 "IPL 2024: Why SRH can hold their heads high despite lopsided defeat in final and what’s next for ‘Orange Army’")
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) had been one of the most exciting teams in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), breaking the record for the highest team total not once but twice while chasing down targets of 166 inside 10 overs on other occasions.
When they weren’t posting 250-plus totals for fun or making a mockery of targets, they had also exhibited remarkable composure in tense situations to eke out narrow victories, as narrow as one run.
The Pat Cummins-led side ended up beating Rajasthan Royals (RR) to the second spot on the points table on the final day of the league stage, thus giving themselves two shots at reaching the final. And reach the final they eventually did, beating RR in Qualifier 2 in a game that was low-scoring by this season’s standards.
Despite having lost twice to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) earlier this season including in Qualifier 1, the Sunrisers were expected to put up a tough fight in the final and were even backed to end KKR’s dominance this season and lift the IPL trophy for only the second time.
Skipper Cummins, after all, had an enviable record when it came to the big finals, having led Australia to the World Test Championship and World Cup titles last year, and many had expected him to conquer the IPL in his maiden season as captain as well.
Few would’ve expected the IPL final to be as one-sided as it turned out to be on Sunday. The same team that had posted totals of 277 and 287 earlier this season struggled to cross 100 in the summit clash at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium and were eventually bowled out for 113 — the lowest total ever in the summit clash.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe Chepauk wicket used for Sunday’s final was every bit a batting paradise and SRH’s capitulation was more the result of KKR’s tight-knit bowling plans along with their excellent fielding efforts than anything else. Every member of the Kolkata bowling unit stepped up in the final and took a wicket, with all-rounder Andre Russell and pacer Mitchell Starc leading the way with figures of 3/19 and 2/14 respectively.
Watch | Kavya Maran emotional after KKR thrash SRH in IPL 2024 final to deny ‘Orange Army’ 2nd title
The Knight Riders would chase the modest target down with eight wickets — the second time in as many meetings with SRH they had won by that margin. All-rounder Venkatesh Iyer led the way once again with an unbeaten 52 off 26 deliveries as KKR cruised home with nearly 10 overs to spare, winning their third title as a result.
Sunrisers can hold their heads high despite the final
The one-sided thrashing at the hands of Shreyas Iyer and Co was a bitter pill to swallow for the Sunrisers as they lost an IPL final for the second time. One bad day in office, however, doesn’t mean Cummins and his men can’t end the season with their heads held high.
They were, after all, one of the most consistent teams throughout the season, one that had been within touching distance of the top four alongside the previous title-holders Chennai Super Kings (CSK). By ensuring they didn’t run out of steam as RR did in the business end of the tournament, the Sunrisers were able to finish inside the top two and end the league stage on a high.
More than that, this Sunrisers outfit under Cummins’ leadership left a lasting impression as a side that knew how to entertain the masses with their exciting brand of cricket that drew admiration even from supporters of rival teams.
IPL 2024 | Runs aplenty as season concludes with most sixes, most 200-plus totals and more
What was even more impressive was the return of the Sunrisers as serious title contenders after finishing at the bottom of the table in two of the last three seasons. SRH had been going through a serious leadership crisis with three captains in four editions between 2020 and 2023, reaching the playoffs just once during that period.
SRH owner Kavya Maran perhaps knew what she was doing when she acquired Australia pacer Pat Cummins for a whopping Rs 20.5 crore after a fierce bidding war during the player auction in Dubai. By welcoming Cummins onboard and having him replace Aiden Markram as captain, SRH found the solution as far as a long-term leader who could take the franchise to the heights it touched during David Warner’s reign between 2015 and 2020.
SRH’s biggest discovery this season was the opening pair of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who ended up smashing one batting record after another this season and were a key reason behind their run to the final. With Rahul Tripathi at No.3 as well as the likes of Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, and Nitish Kumar Reddy in the middle order, the Sunrisers’ batting unit was as stacked as it could get.
The bowling unit too benefited from the combined experience of skipper Cummins as well as veteran Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with T Natarajan also excelling in the powerplay and death overs alike to finish among the leading wicket-takers in the 17th IPL season.
What’s next for the Sunrisers?
With a mega auction coming up ahead of IPL 2025, teams are set to undergo an overhaul later this year as they’ll be allowed to retain only a handful of their existing squad.
Captain Cummins and coach Vettori therefore will have to get down to planning for the auction soon enough, once the former is done with T20 World Cup duty that is. The pair, along with the Sunrisers management that includes owner Maran, will have to make some tough calls when it comes to deciding on their retentions later this year.
Teams had been allowed to retain a maximum of four players in the previous mega auction in 2022. Whether that remains the case this year as well or whether the IPL Governing Council decides to expand that number after a discussion with the heads of the 10 franchises remains to be seen.
Respect for @SunRisers. One bad game doesn't define the exceptional season you've had in any way. Some unforgettable performances, and a top #TATAIPL2024 season for the men in orange 🧡 https://t.co/mSyf4T5M8p
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 26, 2024
Whatever the number, there will be certain priorities for captain Cummins, and on top of that list will be the ‘Travishek’ opening combination. Travis and Abhishek not only are responsible for guiding SRH to explosive starts, they are also quite handy with the ball. A similar case could be made for Tripathi as the long-term No.3 option as well as middle-order batter Reddy.
SRH might also have to make a choice between Bhuvneshwar and Natarajan when it comes to their retention, and it will be a tough one for sure. While Natarajan brings in the handiness of his left-arm angle, Bhuvneshwar’s ability to stay calm in the most stressful of situations has helped him remain a go-to option for the death overs.
One thing’s for certain — with Cummins’ around, a second title appears closer than ever for the Sunrisers. And though they missed out on the trophy this year, they certainly will be in the reckoning in the coming seasons.
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