SunRisers Hyderabad’s hopes of finishing IPL 2025 on a strong note have taken another blow, with opener Travis Head set to miss the crucial clash against Lucknow Super Giants. Head coach Daniel Vettori confirmed on Sunday that the Australian batter is yet to arrive in India due to a delayed travel schedule caused by a bout of COVID-19. He is expected to land on Monday morning, but his availability for the final two league matches remains uncertain.

“Travis is coming in tomorrow morning. He was delayed because he had COVID, so he couldn’t travel earlier. We’ll assess his condition once he’s here,” Vettori told reporters at the pre-match press conference.

Currently placed eighth on the points table, SunRisers Hyderabad are already out of playoff contention. With just 11 points from 11 games, their chances were dashed following a string of inconsistent performances. After the LSG fixture at Ekana, the franchise will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 23 and Kolkata Knight Riders on May 25 in their final matches of the campaign.

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Travis Head, who was expected to be a game-changer this season, has struggled for form, scoring only 281 runs so far. His absence has further exposed SRH’s frailties, especially at the top. The explosive quartet of Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Heinrich Klaasen failed to consistently fire together, which contributed heavily to the team’s underwhelming season.

SRH Head Coach Daniel Vettori revealed that Travis Head has contracted COVID-19, delaying his arrival in India.

The SRH opener will miss the game against LSG on May 19 due to this setback.#IPL2025 #TravisHead #Covid pic.twitter.com/cKqGQ8olz5

— Helping Hand Sk 𝖢𝗋𝗂𝖼𝗂𝗇𝖿𝗈 (@HelpingHandSk) May 18, 2025

The tournament itself resumed only recently, following a one-week suspension due to rising military tensions between India and Pakistan after the tragic Pahalgam terror attack. However, rain disrupted the return, with the RCB vs KKR clash in Bengaluru being washed out without a single ball bowled.

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For SunRisers Hyderabad, this season has been a far cry from last year’s campaign, where they reached the finals. Despite having a potent lineup on paper, their collective failure with the bat has cost them dearly. With elimination confirmed, the franchise will look to salvage pride and possibly give youngsters a chance in the remaining fixtures. Whether Travis Head plays a role in these games now hinges on his fitness after recovery and travel.