Sunrisers Hyderabad Aims for Improvement Ahead of Match Against Gujarat Titans
Sunrisers Hyderabad Prepares for Crucial Match
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], April 5: As Sunrisers Hyderabad gears up for their upcoming match against the Gujarat Titans, assistant coach Simon Helmot emphasized the team's focus on enhancing the performance of their fast bowlers, including captain Pat Cummins, who is reportedly in "good bowling form."
The IPL journey for SRH, last year's standout team, has begun on a disappointing note. Following a strong victory over the Rajasthan Royals, they have fallen to the bottom of the points table after suffering three consecutive losses, showcasing batting performances that do not reflect their potential. Their bowling has also struggled, with leading pacers Mohammed Shami and Cummins each taking three wickets in four matches, with economy rates of 10.00 and 12.30, respectively. Pacer Harshal Patel has managed four wickets but with an economy exceeding nine.
In a pre-match press conference, Helmot stated, "Pat is in excellent bowling form. The conditions we've faced have been quite challenging for bowlers, and we are up against formidable opponents. However, we need to be more precise with our bowling as a unit, especially in Hyderabad, where even a slight error can lead to runs. We are realistic about our situation, but we've had productive discussions on how to bowl effectively against this team."
Helmot noted that teams can still achieve high scores in venues like Visakhapatnam and Kolkata. "We didn't perform well against Kolkata, but generally, the wickets across the country are favorable. The definition of a good score has evolved; what was once a winning total of 140 in 2013 has shifted to much higher figures today, increasing the pressure on bowlers and fielders, as well as challenging batters to determine what constitutes a competitive score," he explained.
He also mentioned that while the pressure to reach the 300-run mark is acknowledged, it is not a topic of internal discussion. "We recognize our batting strength, which hasn't translated into results in the last two matches. We aim to replicate the success we had in our first match and throughout last season in Hyderabad. The atmosphere within the team is positive, and having composed leaders like Daniel Vettori and Pat Cummins is beneficial. We've engaged in many constructive conversations among batters, bowlers, and fielders to explore ways to improve both collectively and individually," he added.
Squads:
Sunrisers Hyderabad Squad: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kamindu Mendis, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Aniket Verma, Pat Cummins(c), Harshal Patel, Simarjeet Singh, Mohammed Shami, Zeeshan Ansari, Abhinav Manohar, Wiaan Mulder, Jaydev Unadkat, Rahul Chahar, Adam Zampa, Atharva Taide, Eshan Malinga, Sachin Baby
Gujarat Titans Squad: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Jos Buttler(w), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Arshad Khan, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Mahipal Lomror, Washington Sundar, Jayant Yadav, Karim Janat, Kulwant Khejroliya, Gerald Coetzee, Manav Suthar, Kumar Kushagra, Gurnoor Brar, Nishant Sindhu.