Every match that SRH play in, the chatter around it somehow always is, if they can score 300 in an innings or not. The focus isn’t really on if they can defend it or not. Yes, over the last few years, they score 200+ more than any other team, but bowling is where the issue comes. This IPL 2026 is no different, where in the opening match of the season they could not defend even 202.
In fact, RCB, led by whirlwind innings from Devdutt Padikkal (61 from 26) and Virat Kohli (69 from 38), managed to achieve the target in 15.4 overs only. That undid the good work by Ishan Kishan (80 from 38) and Aniket Verma (43 from 16), who lifted the team from 29/3 at one stage. That display raises further questions on SRH’s ability with the ball. Just for context, this is not a new problem; in 2025, they lost 5 matches while defending targets over 150.
Century stand. Match won. Job done! A masterclass in chasing from @imVkohli and @devdpd07 Updates t.co/Eo5z0jh4K4 #TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #RCBvSRH | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/YWAO7Scjq2
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 28, 2026And this year, somehow the bowling attack looks even thinner in the absence of Pat Cummins, at least for a few matches. Nitish Kumar Reddy opened the bowling for Hyderabad, and only bowled two overs for 19 runs. Jaydev Unadkat returned with 1/29 in 3 overs, David Payne gave away 35 in 3 overs, and so did Harsh Dubey.
Eshan Malinga also gave 35, albeit in 2 overs, while Harshal Patel was wayward with 0/39 in 2.4 overs. Former India opener Aakash Chopra had perhaps rightly claimed — “When I see their bowling, it has Amit Kumar, Praful Hinge, Sakib Hussain, Omkar Tarmale, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari, Harshal Patel, Shivam Mavi, Shivang Kumar and Harsh Dubey, but the bowling is weak. How they manage the bowling will be a challenge because if they score 250, they might concede 250. Their bowling looks like that.”
How Pat Cummins can be their saviour?
Cummins can save this ship from sinking prematurely. The regular skipper has tons of international experience, and can handle any bowling attack on his own. Out of the 30 matches he has played for the franchise, he has 34 wickets to his name, where his economy has been 9.18, and strike-rate only 19.52.
What really is the highlight is, he can really save some runs in the death overs, which the others might not be able to. He has an economy of 10.94 there, with 21 wickets in 51 matches. That is comparatively lesser than what Unadkat manages at 11.47.
Experience missing for sure
The team has the presence of Shivam Mavi, who has not played in IPL since 2022. Unadkat has experience, but is often very ineffective, and predictable with his off slower deliveries. Harshal Patel has been a good bowler, but abilities look on wane for sure. So, the mistakes at the auction table, if at all, cannot be rectified, but can be only be bettered, if Cummins comes in at some stage, where it is still not very late.
Brief scores: RCB 203/4 in 15.4 overs (Virat Kohli 69, Padikkal 61; Payne 2/35) bt SRH 201/9 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 80, Aniket Verma 43; Jacob Duffy 3/22).
RCB thrashing proves why Sunrisers Hyderabad can’t win IPL 2026 without Pat Cummins Inside Sport India.
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