IPL 2021: Onus on Sunrisers Hyderabad batsmen to perform against Rajasthan Royals | Cricket News – Times of India

The dismal show in Sharjah on Saturday night was in keeping with the horror run Sunrisers Hyderabad have endured in this season’s IPL. If the India leg was bad, the UAE leg has not been any better. They have lost both their matches and the five-run defeat to Punjab Kings, which once again highlighted how they simply can’t seem to get anything right, was their fifth with a margin of less than 10 runs.
That most of their defeats came while chasing down a target, such a small one as 125 for seven as against Punjab Kings, showed how poorly their batsmen have fared this season. The SRH batting unit has relied heavily on David Warner and as a rule has performed well when he did well. The Australian’s woeful form and Jonny Bairstow’s unavailability at the top has burdened the suspect middle order.

It was no different against Punjab. And that after the bowlers did a good job. Poor shot selection led them fall behind the asking rate and it was not until the advent of Jason Holder at the batting crease that the Sunrisers’ batting showed some purpose.
Coach Trevor Bayliss minced no words ahead of their match against Rajasthan Royals in Dubai on Monday. “We would like to get off to a nice, crisp start with the new ball, but unfortunately, it went the other way. In the end, to be honest, we didn’t play any good enough cricket,” the head coach said.
It was a collective failure, he added. “When we have played well in the past, we have got off to a good start at the top with the overseas players. The young guys in the middle-order have been exposed to a certain degree, but tonight a lot of experienced guys in the middle made mistakes.”

With nothing to lose, Sunrisers can afford to play with freedom that they’re used to and may probably give Jason Roy his first feel of IPL competition. “Five more games left, need to build some momentum for next season. Fans have been really passionate, we need to keep going for them,” said Holder, the man of the match against Punjab.
Rajasthan Royals are just one rung above SRH in the standings but with eight points from nine games, will look to further their cause. Their two outings here have yielded mixed results, a tworun win over Punjab Kings followed by a 33-run defeat to table toppers Delhi Capitals.