Mumbai, May 17: IPL 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad have been known for their consistency to make it to the playoffs over the years. Under the leadership of New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson, the Hyderabad-based franchise looked for yet another successful season in the cash-rich league. However, it has been a rollercoaster of a season for the Orange Army.
After a forgettable couple of starts to the IPL 15 season when the team lost to Rajasthan Royals by 61 runs and later suffered a 12-run defeat against Lucknow Super Giants, Sunrisers Hyderabad returned to winning ways.
The Orange Army thrashed defending champions Chennai Super Kings to taste their first win of the season. In their next league match, they've put up an even better show and ended the winning streak of newbies Gujarat Titans.
The Hyderabad-based franchise went on winning five games on the trot and all those wins were big ones and suddenly the SRH of the old seemed to be back. However, in the second phase of the tournament, their fate once again took a completely different turn as they ended up losing five games on the bounce.
Sunrisers Hyderabad's run in the IPL 2022:
Match 5, Mar 29 07:30 PM (IST) SRH vs RR - SRH Lost by 61 runs
Match 12, Apr 04 07:30 PM (IST) SRH vs LSG - SRH lost by 12 runs
Match 17, Apr 09 03:30 PM (IST) SRH vs CSK - SRH won by 8 wickets
Match 21, Apr 11 07:30 PM vs SRH vs Gujarat Titans - SRH won by 8 wickets
Match 25, Apr 15 07:30 PM SRH vs KKR - SRH won by 7 wickets
Match 28, Apr 17 03:30 PM SRH vs PBKS - SRH won by 7 wickets
Match 36, Apr 23 07:30 PM SRH vs RCB - SRH won by 9 wickets
Match 40, Apr 27 07:30 PM SRH vs GT - GT won by 5 wickets
Match 46, May 01 07:30 PM SRH VS CSK - CSK won by 13 runs
Match 50, May 05 07:30 PM SRH vs DC - DC won by 21 runs
Match 54, May 08 03:30 PM SRH VS RCB - RCB won by 67 runs
Match 61, May 14 07:30 PM SRH vs KKR - KKR won by 54 runs
Match 65, May 17 07:30 PM SRH vs MI - SRH won by 3 runs
Road Ahead for SRH:
With 12 points in 13 games (6 wins and 7 losses), the Sunrisers currently find themselves at eighth in the team standings. They have one more league game to go and with the win against Mumbai Indians they have clung on to the playoffs hopes.
Although they are not looking in contention directly but they still have an outside chance of finishing in the top four after the Delhi Capitals defeated the Punjab Kings on May 16. There is a possibility that one team might enter the playoffs with 14 points and this gives SRH a sliver of hope.
In order to keep themselves in the playoffs hunt, SRH will first have to ensure they end up winning their remaining games. They will be playing Punjab Kings - who are also in the playoffs hunt - in the final league match of the tournament and will have to win it.
Their playoffs hopes depend on the fact that Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals lose their next games and then the fourth team to qualify for the playoffs will be decided on net run rate.
Remaining fixtures:
Match 70, May 22 07:30 PM SRH VS PBKS at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai