The SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH)’s batting performance in their IPL 2025 defeat to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has drawn criticism from former India player Aakash Chopra. He questioned whether Abhishek Sharma was lacking form in addition to being short on runs.
On Thursday, April 3, in Match 15 of the IPL 2025 at Kolkata, KKR set SRH a goal of 201 runs. The visitors lost the match by 80 runs when Abhishek could only muster two runs off six deliveries in the chase.
‘Aakash Chopra,’ the former India opener, questioned SRH’s batting strategy in a video posted on his account. According to Chopra, Nitish Kumar Reddy (19 off 15) has disappointed the squad with his shot selection, while Abhishek Sharma hasn’t been playing at his best.
“Naam bade, darshan chhote (big names but hardly any performance). It seems like that if we have a look at their batting order. They won’t change their playing style at all. They play like that continuously. 190 once, then 163, and if your graph is going downwards and you are losing wickets consistently in the powerplay, you need to ask a question where you are going.”
Aakash Chopra
“I am unable to understand Nitish Kumar Reddy’s shots. Ishan Kishan scored runs in the first match, but then three low scores. Abhishek Sharma is not looking the same. He is playing shots, but at what stage, do you say it’s not lack of runs but lack of form?”
Aakash Chopra
The cricket player-turned-commentator noted that after scoring 24 runs off of 11 deliveries in SRH’s IPL 2025 opener against the Rajasthan Royals (RR), Abhishek has suffered three straight defeats.
“You were looking good, then you got run out once, then you didn’t score runs, and got out once more. Suddenly, four innings have passed, and you haven’t scored runs. Then you start asking questions as to what is happening.”
Aakash Chopra
However, given that SRH was attempting to reach an enormous total, Aakash Chopra conceded that Abhishek Sharma had a valid reason to bat aggressively at the beginning of the innings on Thursday. Conversely, he pointed out that despite losing early wickets, Nitish Kumar Reddy was removed again while trying a big shot.
“That is absolutely bizarre” – Aakash Chopra on SRH opener Travis Head’s poor record in big run chases
Aakash Chopra pointed out in the same video that Travis Head’s poor performance in large run chases persisted during the SunRisers Hyderabad’s IPL 2025 defeat to the Kolkata Knight Riders.
“One thing got highlighted. Travis Head hasn’t scored runs against KKR. He hasn’t scored runs against Mitchell Starc. He hasn’t scored runs in 200-plus chases, and that is absolutely bizarre,” he said.”If you have an average not even of 10, you don’t play even a single good knock and don’t become the differentiator in the match, it will have to be said that he is the headmaster, but not in a run chase.”
Aakash Chopra
In conclusion, Aakash Chopra pondered whether, in the event that Pat Cummins wins the toss, SRH ought to decide to bat first. The ‘Bazooka’ Travis Head turns into a ‘toy gun’ in huge run chases, he said, and almost all their hitters give up under pressure.
