Virender Sehwag, known for his straight talk and sharp wit, didn’t mince words while critiquing Sunrisers Hyderabad’s recent IPL 2025 form. After SRH slumped to their third consecutive loss — this time an 80-run thrashing at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders — Sehwag compared their downfall to the infamous inconsistency of Punjab Kings from past seasons, saying SRH seem to have inherited the “kulhari” (axe) Punjab once used to hurt themselves.
The defeat in Kolkata was nothing short of embarrassing for SRH. Chasing 201, they crumbled for a mere 120, with their highest individual score being just 33 off 21 balls — a far cry from the fearless batting fans were treated to last season. Virender Sehwag pointed out that SRH, who lit up IPL 2024 with explosive totals, including that unforgettable 286-run game, now appear to be a shadow of that team.
This wasn’t an isolated failure. Before the Kolkata clash, Hyderabad failed to chase down 167 against Delhi Capitals and couldn’t defend a solid 190 versus Lucknow Super Giants. The pattern is clear, and Sehwag called them out for repeating the same mistakes — poor planning, lack of execution, and underwhelming intent.
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Speaking on Cricbuzz, Virender Sehwag said with his trademark humor, “Earlier Punjab used to hit their own feet with the axe; now they’ve handed it over to Hyderabad.” He was baffled by SRH’s failure to apply themselves despite batting-friendly conditions. “There was no spin, no movement — just a slightly slow pitch. Yet, they collapsed without a fight. Fans expected fireworks, but SRH gave them smoke and ashes.”
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Virender Sehwag didn’t hold back while expressing disappointment over SRH’s star-studded yet misfiring batting lineup. “You’ve got big names, power hitters, experience — but you get bowled out for 120? Where’s the accountability?”
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He also empathized with the fans, especially those at Eden Gardens, who turned up expecting an exciting contest. “Even KKR fans would’ve thought, ‘SRH batting? It’ll be a show!’ Instead, they saw a collapse. SRH didn’t just lose a match — they lost their reputation.”
His brutally honest assessment underlines how quickly things can go south in the IPL. For a team that looked like title contenders last year, Sunrisers Hyderabad now seem lost. And unless they regroup and find their rhythm soon, they might find themselves buried in criticism deeper than ever — with their own axe.
