Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has questioned Travis Head’s game awareness and shot selection as he pinned blame on the Australian star for Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) demonization against Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2026 Eliminator in New Chandigarh.
Sunrisers Hyderabad were chasing a huge target of 244 runs in the IPL 2026. Eliminator, and fans expected Head to play a big inning for the team against the Rajasthan Royals. He started aggressively and scored 17 runs in just eight balls, but he could not carry forward the momentum.
Jofra Archer was already on fire in the powerplay after taking two wickets. Even then, Head tried to move outside the leg stump and play another attacking shot instead of batting carefully. And that decision proved costly for SRH in the knockout match on May 27.
Irfan Pathan questions Travis Head’s game awareness after RR storm into IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 after thrashing SRH
After the Rajasthan Royals qualified for Qualifier 2, Irfan Pathan slammed Travis Head for his reckless shot, saying the explosive Australian batter should have shown better game awareness in such a pressure situation. He also praised RR captain Riyan Parag for continuing with Archer for a third over in the powerplay as their strategy worked perfectly for them.
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Irfan Pathan said in a video posted on his YouTube channel: “Then came the third over. This is where strategies come into play. Riyan Parag probably thought, ‘Jofra Archer, come bowl your third over in the power play. You already have two wickets; now get one more. Travis Head is there; dismiss him. Klaasen is there too; get either of them out.’”
The former World Cup winner felt the SRH opener failed to understand RR’s clear plan against him. Pathan further explained, “But what does Travis Head do? When runs are not coming this season, he moves away from the stumps and creates room. Just play normally, brother. Why not play normally? You know the opposition captain’s strategy is that a bowler who has taken wickets and is in rhythm is given another over to take wickets. You know that too. You are a senior player and a World Cup winner.”
How Jofra Archer’s 150.4 kmph rocket destroyed Travis Head in IPL 2026 Eliminator
Meanwhile, Jofra Archer produced one of the biggest moments of the IPL 2026 Eliminator when he bowled a fiery 150.4 kmph delivery to dismiss Travis Head. The SRH opener tried to move outside the leg stump to smash another big shot, but Archer smartly targeted the stumps with a perfect delivery.
Head completely missed the ball while trying to attack, and the delivery crashed straight into the top of the off stump. The stumps went flying, and Archer got his third wicket in the powerplay after removing Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan earlier in the innings.
Head’s wicket pushed Sunrisers Hyderabad into huge trouble during the chase, and they never recovered before eventually being bowled out for 196 while chasing a mammoth target of 244 runs against Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2026 Eliminator in New Chandigarh.
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Irfan Pathan slams Head’s “brain-fade” dismissal; hails Riyan Parag and Jofra Archer’s smart plan
Slamming Head’s brain-fade moment, Pathan said that the SRH opener made a poor decision by exposing his stumps while trying to attack. The cricket pundit also praised Archer and Riyan Parag for their smart planning, calling it one of the turning points of the match.
He signed off by saying, “The lack of smart batting from Travis Head hurt Hyderabad badly. He completely exposed his stumps by moving outside the leg stump. Before that, Jofra Archer’s length had mostly been short of a good length and back of a length.
But the moment he saw Head move away, he targeted the stumps directly and bowled him. It was a brain-fade moment from Travis Head. That was where Jofra Archer’s and Riyan Parag’s planning was executed perfectly. It was a massive moment in the match.”
