In IPL 2025 Match 51, Gujarat Titans (GT) overcame Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 38 runs, as they were able to defend a score of 224/6 in Ahmedabad. SRH did well to put up a score of 196/6 but were ultimately outclassed by the bowling and batting, in particular, of GT. Here are the main reasons why SRH came up short in the match.
 
SRH struggled in their chase of 225 for several reasons, but fundamentally, GT bowled with discipline, and SRH fell off the pace set by a solid start. The top order of SRH batted well; an innings of 74 from 41 from Abhishek Sharma gave SRH a good base to build off. Unfortunately for SRH, their middle order collapsed under pressure from GT's bowlers, with Prasidh Krishna (2/19) and Mohammed Siraj (2/33) picking crucial wickets in successive overs, and SRH was unable to luxuriously chase down the total. Heinrich Klaasen (23 off 18) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (21 off 10) were unable to maintain the run-rate pressure despite their runs, but were unable to help the SRH batting deep, and it was too much work for their lower order. SRH pitched well at the death too, with Ishant Sharma (1/35 in 3.2) not allowing an early aggression turn into anything momentous, and SRH will rue their lack of capitalizing on solid positions, as their score was a fair effort against the GT batting.

1. Expensive Powerplay Bowling

Sunrisers Hyderabad could not stem a rampant Gujarat Titans in the first six overs. The bowlers did not find their lines or lengths consistently and let too many boundaries through. The SRH Captain Pat Cummins did say, “We let them get 20 or 30 extra just with some bad balls.” The early momentum afforded GT's top order the freedom to accelerate, leaving them with a daunting total of 224/6. 

Also Read: IPL 2025, Match 51: Gujarat Titans vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Full Match Highlights

2. Dropped Catches and Missed Opportunities

Fielding lapses were a significant contributor to the SRH downfall. Missed chances meant batters such as Synman Gill (76 off 38) and Jos Buttler (64 off 37) were able to cash in. Cummins did admit they missed some catches in the middle overs and said, “I am guilty there as well.” In a high-scoring contest, the extra lives may have ended up deciding the result.

3. Inconsistent Middle-Order Batting

Abhishek Sharma gave SRH a strong platform with his 74 off 41; however, their middle-order failures saw those good moves wasted. Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Reddy gave brief cameos, but a lack of partnerships and strike rotation through the middle overs meant they finished with too much to do at the end, eventually finishing 186/6.