The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are virtually out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign, but they are not going down without a fight. In their crucial home game against the Delhi Capitals (DC) on May 5, 2025, skipper Pat Cummins made significant changes to his playing XI, looking to turn the tide in their favor. Cummins won the toss and opted to field first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal, a decision that reflects the team's strategy to chase down runs in a do-or-die situation.
In a bold move, Cummins announced the exclusion of three key players: bowler Mohammed Shami, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Kamindu Mendis. In their place, SRH welcomed Abhinav Manohar, Sachin Baby, and Eshan Malinga to the squad. The changes come as SRH aims to maximize their chances of playoff qualification, needing to win their remaining four matches while relying on favorable outcomes in other games.
Shami's performance this season has been underwhelming, with only six wickets in nine matches and a best of 2/28 against the Gujarat Titans. His struggles on the pitch have prompted the team management to rethink their strategy. In contrast, Eshan Malinga, who has taken five wickets in four games, has shown promise with a best of 2/36 against the Mumbai Indians (MI).
Nitish Kumar Reddy has also had a disappointing season, scoring just 173 runs in nine innings at an average of 24.71 and a strike rate of 120.13. The 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy hero has struggled to make an impact, leading to his omission from the playing XI. Kamindu Mendis, too, has been ineffective, contributing only 60 runs and two wickets in four appearances.
On the flip side, Abhinav Manohar's recent performance against MI, where he scored 43 runs off 37 balls, has earned him a spot in the lineup. Making his debut in the orange kit, Sachin Baby returns to the IPL for the first time since 2021, bringing fresh energy to the squad.
As the match unfolded, both teams were looking to bounce back from recent defeats, with DC placed fifth on the points table and eager to climb higher. The Capitals made one change to their lineup, bringing in T Natarajan in place of Mukesh Kumar, marking T Natarajan's first appearance for DC.
After winning the toss, Cummins stated, "We'll bowl. We've talked about a few things, haven't had a complete game yet. Want to do the basics well." This approach indicates SRH's intent to capitalize on the pitch conditions and put pressure on the DC batting order.
The match is critical for SRH, who currently sit at the bottom of the points table with just three wins from ten matches. Their path to the playoffs is narrow, requiring them not only to win their remaining games but also to maintain a superior net run rate (NRR) to surpass DC and the Punjab Kings.
The playing XI for SRH included: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (w), Sachin Baby, Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins (c), Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari, and Eshan Malinga. Impact substitutes on the bench included Travis Head, Harsh Dubey, Rahul Chahar, Wiaan Mulder, and Mohammed Shami.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Capitals fielded a strong team with Faf du Plessis, Abishek Porel, Karun Nair, KL Rahul (w), Axar Patel (c), Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Dushmantha Chameera, Kuldeep Yadav, and T Natarajan. Their impact substitutes were Ashutosh Sharma, Jake Fraser McGurk, Sameer Rizvi, Mukesh Kumar, and Mohit Sharma.
As the game progresses, the stakes are high for both teams. With SRH's playoff hopes hanging by a thread, each ball bowled and each run scored could be pivotal in determining their fate in this year's IPL.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad are looking to turn their fortunes around, and the changes in their squad reflect their determination to fight until the end. Fans will be eagerly watching to see if these tactical adjustments can spark a turnaround in their season. As for the Delhi Capitals, they aim to solidify their playoff position and continue their push for the championship.
Stay tuned for live updates as this thrilling encounter unfolds in Hyderabad, where every moment counts in the race for IPL supremacy.
