Pat Cummins showcased his prowess, leading Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to restrict Delhi Capitals (DC) to 133 runs in their IPL 2025 fixture at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Opting to bowl on a grass-free pitch, SRH exploited the tricky conditions perfectly.
Cummins, mastering deliveries pitched at a hard length, took the new ball and dismissed Karun Nair on the first delivery, catching the edge through skilful pace and movement. As DC’s innings unfolded, Cummins claimed three wickets for 19 runs, displaying his role as SRH captain with impeccable timing. Ishan Kishan, assuming wicketkeeping duties, supported with three catches as Heinrich Klaasen took a breather from the gloves.
“The plan was simple: pitch it hard, and let the surface do the rest,” Cummins reflected post-match. His early strikes, along with Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat’s contributions, saw DC struggle at 29 for 5 by the eighth over. Unadkat executed a fine delivery to dismiss KL Rahul, the ball straightening to nick an edge. Kishan, collecting yet another catch, became the first keeper to dismiss an entire top four in an IPL innings.
Tristan Stubbs stood as DC’s silver lining, orchestrating a recovery with a 33-run partnership alongside Vipraj Nigam before a miscommunication led to a run-out. Stubbs continued his resilience, building a solid 66-run stand with Ashutosh Sharma, who was introduced via the Impact Player rule. Ashutosh, essentially DC’s last hope, injected life into the innings with a flurry of sixes, scoring 41 from 26 deliveries. Their joint efforts added 61 runs in the final six overs, with Stubbs unbeaten on 41 from 36 balls.
“This session was vital,” Stubbs commented, highlighting the importance of adapting to the challenging pitch. However, rain intervened, pausing SRH’s chase before it could commence.
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s strategy paid dividends, while Delhi Capitals’ bowler-heavy line-up remained a talking point, particularly with Ashutosh’s delayed entry. As the rain looms, fans await the chase eagerly, with SRH positioned favourably thanks to Cummins’ early brilliance.
