HYDERABAD: The downtime following their last defeat should’ve served Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH )well in introspecting their poor run in this edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Last year they biffed opponents into submission with their ultra-aggressive batting, but it looks like a distant dream this season, which could well be a summer of discontent unless they get their act together, quickly.
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The burden of expectations following their last season’s runners-up finish seems to weigh them down heavily and added to the many problems they must deal with. They also have a certain Priyansh Arya to contend with when they play Punjab Kings in the night match of the double-header on Saturday.
The 24-year-old Delhi lad batted with refreshing freedom against Chennai Super Kings and cruised from 80 to 102 in four deliveries of total disdain for Matheesha Pathirana that typified Punjab’s approach this season.

They have already logged two totals upwards of 200 in four matches — the 50-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals their only blip so far this season — and with skipper Shreyas Iyer exemplifying the team-first philosophy even if he was stranded on an unbeaten 97 against Gujarat Titans, the likes of Shashank Singh and Nehal Wadhera have made up for Glenn Maxwell’s poor returns.
Meanwhile, barring two partnerships — 85 for the second and 72 for the third in their first match that fuelled expectations — SRH have struggled to find their rhythm or sustain momentum in the next four games.
Likely Playing XIs
PBKS: Shreyas Iyer (c), Prabhsimran Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Suryansh Shedge (Impact Player: Priyansh Arya)
SRH: Pat Cummins (c), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Abhinav Manohar, Zeeshan Ansari, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami, Kamindu Mendis (Impact Player: Travis Head)