.
“Most teams build their squads keeping high-scoring venues in mind. But when surfaces become challenging like they were in Ahmedabad, sides need to show more patience and tactical awareness,” he said.
The former off-spinner also highlighted how SRH’s home conditions influence their squad composition and style of play. According to Ashwin, the franchise’s ultra-aggressive batting unit works brilliantly on flat tracks but can become vulnerable on slower or seam-friendly surfaces.
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Despite the loss, SRH remain firmly in the playoff race with 14 points from 12 matches. However, Ashwin warned that their biggest challenge moving forward would be finding the right balance between fearless attacking cricket and adapting smartly to difficult conditions during the business end of IPL 2026.
