Kavya Maran, the face of Sunrisers Hyderabad's ownership, is facing sharp criticism from fans after the franchise's IPL 2025 campaign took a disappointing turn. Once hailed for backing an exciting brand of cricket, Kavya Maran is now under fire for letting go of trusted performers in favour of high-profile names that haven't delivered.
After reaching the final in IPL 2024 and capturing the imagination of fans with fearless cricket, SRH headed into the new season with huge expectations. With most of their core retained, the franchise went big in the mega auction, spending lavishly on marquee players like Ishan Kishan, Mohammed Shami, and Harshal Patel.

On paper, they looked like champions in the making. Their explosive 286-run performance in the opening match only reinforced that belief. But the excitement quickly gave way to disappointment. SRH have now lost four consecutive matches, with their expensive recruits struggling to make an impact.
Fans have been particularly vocal on social media, questioning whether the franchise's auction strategy-driven by Kavya and her team-ignored proven match-winners in pursuit of glamour signings.
The biggest regret? Letting go of veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who served the franchise loyally for 11 seasons. SRH didn't retain him, nor did they bid for him at the auction. Now playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Bhuvneshwar has taken 8 wickets in 7 matches at a tight economy of 7.73. In contrast, Shami has picked up only 5 wickets at an expensive 10.88.
Bhuvneshwar, once SRH's death-overs maestro, delivered countless match-defining spells. Replacing him with Shami has backfired, and many fans feel the franchise is paying the price for ignoring loyalty and proven credentials.
Marco Jansen, another released player, is shining for Punjab Kings. The South African has taken 8 wickets at a 9.24 economy and scored 68 runs at an average of 34. His all-round abilities have brought balance-something SRH sorely lack.
Former SRH stars like Abdul Samad, Aiden Markram, Washington Sundar, and Wanindu Hasaranga are also delivering for other franchises, deepening the regret for fans.
Once known for smart, stable planning, Sunrisers Hyderabad's current slide is being seen as a result of over-ambition at the auction table. For Kavya Maran, this season is proving to be a harsh reminder that loyalty, balance, and consistency still matter in building a title-winning team.