IPL 2025: Mohd Siraj ‘swings’ it for Gujarat Titans as Sunrisers Hyderabad famed batting lineup crumbles again

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This is turning out to be a summer of despair for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025. On Sunday night, Pat Cummins and his team suffered their fourth successive loss, this time, to Gujarat Titans.

As runner-up in the 2024 edition of the IPL, Sunrisers have struggled, where the famed batting lineup has been at its worst. And the man who showed them he is seeking revenge, and is on a mission, came up with one of the most breathtaking spells of swing bowling. Welcome, Mohd Siraj, born and brought up in Hyderabad, serving the Telangana Police, but ready to perform for his franchise Gujarat Titans.

The narrative about Gujarat Titans is how they have allowed their fast and medium-fast bowling unit to come out smoking. And even on a track which was slow, Siraj showed he could make up any which way. He knows this track and used his swing and fuller length to telling effect. Striking in Power Play and later, Siraj, ignored by Team India for the Champions Trophy, is hurt. There is nothing like performing, and his four-wicket burst in four overs for 28 runs was full of skill and will. The way he steamed in and consumed Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head sent the crowds into raptures. Of course, the SRH fans were distraught but the IPL is consumed by crores of other viewers on television and phone apps.

To be sure, if Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, another effective swing bowler who also took two wickets was smart, the narrative has to do with the top order batting failure of Sunrisers Hyderabad. When SRH showed they could score big runs against Rajasthan Royals early on in the first week of IPL 2025, fans thought there would be plenty of batting treats in store. That turned out to be a bit like 'a date gone wrong after initial coziness' as the famed SRH top order crumbled like a fresh cookie. And yet, Daniel Vettori, the SRH head coach thinks a rescue mission is possible.

It is one thing to fall to a good ball. What is mindless and baffling, the SRH batters -- Abhishek Sharma (18), Travis Head (8), Ishan Kishan (17) and Nitish Reddy (31) - fell so cheaply. Has success got to the heads of these batters or do they think flinging their bats will work? No, this is not that stupid Bazball which has let down England in Test cricket. Batting in the IPL is exciting, but one has to work hard. If the wicket is slow and the ball does not come on to the bat that easily, adapt and attack. No, repeat dismissals cheaply from the SRH top four is a sign they have let success get to their heads. These days, Indian players think a few good knocks means they have 'arrived." No way, social media hype, hiring PR companies boost views and stunts will not help. At least, on the field.

Abhishek has a lot to prove and if this is the way he is going to bat, it smacks of arrogance. Travis Head has also been figured out by the bowlers, and they know his footwork is almost zero. Gujarat Titans have been planning for this IPL and the way coach Ashish Nehra has been working with the boys stands out. As a bowler for India, Nehra dealt with fitness issues all along but never gave up. It is that spirit which he has instilled in Gujarat side, led by captain Shubman Gill. To those who think Nehra is making a mistake by relying far too much on medium pacers and using Ishant Sharma is wrong, he knows what he is doing. And to bring in Washington Sundar as a pure batter was so impactful, as he hammered the SRH attack to all corners of the stadium. The 49 runs he produced from 29 balls was defining, though Gill is happy to stay low key and scored 61.

As much as the rise and consistency of Gujarat Titans is being embraced by the IPL fans, SRH flopping is cause for concern. The team owners in the IPL are moody and all the glib talk from Vettori will not help. He knows, batting, bowling and fielding have all come a cropper. As for Pat Cummins, his own bowling looks pale. Can SRH bounce back will be interesting to watch. Their arrogance in batting has to be arrested. If not, they will face the wrath from the team owners where a Kavya Maran can be unforgiving. Remember, no IPL boss is in it for charity.