Kamal Ghorui
Former IPL chairman and BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla weighed in on Sunrisers Hyderabad’s crushing defeat against Gujarat Titans, questioning the batting approach that led to their dramatic collapse in Ahmedabad.GT produced a dominant all-round performance to register an emphatic 82-run win and climb to the top of the IPL 2026 points table. After being asked to bat first, Gujarat posted 168/5, thanks to a composed 61 from Sai Sudharsan and a crucial half-century from Washington Sundar.In response, SRH’s explosive batting lineup failed spectacularly and were bowled out for just 86 in 14.5 overs. Gujarat’s bowling attack completely dismantled Hyderabad, with Jason Holder and Kagiso Rabada claiming three wickets each.
Following the match, Rajeev Shukla posted an interesting reaction on X, criticising SRH’s ultra-aggressive batting mindset despite chasing a manageable total.“जब सिर्फ 160 रन ही बनाने हैं तो आते ही छक्के जड़ने की कोशिश कर विकेट क्यों गंवाने” – Shukla wrote on X.(“When you only need to score 160 runs, why lose wickets trying to hit sixes right from the start?”)A target of 169 in T20 cricket is generally considered chaseable, especially for a batting lineup featuring power-hitters Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen. However, SRH’s trademark attacking approach backfired badly against Gujarat’s disciplined bowling attack.Despite the heavy defeat, SRH head coach Daniel Vettori defended his batting unit and described the performance as a rare off-day rather than a larger concern.“We knew we needed a strong start and unfortunately we weren’t able to get that tonight,” Vettori said after the match. “If Gujarat had scored 200, the chase would have been extremely difficult, but at 169 we genuinely believed we had a chance.”He added that the team remains committed to its aggressive philosophy and refused to blame the batters for one poor outing.“Our batting group has been exceptional throughout the season. Every team in the IPL goes through a small blip at some stage, and tonight was ours. We are fully aware of the way we want to play and the conditions we were facing,” Vettori concluded.
