Travishek Fail To Live Up To Expectations... Again

AS Abhishek Sharma took strike against Khaleel Ahmed, with Travis Head at the other end, a little after 9.30PM on Friday night at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, it seemed like the Sunrisers Hyderabad opening duo finally had a chance to stamp their mark while chasing a target.

- GOMESH S @ Chennai

It is something they often struggle with — that freak show against Punjab Kings being an exception — but against Chennai Super Kings, there was hope. To not just keep their campaign alive but also get their house in order. A target of 155 was not a steep climb and there was significant dew considering the heat and humidity the city had seen through the day.

However, in a couple of minutes, the reality of the 2025 season struck. Sharma chipped Ahmed straight to cover — what one would call a nothing shot to a nothing delivery — and he was gone for a second-ball duck. In many ways, that shot, and the dismissal, was a sign of what was to come as well as how the season had gone so far for SRH.

The 2024 finalists, who had redefined the way teams bat in the IPL, had won just two in eight games and was just above CSK because of their net run rate. They had massive 200-plus totals — twice — to show for on flat pitches, but in the remaining six games, they didn't show up.